I'm starting a self-funded fulltime PhD at Cardiff in about four weeks' time at the ripe old age of 42. I managed to avoid a first degree and did my masters on a modular course at Bath, so was never really engaged with the uni there (only visited the library once in five years!). I'm still living in Bath (where I have child care responsibilities) and will have to spend about a day a week in London to earn a little bit of money. My school in Cardiff is being very woolly about dates/times. The website says semester starts on Sept 24, but when I rang to check some details they said that there was enrolment on Sept 22, library training on Sept 23, etc. Argh! None of these dates/times are published anywhere and they say they'll let me know "soon" about other induction activities. Is such a laissez-faire approach the norm? I can't plan my work/life/childcare like this!

I also noticed that the postgrads' site has a fortnight of socialising/drinking evening events. With childcare to deal with in Bath (an hour or more away), I can't see me getting to many, if any, of these events. I'd hate to appear to be standoff-ish or to get off on the wrong foot, but I'm wondering if I'm going to miss out on anything.

Thoughts from older (and younger) PhDs welcome... Thanks!

Yeah, my start also seemed a bit wooly - in fact I ended up on fieldwork two weeks before I even enrolled! And the department dates might be different from the University dates (I also find most dates correspond to undergraduate starting times).

Regarding the socialising stuff, speaking as a young(ish) student, I find that people make allowances for older students or those with families in terms of socialising, so are quite understanding and won't find you standoff-ish I'm sure. And when you can make an event it'll be all the more impressive ;-) . A lot of young students don't socialise either. And of course the whole experience is what you make of it...

Hope that helps?

Hi, just wanted to post... I am a younger PhD student (straight from UG studies), just about to start in Cardiff too. My home city is Bath, will be moving to Cardiff in a few weeks. I have had similar issues with dates. My official start date is 1st Oct but like you have been told that there is enrolment and registration to do the week of 22nd Sept. I contacted academic registry and was told this information would either be posted or e-mailed to me within 3 weeks of starting. I don't know whether this is three weeks before Oct 1st or the registration dates. Because I don't move to Cardiff until the begging of Oct think I am going to miss many of the welcome events too.

Hi there, I'm an 'older' PhD student - I was 40 when I started last year. I think the wooliness of dates is quite common, but as long as you find out what induction activities are compulsory and how and when to enrol, I don't think you need worry about everything. You don't need to be there to start lectures at a particular time as on taught courses.

As far as the socialising goes, unless you really want to go to these initial events, again I would not worry. I think generally, it is the younger students who might get involved in these (sorry to generalise but I'm using my experience on this). Unlike undergraduate life, doing a PhD is quite lonely and you will probably socialise with a small group of friends that you make as you go along. I did my masters at the same university so had made friends through that, but rather than attend pre-organised social events at the beginning of term, I met people through my course, at conferences and seminars etc. Most of the people I know are my age, but there are some younger students in our 'gang'! Everybody has commitments - doing the PhD being the major one, but others include children, cats, part-time jobs etc, so you will be in the same boat as everyone else. Once you have settled in and met people in your department I think you'll find the social side of things will come naturally, so I'd say there is no need to force it at the beginning of term. Hope all this is of help. By the way, I love Bath, I started a first degree there in the 1980s but never finished, and although my PhD is up north, I am moving to Bristol today to live with my partner, but I hope to visit Bath regularly.

I'm also over 40 and hopefully in my last few months. The organisation and scheduling has been very woolly. I also have a small child and early also sick husband and parents. Times and dates for courses and whatnot were often sent at the last minute (or even later...) and it was very difficult to organise family committments. Scheduling is done as if none of the students could possibly have anything else they need to do and I suppose that is geared toward the bulk of the younger students. Inevitably some things were missed - but if you really need the info there is usually some way to get it later.

As for socialising - I used to go to the pub regularly after seminars - until my daughter was born. The problem now is that I can't be spontaneous enough. I need at least a couple of days notice and for my husband to be around, and pub outings tend to be spur of the moment things that may or may not happen. I also work mainly from home (even though my dept is onjly 7 miles away) so I am not as involved with the day-to-day social stuff as I used to be. If you want to socialise a bit then try to have some regular time in the dept - even if it's only for research seminars. I am starting to feel a bit lost in space - but that's mainly because I'm writing up now and it just doesn't work for me to have my stuff in two places. Are you planning to work from home or will you have a desk in your dept?

Hello, I'd agree with everything the others have said - I've met a lot of other research students through seminars and other scheduled academic events, which also frequently end in the pub for those who want to go. The drinking/socialising events you mention might be aimed more at postgrad students doing taught masters courses, rather than doctoral students, who are, at least at my uni, a quite different type of cohort in terms of age, background and what they want from their studies.

I'm not really surprised by the apparently casual approach to inductions that you mention, I've always experienced chaotic organisation at my college, but I've got used to it. A large number of our research staff are still on holiday, as it's the only time they can take annual leave before the new academic year begins, but things slowly get back to normal after this short bank holiday week finishes. I'd imagine that's not unusual in HE. If you have to arrange childcare in advance, I'd confirm specific enrolment dates and events by phone with the post-graduate research administrators, as they should be the ones organising it all and would know what's planned. It's not as good as having it in writing, but the relevant timetables/handouts etc might not be written up yet for wider dissemination. Maybe they'd be able to email you info, it might be worth asking. If the whole week of events is really, really badly organised, then I'd imagine other students will also miss out, especially if there are late enrollers too. If you miss some things, you could try to get to others in the future.

I did both my masters and PhD as an 'older' student too, and it's definitely worth juggling job/life stuff to do it - very satisfying! Good luck with it.

Hi Timothy, I never went to any of the social events for postgrads when I started my PhD and I honestly don't think I've missed out on anything. There were a couple of people that I initially got to know quite well (unfortunately one of them dropped out :-() but that wasn't as a consequence of socialising in pubs and clubs. I suppose it'll depend on whether you want to get out and about for the purposes of relaxation really, and whether you want to get to know a lot of new people. I wouldn't say socialising as a PhD-er is as important as when you're an undergrad, though that's just my opinion. Good luck with everything.

Thank you to everyone for your replies and reassurance. I now feel much more relaxed about the whole thing - and and even looking forward to it!

hi im also due to start a phd at cardiff in the school of pharmacy. have been told the start date is 1st oct, am waiting for more info to be sent to me.

Hi Hsiani, My PhD starts on the 1st Oct too and I am also conducting mine at the WSP. I haven't had any details of enrolment or my studentship. You?

hi, no i havent heard anything yet but then i was only offered the phd last week. hoping to get some info by this week. my supervisor is les baillie. i still need to sort out accomadation, doubt ill be able to get a place in the post grad halls now as its quite late. i was planning to move to cardiff at the end of sept, am living in london. have you sorted out accomadation? by the way ive just finished my undergrad as well.

Hsiani- Sent you a PM as not sure what can be said on open forum?