Has anybody else noticed the vast number of PhD projects that are advertised on this website that are very out-of date. I know this to be true as I have enquired about a load, only to get a prompt response stating that the position was filled some time ago. I find this very demoralising and don't feel that this website is showing competance to be trusted.

I agree stw, I have noticed this problem on many occassions. It is quite disappointing when you find out that the projects you wanted are full.

We do try our best to make sure the information on FindAPhD is up to date. The universities that advertise with us are responsible for keeping the information accurate. For many PhD's no closing date for applications is stated and the position will be allocated as soon as the supervisors finds an applicant that they like. At this time of year the problem is exagerated as most PhD places starting at the end of September have been filled.

Subject to confirmation from the academic/university concerned we will remove any adverts from FindAPhD that are reported to us as being out of date.

... on the other hand- I applied for my position after the closing date and still got the PhD.

I have found two out-of date adverts today alone. One of them is a PhD I went for an interview, but it was offered to someone else. This same project was advertised on jobs.ac.uk, however, it is not there anymore!!! So findaphd.com are simply not as good at keeping up to date as jobs.ac.uk. I would recommend jobs to everyone, it seems the better method of finding a phd.

Well, it would seem that it is the supervisors job to cancel the ad one they have found a student for their Phd. So you should be complaining about the lazy supervisors who can't be bothered to inform FindA that the position is filled.

So how do jobs.ac.uk manage then???? Perhaps they just have a better system is place

anon - please could you let us know the details of the out of date projects you have found.

Jobs.ac places one off time limited ads - they disappear whether or not the project has been filled. FindAPhD is a subscription system which allows advertisers to log in and use it all year around. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages.

I really think it is your job to find out which ones are out of date, there are quite a lot of them. One is at Uni of Sussex, and one is at Leeds. Both of these are chemistry based PhDs, so that should point you in the right direction.

Oh, and www.jobs.ac.uk is the better site. The system you described they use is also the most sensible one to use. Shows how lazy findaphd is.

Anon - why are you even on this site if you think it's so rubbish?

I don't think anon is saying that it is rubbish, they are merely saying that jobs.ac.uk is better. This is a fact that I also agree with, but it would be pretty narrow to use job.ac.uk and not any other site. Perhaps you should get your facts straight.

Well, I disagree Stu - I think FindAPhD is much better than Jobs.ac

I agree jobs.ac sucks findaphd is way better