Congratulations!
I start my PhD in October too and found the forum very very helpful!
Hopefully we will both enjoy it! :)

Thanks to everyone for your replies. They are much appreciated :)

Donzy what is it about your PhD that you dislike so much? Is it just the pressure or are there other issues?

I am still a bit unsure about the whole thing really which isn't helped by everyone around me so sure i am defiantly going to do it! lol! but think i will at least give it a shot as i do love the idea of building a career in research.

Those of you who recommended doing the PhD what is it you love about it or why you think it is the right move for me?

Again thanks so much for your advice :)

Hi Alex

I am also at Loughborough and just finished my UG degree. I have just been offered a studentship to do a PhD in the Geography department and will be starting in October.

I was also confused whether to do a masters or go straight on to PhD and my department were really helpful. even if you don't want to stay at Loughborough im sure your department will be able to help you. As i understand it in many cases you can skip the masters if they feel you are ready to begin research at PhD level straight from UG. In my case i was carrying on a topic from my UG dissertation so this is why i skipped the masters. I would say to speak to the department or even the careers center at Loughborough who are also great. If you decide to apply for PhD studies you will have to do a proposal which my department also helped me put together.

Also it is normal to feel lost at this stage. even though iv been made an offer i feel like i don't know what to do - its a big decision to carry on studying so don't worry about being a bit lost with it all!!

Good luck with your applications! :)

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on this site and need some advice from anyone who thinks they may be able to help!

I have just finished my undergraduate degree in Geography and have been offered funding from my department to do a PhD on the topic i based my undergrad dissertation on. I was so excited when i got the offer but now i am having a crisis of confidence and wondering whether to take up this offer or not! I know i am so lucky to have the chance to do this and feel ungrateful having doubts but i don't want to start something i might not be 100% sure about!

I firstly am just not sure i am PhD material. I have no idea what is expected of me and worry i will be completely out of my depth once i start. I am also very keen to have a family in the future and worry that if i do a PhD then have children soon after i wont be able to actually do anything with my PhD and it will have been a waste of time. Am i completely wrong here?

I just worry i will be lonely and have no idea where to start! mega crisis as need to decide soon to not let my department down. I get on well with my prospective tutor and have the departments support just don't know whether it is for me. It doesn't help i don't know what to do with it once i have finished! What is it really like to do a PhD and do you have to know what you are going to do with it once you have finished it?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated!! :)