Hi everyone,

A friend of mine did a business degree from UOL and she told me that, throughout their course , there were no assignments given, no mid term no semesters at all.

The structure of the course is one exam each year for a particular and id an individual passed the exam, that's it. They are considered done for that particular paper.

Now, correct me if i m wrong. Is there such way of conducting a university degree nowadays ?? When I was told by my friend how the course is formed at their hook, I was really surprised. I also did a degree from UK education as well. Any input on it would be much appreciated.

Hi everyone,

It's been a while, I lost in touch with the forum. How is everyone doing ??

I want to discuss about MBA program and getting inputs from those experience with. I m thinking of going for MBA n like most people I m a working adult in software engineering industry.

That pop up a few questions on my head and would like to bring those to community attention and get some advice on those.

1.When considering which university to go for MBA, does the university ranking and popularity makes a lot of difference ?? I was told and getting an impression from people I knew that without a Harvard or Oxford MBA, getting MBA from other universities wouldn't make any difference.

2. Would getting a MBA , contribute a lot to my career ?? Obviously, one reason of taking it that I wanna build a good portfolio on my career and I have no idea he relationship between doing MBA as a software engineer but not master in computer science.

3. I would be appreciated if others could share their experience here which I might have misses or need to know before stepping into.

Thanks all and looking forward to seeing inputs from you all.

Thanks all. It really helps me to come up with a decision. I was having a really tough time making up my mind whether to follow my passion or just keep on continue with what I have already started. Doing M.sc first with psychology or philosophy sounds interesting but I guess I will just do Computing. Based on what everyone suggested, I guess it is better that I just finish what I have started.

======= Date Modified 06 57 2010 18:57:25 =======
Hi everyone,

I am sure most of you may have encountered something like that. I am a computing student and completed my under-grad degree in Computing. I like Computing (programming, networking etc. except MATHS). My problem is I would like to pursue further studies (pretty much honest, I love academia and just can't get outta it).

Going to post-grad studies in Computing makes sense since my under-grad was a Computing degree. However, my problem is; it is OK for me to do Computing in Phd but i myself fancy more to psychology or philosophy. To be frank, I would like to dive into either one of both specialty (psychology or philosophy) but everyone says in terms of career Computing is better after my post-grad studies. Some suggested that I have never learned nor done anything regarding to those majors (psychology or philosophy), how would I even be able to write a proposal to get a scholarship. TRUE and I am sort of lost.

Some of my friends say PHD ? Gezz that's Permanent Head Damage. Don't go for something you dun love since you will be doing that for like 4 to 6 years. Go for something you love as it will make you feel better studying.

Can anybody help me out of this ? I am not asking for help to make a decision for me but based on your experience please answer the following questions.

1. You think I'd stand a fair chance of getting the scholarship (fund) and getting into the program if I go for either one of philosophy or psychology ?

2. In terms of career, which would be better ? Computing or the other two I mentioned.

3. Do you have experience something like that ? If so , please share it here and really appreciated.

Thanks all. I know it sounds a bit confusing but please help me out of this.

First of all, Thanks everyone for taking time to answer my silly question. I was out of town and did not happen to check my post. It gives me lots of thoughts. I do appreciate for the replies. All the replies, lead me to one conclusion. Now I am browsing other universities web site and started sending email to professors. At first, I think it's a bit lame to write a lot of proposal at the same time with different research topic but it appears that I should not leave any chance behind or I might end up trying like 3 years to actually get into the program. Thanks all for sharing ideas and I will be looking forward to hearing more.

Hi everyone,

I know this sounds silly and depends on many factors. Basically what I wanna know is once a person has applied for a scholarship to a university (after he/she has managed to get a Professor to supervise 'em), how much percentage that the person can actually get the scholarship ? I mean since a lot of people on this forum have this experience, I am looking for something like how many of you ended up trying for more than one universities (because your scholarship application was rejected/not qualified) to be able to get into the program. With all due respect to everyone here, I am not looking for individual failures while trying to get into the program but would encourage everyone to share your experience about how you tried to get into the program and if possible, how many universities and how many times.

The reason which I am asking this question is, recently, I have applied scholarship to a university in Australia and now sitting duck, waiting for the outcome but not applying any more scholarship in any other universities. I have been wondering, what if my scholarship got rejected ? Should I try the same university with different proposal or should I try another university with the same proposal (In a general sense, I am saying it more like using the same proposal topic) ? Or shall I start applying scholarship in different universities now as I am waiting for the outcome of my scholarship. I know it depends on a lot of factors and making decision of what to do next is solely depend on one's choice. However, I would like to know the percentage of once a person has been offered by a Professor that he/she would like to supervise , what are the chances of that candidate to actually get the scholarship ?

Regards,

Thank you for pointing that out. I thought of it too but one thing bothering me is "what if the reader has no idea what I am talking about". I mean he/she (or could be a group of people?) are going to decide whether to give scholarship to this candidate or not and they have no idea about the research outline.

Let's say I start to talk about that I'm going to change the way TCP/IP works becuz of ARP poisoning can be achieved at IP layer blur blur blur, and by doing that, there will be no more Man in the Middle attack (I'm not gonna do this or I dun think it's correct). My point is I approach straight to the point without actually thinking about the reader's knowledge (without telling them pros and cons or whatever background knowledge in advance).

To be honest, I'm quite agree with the idea of getting straight to the point since it's only 250 words max. Will be looking forward to hearing more input on this matter. Thanks all.

Hi everyone

I am lost again. I'm supposed to be submitting a research outline (max 250 words) to the scholarship dept and I do really really want to submit a good one because without getting this scholarship I'm going under. I'm applying for a PhD program in Computer Science. My problem is I have no idea what type of format would be suitable in this sort of essay. Obviously, 250 words is just too little to describe my entire research and besides, I think the person who would probably reading my essay might not even have a strong background knowledge in Computer Science.

Here is the guideline which I have used to write my research outline. It has 3 paragraphs.

1st paragraph - (Introduction to background information such as disadvantages of something)
2nd paragraph - (What I am going to do to get rid of those problems)
3rd paragraph - (The expected outcomes after the research has been carried out)

If the paragraph outline is not suitable for this sort of essay type, please help shedding light on me to come up with a better version.

More questions -

1. Do I need to have reference in the essay such as someone said this and that and here is the reference to their quote blur blur ? I don't think this is appropriate since I am supposed to be writing max 250 words but I am still confused.

2. Do I need a thesis statement in this sort of essay?

Thanks all and looking forward to receiving inputs.

Regards,

Thanks all for answering my question out of you guys busy schedule and I am looking forward to hearing more opinions. Another question popped up on my mind and I hope you guys dun mind helping me on this one too. How long does it normally take to get into a program since we have been somehow got accepted. Let's not think about intake here. Let's just say I start to contact a professor and ok let's just say he/she likes my idea. We send a series of email back and forth (probably a week) then my research proposal (probably another one week). Then he/she read my proposal and tell me what he/she thinks (let's assume that professor likes my proposal and I've been accepted here and it takes 2 weeks). So far, it's been a month.

Then I talk to admission dept and available scholarship (I am thinking like it would take 2 months here). I might need to take IELTS here so let's say another 2 months. So, total 6 months or could be a year (if I missed an intake or something) ? My point is, if I were that professor, after like 6 months, I don't think I would even remember that proposal. So, would there be any chance like I will have been rejected after all the procedures been done because it takes too long for me to actually get into the program ?

I'm sure you guys get a basic idea and the reason I am asking this is, I've gotten a job offer and it is pretty good one too. I guess I need to know when to write the resignation letter so that everything could go well as I plan. Again, thanks all and correct me if I am wrong here because I have no idea what I am about to face.

Best Regards

Thanks all for pointing out. Looking forward to hearing more.

======= Date Modified 03 10 2010 09:10:17 =======
Hi everyone,

I guess, my title is pretty self descriptive. It would be great others (those who are already doing their PhDs or those who have completed one) share their experience how to get into the program, procedures of getting into the program and what to expect. According to my knowledge, we need to write a research proposal and a few other letters (if we are looking for some sorta funds or scholarship). Again, writing a research proposal may vary, depending on different universities and professors likings. It would be great if someone kindly answer the following questions.

1. Should I contact to several professors at a different university or should I better off write my own research proposal (my own version)?

2. Contacting to professors should be done in the first place rather than contacting to other departments (such as international student admission) ? (I am thinking here like ok a professor says he/she likes my idea of research then later on what if there are a few problems with admission ? )

3. What if a professor says they aren't interested in something I would like to do but I'm so head over heels to study in that particular University (should I keep sending emails to those professors who aren't interested in my idea of research or should I change my research area to something that might be interested by the professor and keep sending ? )

4. Will I stand a chance against getting into a PhD program without having any working experience nor a M.sc degree but only a 1st class B.Sc (Hons) degree ?

Thanks all. Please at least answer question 1 and 2 if any of you dun have spare time to answer all. That's the 2 questions which been confusing me.

Best Regards

Thanks all. I guess in either case (2 pages or 15 pages), I don't think I can put every single detail about my algorithm. Algorithms alone would take more than 15 pages I guess (including all those theory and mathematical formula). Again, thanks for pointing that out to check with the supervisor and the general guideline for the proposal.

Best Regards

======= Date Modified 01 59 2010 11:59:28 =======
Hi everyone,

I am writing my research proposal to get into the Phd course and get the scholarship. There is one thing confusing me. I have been reading a few how-to about writing a research proposal and from various online sources, I received the impression of not going into every single detail when we write a research proposal and a few suggested that I should even include a detail calendar about how I am going to carry out the research. My problem is, I have a topic (something like hey I am going to make a new kind of cake and I think I know a way) but of course it is still up in the air. I dunno how I am gonna do it and what sort of ingredients that I am gonna use to do it but I know I'm gonna use sugar, eggs, cup blur blur blur. My point is, it is nothing fancy but it is something enhanced based on the current way of doing it.

In technical terms, I am gonna do something to improve current computer networking technology but I have no idea about how I am going to do it or what sort of algorithms that I am going to use to do it but believe me in the end if my research is successfully implemented, it will bring a lot of benefits to the community.

OK, so in my research proposal, do i need to include every single detail about the algorithms that I will use to carry out the research or is it ok if i write my research proposal in a general way ? Is the nature of Phd course is like shaping our thoughts to become reality or taking the reality and recognize it ? I am saying it like does a student need to know every single detail about the research which he/she is going to carry out or is it ok if he/she knows a bit of it but does not posses an in-depth knowledge. Please help me out.

Best Regards

Thanks for shedding light on me. So, in a nutshell, If I want to discuss about something, I need to prove whatever that I discussed is realistic and can be done (by me). So, in the sense of Software Engineering, even though I do not need to write a complete system, as long as I can prove my concept I'm better off ? Please correct me if I am wrong. I am currently thinking of writing a research proposal and working on a topic to come up with. I guess my research need not only to be smart (I mean something which other people haven't done) it also needs to be realistic and feasible within the time frame I have. Just to stress on the point again, for instance, my research is about CCTVs being able to recognize a person and trace every single place that the person goes in public, in that sense, I guess at least I must be able to implement a system which can recognize a person face in the public at a minimum level ? It would be great if you guys can tell me a list of interesting research topics. It would give me a lot of thoughts while I am choosing my own research area. Thanks all, greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone,

One thing is confusing me. If we did Phd in Software Engineering, is it a must that we need to come up with a working software at the end of the program ? I mean let's say if my research proposal is about umm say "skynet" (I am not planning to do but let's just say). Obviously, it will take a long time to do a proper research on a topic like that. So, in the end, I come up with a very good paper (I dun think I will but my idea is something like read it and implement it, it will work). However, let's just say that I spent too much time researching and writing my paper, I did not have time to actually build "the skynet" which my paper discusses about. Well, in that case, can I still expect to get my Phd at the end of the course ? Is that a requirement that every phd candidates in Software Engineering must build the system at the end or is it ok if we come up with a paper (complete documentation) which lets anyone on earth to build "the skynet" (according to the above scenario)? Please help me to get a clear picture on it. Thanks all.

Regards