Thanks Teek, thats really good advice. I'm relieved about the DNA part, least thats one less thing to think about!

I got on well with the supervisor, I had a tour with a postdoc and they seemed happy enough, I think the only thing bothering me is the place - you know how sometimes you can just see yourself somewhere? well I really couldn't - maybe just nerves i guess. Its fairly isolated which didn't help, and a good days travel from home (I know these are all silly personal things to ask for advice about, i should probably just pull myself together and stop winging!!)

Should I try and just put that aside if its a good project?? Its an interesting topic and I havent found that many of them so far. Its just such long time to be living somewhere you're not sure about. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!!!

Hi all, I've been offered a PhD in Biological Sciences to study the effects of forest cover on small mammal abundance. I would also be trying to find a method to I.D individuals from DNA taken from scats.

I applied about 2 weeks ago, had an interview on monday and they want a decision straight away - I convinced them to give me until friday but it still all feels so rushed!! Is that normal or are they expecting a bit much?? I didn't get a great feeling about the place but that could have just been nerves....I'd be moving to the other side of the country etc etc... I really want to ask for more time but as i've already been given until friday is it pushing it a bit much to ask for the weekend???

The other thing i'm worried about is the lab work - i've got a BSc in biochemistry but that was 5 years ago. does anyone have experience in extracting DNA from scats? what is the likelyhood of being able to get samples of enough quality to I.D individuals from?? It sounds a bit of a long shot to me - maybe too risky for a PhD?? Especially seeing as the project is very fieldwork heavy, so not leaving that much time for lab work......

I've got so many questions but i'll try not to bombard you all!!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you :)

Hi all,

I've been offered a PhD at Stirling University in the Biological Sciences department - does anyone know whether this is a well regarded university for Biological Sciences??? I can't find much about it at all on the web...

Thank you :)

Hi,

I've been offered places on MSc courses at Exeter and Imperial college, (Exeter - MSc Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology, Imperial - MSc Ecology, Evolution and Conservation)

The course at Exeter looks much more hands-on than the one at Imperial. The course at Imperial seems to cover an awful lot of theory. Does this sound about right?

Has anyone done either of these courses? What are there experiences?

Thanks!

Hi,

I've got a place on the MSc Evolutionary Ecology and Behaviour at Exeter Uni, but i havent managed to get any funding (course fees are 6,500).

I graduated in 2004 and have been wanting to go back for the last couple of years (various things have got in the way) so i'm really reluctant to defer my place and put off going back to uni for another year.

I've saved enough to be able to live for a year but with the course fees on top i'm not sure what to do - wasn't expecting them to be this high!. Have considered a Career development loan but i'm a bit worried i wont be about to pay it back at the end - i'll basically be spending my entire savings!

So i guess my questions are -
Have any of you been in this position and am i being stupid by going this year?
How likely am i to get funding next year if i defer?
Do most masters students just bite the bullet?

Help! Thank you :-)