Hi Xiuhei,

Thank you for your reply. I will do a bit of googling to see what is available. Out of interest, how long did you spend in school in Nicaragua and what level can you now speak - fluent? Thanks.

Thanks for the suggestion :)

Thanks everyone for your contribution to the poll! I'll keep on the look out for funding opportunities! :)

Hi Kizzy.

Thanks for your help! I was conscious that I may be compromising my project by starting it 'late', but if it's not a problem when I start, that is great! Thank you! :-)

Hi.

I am looking to include social science into my PhD study which will be conducted in Central America, and will therefore need to be fluent in Spanish. I already have basic conversational skills, though feel it necessary to become fluent in all aspects of the language (i.e., written, speaking, listening, and reading).

Can anyone suggest any language courses, please? (I am based in the UK, but do not mind travelling for training).

Thanks in advance!

Adios! :-)

Hi.

I have a research idea (in wildlife conservation) and have had numerous discussions with lecturers about turning the idea into a PhD study. Feedback on the proposed project has been very good, but now (10 July) I am concerned that I will be unable to start the study in the coming academic year due to potentially having missed a lot of the funding opportunities.

What are your honest thoughts on this? Should I have a break from it for the time being and try again next year, or is it not too late to start this coming year? My supervisors will be from UK institutions and say that it may be possible (depending on funding) to start early next year - do you think this would hinder my project by missing September/October to December/January?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions and comments. :-)

Done! Good luck!

Hi!

I'm currently in the process of developing a PhD and have found it really useful to network with others. It has given me that extra bit of confidence in my project when I get positive feedback and interest from academics in my chosen field. As one of the other users has noted in a previous post, I would agree that you should however be cautious when discussing your ideas. My supervisor gave me this advice: "give them enough information for them to be interested, but not enough for them to steal the idea!" - hope that's useful?

Hi.

My aspiration is to work in field-based wildlife research, specifically studying big cats. I just wonder whether you would suggest a PhD to be the most appropriate path to take to pursue this, or would another path be more advisable?

Thanks! :-)

Hi.

I have developed a PhD research proposal that has been verified by numerous academics at my present institution and am just investigating appropriate potential supervisors. The project is focused on wildlife conservation, specifically human-jaguar conflict.

Does anyone have any hints on the best approach to take in requesting supervision, or deciding which institution and supervisor is most appropriate?

Thanks! :-)

Hi!

I am a prospective PhD student and aim to begin study in the forthcoming academic year leading on from my undergraduate degree in Animal Conservation Science. Currently, I have a well-developed research proposal that has been verified with lecturers at my present institution. Following interest from a relevant conservation organisation, a detailed outline of the project has been sent to them for feedback and possible collaboration.

I do have a slight concern though. At this institution I have multiple potential supervisors, though one has suggested that supervision may be more appropriate elsewhere due to the array of research backgrounds here, which though are relevant, are not entirely specific to the focus of my proposed study. However, another has suggested that I aim to gain partnerships with organisations and independant researchers that may aid the PhD and future prospects. This institution is also soon to investigate funding opportunities for the project.

The reason I have started this thread therefore, is to get some advice.

Would you recommend I continue to pursue the PhD at the present institution where future prospects may potentially be high, though I have concerns over supervision? Or do you advise that I send my research proposal to appropriate persons who may be able to supervise this project, though chances of successfully arranging supervision may be limited - perhaps? I also currently have no funding available, so this would be something that requires investigation - is it too late at this stage (June)?

Any experiences that you would like to share with regards to choices you have made, or recommendations you have, would be greatly appreciated, as I would like to hear impartial guidance that I can not necessarily get at my current institution.

Thank you! :-)