Thanks Otto, for your suggestion, I think I'll do so despite of the (minimal) risk.

Hi,

I'm a full-time PhD student,and will rent a house to live with my wife,but she wont work for a period of time,neither will she claim benefits,etc-we are EU but not British. Will I have to pay council tax? Thanks!

Hi waterbaby. I would REALLY appreciate it if you could give me some more clues with regard to the web interview that I will attend this week. So, I talked on the web to my supervisors who told me that I was the only candidate who was shortlisted for the interview for their project. However, they mentioned that not all the 40-ish advertised 2007 Strategic studentships will be funded, but that there will be a selection of projects which will receive studentship. Whereas on the web it says that each of these projects come with full PhD funding. The supervisors told me that they will make lobby for me to the committee after the interview. I asked how many of the projects will come with PhD funding, and they said they didn't know, but that there were "many candidates for many studentships". Do you think you can find out more about this? Useless to say that this information would be pure gold for me..

Thanks a lot for this waterbaby. Now I got a sense of how this process of selection usually goes. It's good to know that there may be further chances, however, it would be really good if I got there from my first try. I'm waiting for them to tell me when will the web conference be. 3-4 candidates isn't too much, so this is, I'm saying again, reassuring. My country will join the eu in less than a month, so I'm practically eligible for EU funding. Good luck with your work, and I'll keep you posted of the outcome. Or, better: I'll meet you there (i.e. Manchester Medical School)

UAU waterbaby, do you always write so encouraging words as these? You've practically demolished all myths regarding killer-type interviewers! It would be so good if it was as you said. My supervisor told me maybe we should meet on the web earlier so that he could make me familiar to the interview scenario (he's actually TOO kind if he wants to do that). I have one last question: how many applicants do they usually shortlist? Please bear in mind that this year they only advertised the Strategic Studentships 12 days prior to the closing date, that they posted 40 fully-funded studentships (my God, they are rich!), and that at least 12 of the projects suited Psychology graduates. I guess I keep encouraging myself that there aren't too many strong candidates competing..

Thank you waterbaby for this. This is helpful, although I would appreciate a lot if you could give me some further details about the questions they ask, as well as about the answers they want to hear during the interview. I'm from romania, and will be a lot easier for me to come to the uk in flesh (i like this!) after 1 jan when my country joins the eu. However my proposed supervisor told me that they might want to set up the interview earlier, so I think we'll do a webcast int next week. Do they require the highest standards of performance from a non-native English speaking student? I got an ielts score of 8, so I'm fine, but I'm afraid that I might not satisfy their expectations, and that was my main question: what do they expect during an interview, a faultlessly academic speech, or is it going to be easy as long as my references, supervisor's support etc are very good? My weakest point however is that I hold a 2i and a postgrad certificate - will that count much? Thanks.

Hi, I was shortlisted for an interview for a 2007 Strategic PhD studentship in the Manchester Medical School. The supervisers really want me there, they asked the committee to shortlist me, so their support is very high. I should attend an interview this week, but I'm not from the UK, so they told me that they might be able to postpone this interview until early January. Do you know how important this interview is? How will it be like? Maybe you Manchester guys can help me with some advice, please. Thanks.

About the IELTS now: studied english in school for 10 years, then had my 1-year postgrad experience, then usingh english everyday at work. Bought materials, and borrowed all the tests (din about 30-40 full tests), and learnt for about 2 months for 2-3 hours each day. I was pretty stressed out during the exam, got a 9.0 at the listening, 7 at writing and 8 at both speaking, and reading. Reading section seemed really hard, didn't expect to get an 8, speaking was easy, and quite surprised I got an 8, was pretty sure I'd get a 7. Any comments most welcomed.

I have passed IELTS exam with an overall 8.0. Hasn't been of much help yet, as although was made an offer couldn't secure funding. Recently applied for a funded studentship from another university. Do you think that such a score AND excellent references from top scientists could compensate an upper second from overseas, plus a postgrad certificate from a poorly rated uk university? Plus a 4-year experience in a state-of-the-art lab conducting research under supervision from some great people in the area?