======= Date Modified 07 Jun 2010 19:09:29 =======
Depends on the university. Not all of them ask for deposit, only some of them. You really need to contact the admissions office at the university you're planning to go to and ask them if they require a deposit, and if so then how much it is. Also, look at the university's website; they usually have this kind of information stated clearly in the pages which deal with 'International Students'.

======= Date Modified 07 Jun 2010 14:04:10 =======
Some universities now ask overseas/international (i.e. non-UK and non-European Union) students to pay a 'deposit' upon accepting an offer of a place on a degree programme; this happens months BEFORE enrollment, so if you change your mind about enrolling you just lose the money. The rationale behind this is that once you've accepted an offer of a place at a university, they reserve a seat for you on their programme. Given that there is a limited number of seats each year on every programme, they might have to reject someone else's application in order to be able to offer the place to you instead - this happens when they don't have enough places. If you then change your mind they would in effect have lost both: you, and the person they rejected in order that they offer the place to you instead.

Not all universities ask for a 'deposit' - mine does, but lots of others in the UK don't. Also, many programmes are fully aware that people will accept a place tentatively until they know whether they are successful in obtaining funding or not. Ask the admission's department at the institution you're thinking of joining on their procedures (this will differ from one university to the other). Funding results are announced (for international students around April to May), but national funding results are not announced until July or August, so universities know that students will need to wait until then. Just communicate your query to your university of choice directly - they'll be able to help you and confirm whether they do have a 'deposit' requirement or not.

======= Date Modified 07 Jun 2010 13:51:55 =======
======= Date Modified 07 Jun 2010 13:47:06 =======
Hi Fish, I faced a similar situation recently where things didn't work out for me on the PhD programme I was enrolled on (18 months into my degree). For very different reasons, I had to decide between quitting altogether or working really hard to get the MPhil. I asked around and opinions were very divided about the MPhil. The old-school view was that it looks like a 'failed-PhD' on a CV, whereas the progressive view was that it is a prestigious research degree equivalent to a superior/second masters. The old-school view is premised on the fact that the MPhil was awarded to people whose research was not quite up to PhD level; the progressive view, on the other hand, is premised on the fact that some of the country's most prestigious institutions are now beginning to offer 'MPhil' as a stand-alone degree for those who do not want to become academics, but do want to have research skills and in depth research knowledge of a particular topic - this may then be used as a platform for further research work as 'Research Assistant' working for the public or private sector, or as a platform for beginning a PhD at a later stage. So, from what I've heard the opinions about the MPhil degree are beginning to shift (not the least because no one can any longer rubbish a degree which their department is now offering as a stand-alone degree; otherwise rubbishing it would amount to admitting that they're offering something not really worthy of students enrolling onto! It would be self-defeating). Also, you can argue to future employers that it has been an excellent way of gaining research skills and transferable skills such as project-management, etc. It also shows that you did the most with your funding, and came out with something in the end and hence funding you was worthwhile - this will put you in a good position should you one day decide to start all over in a new PhD programme and apply for funding. As long as you've got a very good reason to explain why this degree didn't reach the PhD level, then no one will hold you're having an MPhil against you - it just can't be "I didn't finish because I couldn't be bothered" or "I haven't got what it takes to be a research student", otherwise it'll reflect negatively on you by indicating that you're not a student worthy of being funded and invested in. If you do decide to do a PhD after your MPhil, you night not be able to just tranfer straight into the second or third year of another programme - you might need to start from scratch. This will depend on what's standard practice in your discipline, and the particular institutions you'll want to join later.
For these reasons I decided to stick with the MPhil and finish it no matter what it takes. Then again, I do have aspirations for becoming an academic one day and doing a different PhD. Hence it all depends on where you want to go; but if you've come this far, and if you can bear it, it might be worth doing the MPhil just so you can keep your options open for the future.

Best of luck whichever option you decide to take!

======= Date Modified 06 Jun 2010 19:05:01 =======
Eska,

If it makes you feel any better, established academics told me that they still get nervous whilst giving papers - especially to people they don't know, and that writing (although it does get easier with time) is still an uphill struggle. It seems like the more we learn, the more we realise that there is some much out there to learn. The morale is: don't worry, everyone gets nervous showing and sharing their work with others. Remember this, and remember it happens to the best of us.

Second, public speaking does get easier with time. The more you do it, the easier it gets. So give as many papers as you can whilst you're a postgrad so you can get practice for later when you're a Doctor. From experience of going to conferences, people tend to be much gentler on PhD students than they are with full-fledge academics. They'll know you're still at the learning stage, so they're more likely to be understanding if you say anything they disagree with; they'll accomodate mistakes at this stage and they'll be generous in their comments and pointing you in (what they think is) the right direction.

Etiquette - If someone asks something you couldn't understand, politely say you didn't understand, ask them to explain this further to you (depending on your field, maybe give examples to illustrate their point). If you still don't understand/know the answer, then be humble and admit that this stage you don't know, but 'thank you, that's a very interesting point', make a note of it and say 'I'll have to look into it before I can answer/ I'll make sure I look into it'. Stay calm, be polite, show your appreciation for their comments by thanking them, and only answer what you actually know, never what you don't know! If someone still looks unsatisfied with your answer, ask 'Does this answer your question?', and if they reply in the negative, ask for further clarification. Enjoy sharing your work and getting feed-back - some of this feed-back might be very valuable for your PhD work, so do jot things down as they ask you - I also do this when I'm nervours and am likely to forget the details of the question; also, sometimes some very long questions can be asked and it's worth writing this down then breaking it into parts when you're answering.

Last, papers at a prestigious institution is an excellent way of networking and publicing your work. You know you're good, you know they'll like it, and this is a very big plus! You never know, they might give you some really positive feed back that'll boost your confidence. After the talk, chat to people, make contacts, and enjoy yourself!

Good luck!

CONGRATULATIONS DR. PhDmum - well done!

Thank you for explaining the details of how it went; I have my viva in a few months and this will no doubt help.

Best of luck for the future, for birth, and for motherhood! :-):-):-)(up)(up)

Congrats Squiggles and Yellowtreble. (up)

PhDmum - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!!

======= Date Modified 04 Jun 2010 13:06:03 =======
Phdstress, my university's regulations booklet for PhD students specifies the exact catergories of:
1) Pass - no corrections
2) Pass - IF minor editorial corrections are corrected to the satisfaction of the examiners (maximum 3 months to resubmit)
3) Pass - IF minor deficiencies are corrected to the satisfaction of the examiners (maximum 6 months to resubmit; and possibly, depending on what examiner's recommend, another viva)
4) Fail
5) Examiners recommend student for MPhil

Note that these catergories vary according to each institution! So you need to find out how your institution classifies the different outcomes of vivas.

Get hold of your university's regulations for PhD students, read it thoroughly, then go to see the person responsible for communicating this outcome to you (in my uni this is the person who chaired the viva, but in other uni's it might be another person. Again, your university's regulations should clearly state who's responsibility it is to communicate this to you) and ask them to tell you which specific catergory you fall into, how long exactly do you have to resubmit, and did the examiners finally decide that you will, or will not, require another viva. Get this confirmed in writing - even if it means that after the meeting and the verbal communication that you follow this with an email to that person, detailing the minutes of your meeting, and what they advised you. Otherwise, just drop them an email stating all the possible catergories, and asking them to confirm to you which one exactly you fall under.

Congratulations Rubystar! Well done for hanging in there - a well-earned success!

Wow! Thank you sooooo much Corinne! These are valuable tips which I shall attempt to put into practice immediately. Once again, I'm grateful for your sharing this with me. It certainly makes a big difference. :-)

Dear Corinne,
This will probably sound odd or twisted, but you don't know how much it helps to know that there are others - like you - who are going through the same thing. It helps, because you sound like you've coped very well with your situation and have made the best of it.
I had contemplated asking someone else to read my thesis but unfortunately I couldn't think of anyone I knew who was not connected to my school or supervisor. I was naive in my networking skills - thought I need this only for future job applications, or a morale boost now and then. From what you say, networking with people not connected to one's sup and from an early stage in the PhD might prove vital should things go - excuse the expression! - pear-shape in terms of one's relationship with one's sup. I wish I'd known this earlier :(
Any how, after reading your reply last night, I went searching through my emails and found one expert whom I had a very brief email exchange with a year ago; and who had said they'd be happy to read my work. I'll give it a go and email this expert to ask if, in a month's time when the final draft is finished, they'd be willing to read it and perhaps comment on it.
Last, but not least, I'm sorry to hear that you've had all these problems with your sups. The fact that you've already published 3 articles is testament to the fact that you are already a well-valued and respected researcher, so have no fear as you march towards your submission date. Your coping-mechanisms are exemplary, and I thank you very much for your help.
Best wishes.
(up)

======= Date Modified 02 Jun 2010 11:30:27 =======
Sounds to me like you already know what to do, but bringing yourself to admitting it is probably hard for you given that the decision might also involve/effect others. Just be entirely honest with yourself and others concerned (e.g. supervisor, departments, etc.). There is no point doing anything in life that doesn't get you where you want to go, and/or is irrelevant to what you want to do, and/or you don't particularly enjoy/value.
Like one poster said below in the interview, we all make mistakes - this is part and parcel of being human, accumulating experience, and getting things right the second time around. Years ago, I started a BA at a reputable university and struggled to stay motivated, but carried on despite my disinterest. Back then I thought a university education would be advantageous (I still believe this to be the case), and that the field I had chosen was a well-respected one. I later realised that this 'well-respected' aspect of my choice meant that I was struggling to do something that I actually hated simply because I thought everyone else will think it's a worthwhile subject to have a degree in. Looking back on things now I wish I had a mentor to tell me 'Don't do things just because they please others; you can change to another degree that you actually value and will consequently enjoy'. Had I known this I would not have waster 3 years of my life doing something I hated. I'm not sayiing I'm now inffalible, or that I can answer your question correctly. I'm 36, and have made a few mistakes in my life which I'd gladlly share with others if it helps them prevent making similar ones themselves. Quitting that BA, and getting onto another one which I did for my OWN sake and which I valued as an indispensible vehicle to my future aspirations is one of the best decisions I made and I do not regret this one iota. This 'right' decision though would not have been possible without that 'not-so-good' decision which originally led me to do a BA in something I didn't like. In other words, correct decisions are often based on getting things wrong the first time around. Getting things right is a matter of constant re-evaluation and practice.

Don't be afraid to do ask some-soul searching questions and be honest with yourself; it'll help you be honest with others - this pays better in the end than doing something you don't value or enjoy, and which will no doubt come to light one day in the form of a lack of motivation, etc. And depending on what you finally decide, don't be afraid to say to yourself or others that you were mistaken. It's a mark of maturity and honesty, if anything. Best of Luck!

Is the PhD you've been offered not already funded?

Contact the Embassy of the Netherlands in your country & request that they provide you with information regarding funding bodies which can offer funding to international students in your situation - they should normally have a list of these.

======= Date Modified 30 May 2010 20:13:52 =======
Thank you Jepsonclough. It's comforting to hear this. I'm in a UK department - very closely knit - and although there may be, in theory, a review panel 'independent' to my sups, they are not really that independent in practice. My exams are looming and it's too late to kick a fuss less it comes at the expense of delaying things for me. For this reason I'm not so sure the complaint route - at this stage - will be a productive one.

I'm just not sure the extent to which supervisors ought to be involved in the final stages of preparing the work for submission - is it normal that they'll only take one look at the final draft, comment on it, and then they won't look at again after you've made the corrections? In effect, it means my sups would have only seen two pieces of writing from me since I began the degree: the first draft ever produced, and the final draft before submission. I'm just wondering if this is standard practice?

======= Date Modified 30 04 2010 20:04:59 =======
I join an MPhil/PhD programme where my two sups work in the same discipline but the methodology of my first and main sup is starkly opposed to the second. My sup 2 is so vehemently opposed to my thesis and methodology. I have received no support, feed-back or encouragement from him. In fact, on many occasions he has gone out of his way to be condescending to me, put hurdles in my way and undermine my abilities.
In the last 12 months - given sup 2’s other administrative and managerial roles in the department - he has taken liberty to exercise his power to discriminate positively against me. I attempted to make my main sup 1 aware of this in the politest and best way possible without mentioning names or pointing the figure at anyone in particular. He caught my drift & showed sympathy but his failure to suggest anything other than my opting to go part-time was evidence enough that he did not want to enter into any political game with other members of his department in order to protect me. I respected this and said no more.

Given that my degree is coming to an end soon and the exam are so near, time is not on my side. If I go down the road of complaining (e.g. asking for a new second supervisor) then this will only slow things down in terms of my ability to submit my thesis in the next few months, as I'd planned. Meanwhile, I simply get the impression that I'm being left to do a DIY job on my dissertation (I know it's an independent research etc. but since all these problems started, it has changed the nature of supervisory experience and reduced it to the bare minimum).

I feel so alone, I just wanted to hear from anyone here about their thoughts, and perhaps some encouraging words that may help boost my morale and keep me going through this lonely couple of months ahead of me where I will be – literally – shooting in the dark! I’d very much appreciate your thoughts.

======= Date Modified 28 May 2010 13:58:44 =======
I found these the other day; hope they give you some good tips:

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Users/dt31/download/phdviva.pdf

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:y7Bc6aQgd3IJ:www.psychology.heacademy.ac.uk/docs/ppt/p20080603_Viva_experience.ppt+surviving+your+viva+/+uk&cd=20&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:LVegYCJcGJMJ:www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/phd-support/survivingtheviva.ppt+surviving+your+viva+/+uk&cd=21&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk