Hey I cant help Im afraid but have a similar prob im 3 months in to a PhD in a subject I have no previous experience of my field at all!! Ekkkk!! So I keep finding people assume I know stuff an have no idea what there on at all!!

Hmmmm im working in the ARC looking at genetic indicators of cardiovascular risk in patients with SLE or RA .....so its sort of epidemiology an genetics ......what exact kind of work is it you want to do?? Ive only just started an have no experience but my department does so may be able to help!

Ummmm difficult really cause I susspect that maybe you may find that declaring it to one and all might put them off so maybe I wouldnt go asking about it BUT if they ask in interview then maybe you might consider telling them....as if you get asked 'why have you had such a large gap in returning to studies is it really something you have always wanted to do?' then maybe being honest is better at least they will know you really want to do it an have not just decided you dont like the world of work!

On the other hand I know totally what you mean about keeping it from them Im dyslexic (totally different I know) but put it on the application form but then avoided mentioning it at all costs in the interview in case they held it against me! Its a trick one I guess you can only see what the vibe is at the interview an see how you think they might take it!

Fraid im not happy either!! Maybe its a new PhD student thing? I started in Oct an have so far fonud the majority of my group to be odd and rarther good at intentionally or not excluding those of us who are 'new'!! An they are virtually all part of couples so they go off back home to there other halves at home!!

People in my halls arent really the kind to do many social things either....so my advice is find out if there is a postgrad soc at your uni I have at found a few 'normal' people to go out for the odd drink with!!

I think at this point I should point out I thought my interview went terribly and there was no wasy I ahd got it!! But I did!

For my interview there were 3 of us there for the PhD I had applied for so if they call you to interview then they definately are already interested in you. I acctually didnt get the one I applied for but they offered me another one that was available but hadnt been advertised yet! SO you never know if the supervisors like you they may keep you in mind for other PhDs that come up!
If you dont get it then its worth remembering that once you become part of the EU it is often easier to find fully funded PhD studentships in the UK once youre from an EU state!

Lastly I you will be fine with a 2:1 and a postgrad certificate ( I have a 2:1 and a masters) so no probs then!

AS far as interview goes then I think that your references are important but dont worry if you dont understand something just ask them to re-phase it, if you still dont understand then be honest just say you dont know they are senior lecturers/department heads they have spent past 20-40 years working on subject so of course they will have heard of things you may have not.....they dont expect you to know everything!

Good luck im sure you will be fine!!!

Hi again psychstudent!

In answer to your questions!

What do they ask? They are really interested in YOU and what kind of student you are! They will ask a lot about your previous studies and your any postgraduate work you have done, they will prob ask why you want to do a PhD and ask why Manchester, But you shouldnt worry too much about it after all you are probably the world expert on yourself! They prob will ask one or 2 questions that make you feel uncomfortable but they are trying to see how you react under pressure so dont worry too much!

Its difficult for me to comment on the english speaking element myself as im a british student, I think that so long as you meet the requirements on your ilets score then you will be fine ( I assume it goes on your application so if you hadent met it then you wouldnt have been offered an interview!)

Hi Phyc student!

Im in the School of Medicine, Im not 100% on this but I think an interview in some form is compuslsory. Where are you from outside the UK? I think that if you are from within europe then they will expect you to come for an interview if youre from further affield then they might let you do a webcam interview. You will really have to discuss it with them but I think they like to meet people in the flesh! and remember they will be offering to pay for your PhD so if you are reluctant to come over then they may decide not to consider you!

Hmmm yes im suprised sant hasent been giving the children of manchester nightmares he certainly freaks me out....but then they are prpbably all much 'harder' than me!

Lit rev not going so well had to drop everything in order to do a poster that I did not know about, the draft was in today but not got to present till 14th Jan arghhhhh!!

Oh well back to the lit rev! Whats your PhD on sound like youre covering a lot of bases?

Hey U still there Chrisrolinski??

Or have you fallen foul of a double decker on upper brook st?? Or just found the xmas market an found that mulled wine is so much better than green tea and been boozing you days away?

Hmmm tricky one this i got asked in my interview if I had applied elsewhere, to which I answered that I had, they then asked what stage those applications were at and what would happen if they offered me the post, to which I said i would withdraw all other applications.
i think so long as you are honest then thats fine what they ae trying to avoid is offereing the post to someone who later decides to study someone else and they are left with no person to do the work they were looking for!

Hey!!

Im in the Medical School Dept Epidemology an health sciences!!
What about you...my supervisor is a bit more hands off......which frankly disturbs me a lot dont reallly sure where im going yet with my project, but emailed her 1st section of lit review yesterday an she said its OK so thats good!

I have 4 weeks to finish mine too....or at least thats what I tell myself...cause want it all wrapped up before xmas really!

Yeah i have to aggree with the finding your feet thing as first month was deadly as had loads of bitty things to do before I could get started an now I have to attend loads of seminars an training lectures as well as trying to write its a flippin nightmare!

4.30 am sounds like you have nasty supervisor....ive just emailed mine first section but am now well into 2nd it amazing what panic will do eh!!
Im at manchester to!! Will keep an eye out for exhausted looking postgrads clutching cups of green tea!! Im off to do yet more reading so that when supervisor asks difficult questions can look like I almost know what im on about (although I strongly susspect I will never know!!)

Hmmm my PhD aint making me grumy Im enjoying it....well its what ive wanted to do since I left school so would hope so BUT what is making me angry is the undergrads....>Arghhhh i went to use the silent studey section in the journal archive an some guy was singing, talking to himself his mate on the phone who then came to see him urghhh!
Its my Fist time at a 'red brick uni' an i cant get over their attisue either they all act like they are the best thing since sliced bread.....rah rah rah went an played rugby/hockey downed 20 pints and oh my got ive got so much work on I have a 1,500 word essay to write by xmas.....Arggghhh ...Im so hoping I dont have to demonstrate cause they all also seem to belive they know more bout the life the universe an everything than pretty much anyone else ARRRGHHHHHHH sorry appologise for the rant!!

Interesting richmond im Dyslexic too ( why oh why did they call it that have to think everytime I type couldnt they just call it BOB??) Anyway just wondering have your uni offered you any extra support an are there any other dyslexic PhD students out there???