To the point I guess.

Whereabouts, what do you do, etc, etc? If you're at the same department would you mind if I ask you a few questions? Can we liase through emails?

Presumably HIFU. Competition for funding is fierce (and scarce according to a conversation I had with Alison and Penny.)

Are you there already Jewel? You sound like you know the department well.

I will say this - despite everything my interests lie more toward CV applications, that's where I want to take things. From the perspective of what I'd _rather_ spend three years on - the medical imaging fields are where it's at.


I fully appreciate everything everyone's saying, dammnit I wish there was more consensus to the school of thought that sees me forking out £40k, lol ;) [j/k - I value everyone's opinions here and I'm grateful to all with the experience and know-how and insight to allow me to make an informed decision. It seems the issue of funding is one of the most important now, as is the question of the supervisor's ability.]

Jewel: Penny Probert Smith. No doubts I'd imagine I may be liasing with Alison Noble at some point. Isn't Julia Schnabel at UCL now?


I'd possibly do well to let it slip that the other University in question is City - ergo I'm not so sure on it having an international reputation I could take with me wherever I go [don't get me wrong, it's a good uni!] Saying that a lot of people here have mentioned that work cited in journals and conferences holds more sway than the university you graduate from. Who knows where life takes me later on - ideally I'd be looking for a career in higher education with the expertise and "expert label" to dabble in research and consultancy, I may look to travel elsewhere afterwards, yadda yadda.

The supervisor has industry experience, but no PhD yet. afaik he's been delaying it quite some time.

cheers guys 'n' gals!

kronkodile: I know how advanced they are. The answer is unfortunately "not very" - at least, he doesn't come across like he is. I have this feeling I'll be used as a pawn to further their own careers and possibly fill in their gaps - I guess the question is "is the funding good enough to go ahead with that premise". The secondary supervisor is experienced, but again is more concerned with his MBA atm.


Jayney: Thanks :) you made me all smiley now, lol.


rjb: Plenty of dosh - and plenty of competition

At 28 I feel my time is rapidly running out to compete in the applications stakes, I'd really rather obtain a doctorate ASAP.

Thanks once again everyone. It's great here! :D

I've been worried about some fo the rules and restrictions surrounding collegiate accommodation at Oxford.

Sometimes it sounds like you're going "back to school", with a set of stringent and strict regulations and restrictions and whatnot, "lights out time", "Can I have my friends stay over?", "doors locked", etc


Saying that - I've also heard it's a different set of rules for Postgrads. *shrugs*

Been there so often :(

Thanks for the comments!

Oxford would be my personal favourite - all to do with Medical Computer Vision. The other place would be Artificial Intelligence in Computer Games - not my subject.

tbh the supervisor at the other place has delayed getting his PhD many times over due to other commitments, so you're right - I would most likely be way down on his list of priorities.

My trepidation is all to do with finance. I'm lucky in that my family have come forward to say they'll support me; and I've stashed away almost enough to sustain myself for the first year of a PhD at Oxford. I guess what I was wondering was how much the university name matters - I wonder if Oxford would close as many doors as it would open.

First post - though I've been loitering here for quite a while.

I've just been offered the following:

1) An EPSRC-funded 3 year full time research studentship for £13,500 with tuition fee waiver; at a not-well-known London uni that's within commuting distance of where I live - with a supervisor who's never taken the role on before and is yet to complete his own PhD. The subject is one that interests me, but I'm more interested in the PhD offering listed next:


2) A self-funded PhD at Oxford, with a known supervisor at a known and respected department in a field I'm more interested in.


Several factors to consider:
1) EPSRC funded vs self-funded.
2) Mediocre uni vs "known" uni.
3) Noobie supervisor, vs experienced supervisor.
4) One is within commuting distance, the other will involve finding a place to live.
5) Subject A is alright - I can work with it. Subject B is "Oooooooh!"


Can you justify your answers to help me make an informed decision. I'm seriously at a quandry here.


I'm sure I'll have more questions later - but I'll leave it at that for now. Please excuse the long subject line ;)