I agree with those of you who say that you might always meet someone, and work together with again. Being not straight might be a problem. On the other hand, as the offers for both are known, saying that one waits for the outcome of another application might not be a good idea either as it clearly gives the impression that one is only second choice.

Well, on the positive side I did get the second reference now. Lets hope there will be a quick decision on this.

Thanks a lot.
The second choice would be in the Republic of Ireland. Maybe things are somewhat different there than in the UK. The supervisor would like an answer pretty much immediately so he can ask someone else if I turn the offer down. I managed to delay the decision by a few days, though I suppose it's not enough.

The first choice: I do hope they will take me. I was the first person they interviewed but I was told that they will have to offer this PhD publicly and do more interviews. They might still have found a better candidate. I will contact this supervisor and ask how things stand though I suppose the answer will be that they'll evaluate everything and then make a choice based on that.

With that I'd be back at square one: accept second choice and me happy if first doesn't get through, or still get accepted for first.. and then?

I'm in a bit of a pickle here. I got accepted on my second choice for a PhD. My first choice is still in limbo as I'm waiting for one more reference to arrive. I was promised it would be submitted this week. How fast the faculty reacts to that I have no idea. The supervisor though only seems to be waiting for the completion of my application to make a decision. I really want to pursue this one while my second choice comes way behind. The supervisor of the one I got accepted into doesn't want to wait for another two weeks.

So what do I do? Delay a few more days and hope my first choice receives all information and makes a very quick decision, otherwise accept? I feel bad about accepting and potentially cancelling again though. Both have industry funding. The one I got accepted into is to start in January, the first choice pretty much immediately.