I'm only an MSc student so haven't had the responsibility of starting one, but at my university there is a postgraduate reading group that runs for an hour every other week, alternating with a different group where there are presentations from visiting speakers. I think this is the 1st year they've done it, and it was set up by one of the course leaders. I've got the 1st one next week but we all get emailed the reading in advance and then go and discuss it, I think the discussion is led by the lecturer who organised it. Will tell you more after I go next week!

Hi - like you I've just started my MSc at the same university, really like it so far but I can totally understand the doubts you are feeling. This is a scary time and it will take a good few weeks to settle in, even though you're in the same place and will know some of the staff, it is totally different. I'm finding it quite difficult to get back into the swing of studying and have a few other stressful things going on, but hopefully things will work out in the next few weeks.
It sounds like you know what you really want to do (change course), if you do want to do that you need to do it sooner rather than later otherwise you'll miss out on too much. Could you arrange to have a chat with the leader of the new course to help you decide whether to move? I would move if you really want to as a Masters is too important and expensive to do if you don't genuinely enjoy it. Also consider what you want to do after the Masters and how changing course would help you to achieve that.
I hope I've made some sense and helped, I'm really tired and have a terrible headache so might have sounded a bit muddled....but to an extent I can identify with what you're going through. Natassia x

Thanks for the advice again, its given me a bit more confidence to actually say something, after all it is a stage that every PhD student has to go through. Its difficult as well because none of my friends stayed on for PG study so I don't have many people to talk about it with (who undestand the process) and that makes me feel a bit unsure about it. Hopefully I'll be fine once I get started though! Natassia x

Thank you all for the replies - I think part of it is that I need to get back into the routine of constantly reading and writing again and then I'll start to feel a bit better about it all and hopefully more confident. I do need to say something to tutors particularly those at my university as they could really help me. I know they're offering studentships this year so hopefully they'll have some next year as well - I'd really like to be accepted for a studentship as I want to be teaching as well. I know that PhD students get treated very well there so it seems to be an obvious choice, but I would like to speak to potential supervisors at other universities as well.

Another point though, before I applied for my MSc I spoke to my personal tutor at the time who is also PG coordinator and a leader on my MSc, I think she knew I wanted to do a PhD (I think I told her in quite a nervously vague way) and she gave me all this advice about when she did hers, what I needed to look for in a supervisor, where I might like to go and said that if I got a distinction in my MSc I would "find a PhD easy". She might have just been trying to reassure me as at the time I was really worried about getting onto the MSc course, but does this also sound like she thinks I would be able to do a PhD? I know its a bit stupid to look for hidden messages and that I need to ask supervisors about doing a PhD directly, but I'm hoping that some of the lecturers where I am now have an idea that I want to do a PhD, and will take me seriously. I'm quite shy and I do worry a lot, but until now I have been good at what I do, and I hope that will continue.

Sorry for rambling on, but you have all given me great advice and its really reassuring to see that what I'm going through is normal! Natassia x

Firstly, apologies for always posting with my own problems, I do try to help others but can't always because I haven't started a PhD yet and so can't say much.

I have just started my MSc at the same university where I did my UG degree, graduated with a First there in July. I am really pleased to be back and studying again, but I've had a bit of a confidence crisis since going back, and I'm really worried that I won't be able to step up to the mark of masters level work. I am happy with the course so far and think I will really enjoy it, but there is just so much to do in such a short space of time, although I expected that and like that sort of challenge, it creates a lot more pressure than UG level.

I would ideally like to start a PhD straight after and would like an academic career (have had that in mind since 3rd yr), but even approaching a potential supervisor seems so daunting to me and although I do have some ideas, they are still so vague and I don't know where to go next with them. I've done a bit of reading around them and they are taking some shape but I am not ready to tell anyone about them yet, or even to tell anyone that I am thinking of doing a PhD - is this 'secretive stage' normal, how do I get over it? I have some supervisors at my current university in mind and also at a few different universities but I know that time is running out, especially where funding is concerned and so I need to start applying as soon as I can.

I just feel like there are so many things I want to do but I don't know where to start, and I need to get over that. Is this a 'normal' stage to go through? If anyone can give any advice, or recommend any books/online resources I'd be really grateful. Natassia x

Hi Lara - I know I haven't spoken to you before but congratulations, your viva really does sound like an amazing experience and it sounds like the examiners thought very highly of you - well done!!! I hope that my viva (if I eventually get to that stage) is as good; reading your story is so inspirational because I doubt myself all the time and at the moment I'm starting to think about applying for PhDs and finding that difficult enough (just started MSc)...hopefully I'll get there. What are your plans now (apart from a holiday!)? Natassia xx

I've not been in this situation myself but I think its probably normal for staff to talk about students to an extent, probably more in the 'gossipy' sense than anything else. I don't think your reputation would be tainted, but that would depend on the nature of the problem you had with your Masters supervisor, do they work closely with the lecturer who made the comment? I think the best thing for you to do in this situation would be to leave the problems with your ex-supervisor in the past, and concentrate on the fact you are doing a PhD and are lucky to have the opportunity to be involved in teaching activities as well -they must think quite highly of you to give you that chance. I'm sure that if you impress this lecturer then he'll get to know you better, and will stop making patronising comments - he's probably only going on what he has been told unfortunately but you're in a position now to prove yourself. Good luck, Natassia x

I am inclined to agree as well, in fact I was talking to a friend about something similar the other day - people in general seem to be so easily offended, more so than before and that is what appears to lead to this sort of reaction. I don't know why people are like that but I don't think it is a good thing. The author of this article may have said some foolish things, but in my opinion, it was entirely tongue in cheek and not intended to give a serious portrayal of academic life. It was published in the Times Higher Education, therefore was written with an academic audience in mind, and so maybe he didn't think he would have to explain his angle on the subject. However people have still unfortunately been offended about it.
Additionally, he is talking about something that probably happens all the time, and that people talk about - older lecturers fancying their younger students is nothing new. Ultimately we (lecturers, students etc) are all adults and even if a relationship were to happen it wouldn't constitute a breach of trust as in a teacher/pupil relationship, it would just be a bit strange (in my opinion its a line you don't cross). What I'm trying to say is that he isn't really talking about anything seriously wrong, so people shouldn't really be offended.
I'm very tired writing this so it probably doesn't make much sense, but wanted to say something!

I like this topic....in 10 years time I'll be 31 - hopefully I'll have a PhD (just about to start the MSc) and have started a successful academic career providing that I do want to stay in academia and that I work hard enough! I really want to publish some of my work asap and go to a conference, hopefully will do those in the next two years. After 10 years, who knows I would like to settle down and maybe have children eventually but at the moment I'm a bit too selfish, I really can't see myself having children in my 20s.

Thats kind of how I'm feeling Cobweb, I graduated in July and start my MSc in 2 weeks but even though I've had a nice break and worked practically full time, its been the longest, slowest summer I've ever had! I feel so ready to go back now, I'm totally fed up with my job and looking forward to properly thinking and working again, towards something that I really care about. And the waiting is actually a bit stressful, in a way.

It sounds like you have a wonderful year coming up - try not to get too stressed out though! I'm sure you know this, but quite often the thought of doing lots of things is so much more daunting than actually doing them, and I'm sure you'll have lots of support from your supervisors etc.

I'm feeling quite overwhelmed actually, I finally start my MSc in 2 weeks and am actually quite excited about it, I'm totally fed up of working full time in a job where I don't have to think very much and really can't wait to be studying properly again. I'm really nervous about the workload though and stepping up to Masters level but hopefully I'll be ok!

I'm sorry to hear this, I haven't been through this and haven't even started a PhD yet but I would avoid totally throwing yourself into your work to take your mind off it as eventually that will be counter-productive and you could end up feeling completely stressed and overwhelmed. You should probably take some time out if possible to have some time to yourself and do what you want to do - go shopping, see friends or whatever, and let yourself feel upset as well. You will only be able to stop getting upset if you let yourself be upset at the beginning, its natural particularly if the break-up came as a shock to you. Take care, Natassia x

I start my MSc in 2 weeks as well and will be paying for part of it myself, and various members of my family are very kindly paying for most of it, without their support I wouldn't be able to do it and it gives me all the more motivation to do well. They know I want to do a PhD afterwards and are really supportive, even if they don't fully understand what I'm doing! I would definitely get funding for a PhD though, looking into different options at the moment.

Quick question really, I need an academic reference to endorse an appeal for a parking permit as the company that provides them for the university haven't given me one because I don't have a child or a disability. I commuted (about 65 miles) for the last 2 years of my undergrad degree due to having a horse and financial reasons and was planning on doing the same for the MSc that I start in 3 weeks time but now they have introduced wheel clamping I have a problem - the attendants always used to let me park without a permit for some reason but now they can't as its in the control of an external company. They have given me a permit for the car park in a halls of residence a few miles away (shuttle bus between them) but I have had to do this before and it doesn't work for me - it adds a good 45 mins onto my already long journey and I simply don't have time for that, and the service is unreliable.

I obviously really need to get a permit and the lady I spoke to on the phone said it would be a good idea to get a quite note of support for my appeal from a tutor who knows me and knows the intensity of the course I am starting. I'm quite sure who I'm going to ask and have a few backups if she's too busy, but I don't want to annoy anyone by asking for something so trivial. Its only an email that they would have to send, but its still hassle. Has anyone else needed to provide a reference for something like this, does anyone have any advice?

Sorry for how whiny this sounds, I know this problem is tiny but I really need to get it sorted out! Thanks, Natassia x

I agree with the others - for my dissertation acknowledgements I probably was a bit gushy but then quite a few other teaching staff from university helped me as well as my supervisor. I looked at a few of the dissertations in the library first to get an idea, I thanked my supervisor first then the other 3 lecturers in order of how much they had helped me and saying what they did. My sup recommended that I spoke to them so I thought it would be only fair to acknowledge them. Then I put a close friend from my course who helped me (she put me in hers as well), then my proof readers, then my parents! It wasn't that long but hopefully it didn't sound too much like an acceptance speech - I must have been in a good mood when I wrote it!