Thank you! I will pm you with my email addy.

Hello,

Is anyone able to access this paper?

Yes - and also there is the fact that there is a huge element of subjectivity... one examiner can think one thing, and another something entirely different. The viva obviously dissolved any questions that one examiner previously had for whatever reason.

Congratulations and all the best finishing off the amendments!

I tried to do it but had to stop half way through as loads of questions were not relevant to me (e.g. don't use Facebook or similar). Sorry!

I wonder that is in words. I know, that's one of the reason's I've opted for it!!!

Hi, in my institution the report is written before the viva. The fact that you passed is what mattered. It sounds as though you must have defended your thesis superbly and changed that examiner's mind. It is weird though. Could you chat to your supervisor about it just to get their take on it (e.g., maybe they'll say it is something that happens commonly, or that they'll find it equally odd but will reassure you about your work anyway - so you can put any doubts to bed).

Thanks both. I've just had a useful piece of information passed on to me - apparently it only matters if the conference proceedings are published and you give the publishers the copyright for your work. Not sure how that would work but if I don't agree to any copyright then I guess I'm OK!

Pjlu, maybe the proceedings (including your whole conference paper) were published and made available for that conference, which is why it wouldn't be appropriate? It is all rather confusing. I guess best to reword as much as possible and try to only present work that's still in progress at conferences? I think that's what I'll aim for going forward.

Hi cml47

Thank you so much. That is just what I wanted to hear, as it is my plan (I have nearly finished the first paper). I think in the end all I will need is a general introduction and discussion chapter too. It is really encouraging how quickly you managed to write those chapters! How long was your thesis in total?

Hi again,

I am writing the paper at the same time and so the poster is basically going to be the same as the journal paper. Do you reckon this matters? I can't really come up with a different way of saying things.

Tudor

Congratulations!!!!!! You must feel so elated!!!!!!!!

I have to say that in my experience class, colour, or creed matters not... as long as you make good connections somehow (usually through the undergraduate degree) so that you can get some good references (and have a strong academic profile too of course). I don't know anyone whose applications were fully written by their supervisor (just to balance the picture a bit), and I know several people whose parents did not go to uni and yet who have successfully obtained ESRC funding.

Not that this is that relevant to Huubte. As an international student I think there is a completely different picture about self funding. The only funded non EU and non UK PhD students I know are funded by the government of their own country. The others self fund. Apart from the large personal financial cost, I don't think there is any disadvantage or perceived stigma for an international student who is self funding.

I have just read your other thread and now this one makes more sense to me. If you have been applying for a long time with limited success and you can afford it, then self funding sounds like a great option. This is pretty much what I said before. It would be good if you could get some views from other students in the same boat as well. Good luck with everything :-)

I think if you can find some funded opportunities then it is certainly worth applying for them, as surely it would be a massive benefit to be funded (saving you money and also impressive to prospective employers later, as obtaining PhD funding has some similarities to obtaining research grants).

If on the other hand you have tried to get funding (unsuccessfully), or there are no opportunities in your chosen location/field, and (most importantly!) you can afford it, then there is certainly nothing wrong with self-funding. That's my view anyway. Have you considered other funding options?

My self-funded friend did amazingly in her PhD and is now a lecturer in her home country. I think she chose to self fund as she couldn't find funding opportunities for international students at her chosen location and in her chosen field.

Hi there

I wondered if anyone out there has completed their thesis by publication / alternative format / paper format and might be able to share their experience.

I am aiming on submitting my thesis in this format and am wondering about the weight of the introduction, methodology, and discussion sections that will surround the 3 papers. Two questions really. 1) Which did you find the most time consuming in write up - the papers or the other sections? 2) Did you write them in simultaneous fashion (apart from the discussion for obvious reasons) or did you more or less do the papers first then add the surrounding chapters (or vice versa)?

Thanks!

There are so many courses and resources available for free and for a small charge online, not to mention library, books, television, and other materials you can use. You could consider teaching yourself German. The only requirement is that you are extremely dedicated and motivated. I taught myself German over 10 years ago. I learnt it at home for about a year and then moved to Germany as an au pair Mädchen to really immerse myself in it. I do not have any qualifications in German myself, but this doesn't mean you can't teach yourself to the level required by the exam and then just pay to take the exam. This is just food for thought. Viel Glück!