Thanks for the replies. Well my thinking right now is either between PG Halls or renting a studio/1 bedroom private flat (i.e. no flat share).

I really have to have known people for at least a year before I share a private flat with them. Halls is different though. I lived in PG Halls for my MSc and it was generally quiet and the people were nice (although it was an effort to get them away from their books!). My only issue was with the bathroom but I would get an en-suite at this particular place.

I'm also moving hundreds of miles away and I don't know a soul there. So maybe a private flat could get lonely. Also I can't get to the town that often during the summer (to view flats) because I may go abroad and it's bloody expensive to get there. Thus going with halls, with all bills inclusive may be more convenient. But yeah I'll try to find out a bit more about their halls before making a decsion.

So what are prospective PhD students (holding offers) doing for accomodation when they start. Private flat or postgrad halls? And what are your reasons? Same questions to people who are current or former students too.

This is just an issue playing on my mind and I'm just trying to decide.

Thanks.

======= Date Modified 25 May 2010 15:15:27 =======
Haha thanks guys. I had a feeling I'd get answers saying I should relax.

Can't help but feel a little guilty, even though I know so well that this is my last few months of freedom (I talk us if I'm being forced into this PhD lol). Well done to you Jellpsybean. I don't want that blank look either although I did do a 30min presentation during my interview so they know that I do actually know stuff!

I managed to get myself onto a funded PhD last week (biological sciences). I'm feeling both excited and terrified :-( about this mammoth task. Anyway I'm currently not studying and my part-time temp contract in a completely unrelated admin job is coming to an end. I was just looking for advice as to how to spend the next few months until October. I'm sure I can fit in a couple of holidays (if finances allow) and I've been doing some light reading around the subject but October just seems SOO far away right now. I don't actually know what to do with myself :$

jobs.ac.uk or findaphd.com would be a good start. For the former, you can specify in your search what kind of institution you're looking for. Whilst you're still at uni also use your supervisors too!

Hello guys!
So I’m trying to prepare myself for a studentship interview I have in just over a week (science area). I think I’m nervous mainly because I’m sure it’ll be quite competitive and I really don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t get on this one or any of the other ones I’ve applied for. So I’m just asking you experienced PhDers out there for any tips for how to deal with a PhD studentship interview/open day. As far as the questions are concerned I remember the questions I got for a research assistant interview I had a while back and I got decent feedback. But are there any other wise words you can bring to the table for us beginners?
Cheers,

======= Date Modified 05 Mar 2010 18:02:12 =======
No. I actually considered that one at Manchester but it was too far out from my interests.

Thanks MissGeography

I applied for a studentship that I saw on findaphd but I've just seen the the deadline (which had passed) has been increased by another 3 weeks. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but is this their subtle way of saying that they haven't liked the applications they've recieved so far? If so, I fear a rejection is immenent.

What happens if one accepts a PhD but later feels they have to pull out, maybe because of a change of plan or a 'better' PhD offer comes along?

Hi, thanks for your comments.

I come from a cancer research background and I've seen, I think, 4 or 5 departments which concentrate on the broad area that I'm interested in. So I've been thinking of whether I approach them with a proposal or just with my general interests and what I've been reading in the first instant. Obviously with this approach as well, funding may not be available which is an issue. So on a side note, how do people find doing a self funded PhD (not that I can afford it anyway)?

Hi guys,

With regards to writing your own proposal, in a scientific field, is this the norm? I've read somewhere that it's more common to choose a project of interest from sites such as findaphd.com. Is this true? I've found very few projects similar to my area of interest. One of the funded studentships I applied for didn't work out, the supervisor of the project I really wanted to do had nothing to do with admissions. I've been trying to write my own, and although I have some questions in my head, I feel that I am nowhere near experienced enough to set out a research design, with the kind of techniques I'd use and all. I feel that mine would be a bit vague and light. So I'm a bit unsure about the whole PhD idea at the moment.

Hi all! My first post here.

OP, I'm kind of in a similar situation. I've seen one funded project that I've quite literally fell in love with. I've been in touch with the supervisor by email and over the phone and after seeing my CV he suggested that I should definitely apply. Now he's not responsible for admissions so I'm very scared that I may not even make it to the interview stage. I have a BSc and MSc in pharmacology related areas, a publication, and plenty of lab experience..although I have been out of work (and therefore the scientific world) since I graduated (which worries me also). So if I'm competing with the likes of you (2 years RA + conference), then I have no chance :-(

I think if I don't get the studentship, I'll contact academics at a number of unis who are in the area I want to go into and maybe send them a provisional proposal and see how it develops. I'm also in the middle of applying to other funded projects which are similar to my interests. This PhD malarky is quite daunting isn't it?