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You can apply to as many schemes as apply to you. However the conditions of most funding will require that you're not funded by anyone else. This does not apply to the ORS award.

A DSc is a 'Doctor of Science'. Some universities/departments award DSc's instead of PhDs - essentially they are the same thing. An Honours Degree is a type of first degree, eg BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons). Most UK degrees are honours degrees.

An Honorary PhD, Doctorate or Masters degree is awarded by a university to high achievers who have some connection with the university. People who receive them are usually very senior academics, industrialists and community workers or famous artists, authors and celebrities. The reason for awarding the degree is usually to give the university some publicity or to honour the person concerned for their contribution to society or their field.

People with honorary degrees can use the title if they want, but most do not.

Our Funding section gives links and information on study in Australia.

Recent changes make it easier for international students to work whilst studying in the UK. There are a few conditions you should keep in mind:

- You cannot run your own business, be self-employed, provide services as a professional sports person or entertainer, or pursue a career by taking a permanent full-time position.

- With the exception of work organised by your university or college, money that you hope to make while doing part-time or vacation work cannot form part of your visa application. You must show that you can meet the cost of studying and living in the UK without employment or financial assistance from the state.

Check the Immigration and Nationality Directorate web site for further details.

It's not essential to have done post doc work in some subject areas, but in most areas of science you will need this. Universities want lecturers who can not only teach, but bring in their own research money. Without postdoctoral experience you are unlikely to be able to apply for and get your own research funding.

It is now getting late for applying for PhDs as most will have already been filled. Look atvthe web sites of the departments you are interested in. Write to the people doing the most interesting work and see if they'd be willing to consider you for anything starting in 2005. You can also take the opportunity to see if anyone will take you one for some research experience whilst you're waiting to start.

I'm afraid you are probably expecting too much. Obtaining funding for a PhD in the UK as an overseas student takes time, planning and plenty of good fortune. You may find that waiting for twelve months before starting your PhD is a good idea, as this will give you time to apply for an ORS award.

Have a look in the Funding section of this site for links and information.

It is very unlikely that you would beoth be able to receive financial support to work in the same laboratory. Have a look at our Funding section for relevant links and information.

If you're getting interviews, then your career history and current status with your degree probably isn't letting you down. Competition is high and if people don't like what's on your CV they won't bother interviewing you. As long as you keep working in the field then the time since you completed your MSc shouldn't be too important.

Be positive and not apologetic in interviews, if possible get feedback from the people who turned you down. Your enthusiasm and dedication to the subject should help you stand out against your younger rivals.

No, you don't need to have finished, but you'll need one of your tutors as a referee (just like when applying for a job or course before the end of your first degree). If you want to start in October you really should start applying now.

Both departments are rated amongst the UK's top ten in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise for Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Both also received the highest marks possible for teaching quality.

Southampton has more academic staff and has a slightly higher RAE rating than Queens, but there is really little to choose between the two academically speaking. You should research into other factors, such as what it's like to live in Belfast and Southampton, what's the cost of living, what facilities do they of for international students, what are the course fees, etc. Good luck with your decision.

See the information in our Funding section which gives links specifically for people wishing to study in South Africa and for members of the British Commonwealth.

You can turn down an offer of a PhD after accepting it. It won't make you very popular, but if your supervisor understands your reasons he shouldn't be too annoyed. You should let him or her know of your decision as soon as possible so that they have time to recruit a new student (in some cases they may loose the studentship, if they haven't got a candidate in time).

You should also be sure that turning it down is the right thing to do, if you really want to do a PhD then you may not be able to find a new place before October.