Hi Guys, I was wondering if you register for a fourth year either to do more research or write-up your thesis, are there any funding bodies you can apply to finance yourself? I don't think my current UK charity funding body would subsidise me after the three years of funding are up. Has anyone got any ideas or is it better to get a separate part-time job and pay for myself?

Similar to H, I worked in industry for about four years and was itching to do my Masters (grass is always greener I suppose). To be honest, the Masters research training was invaluable. I also felt that universities that I was applying to for PhDs, were taking me more seriously as a result of doing a targetted/specialised MSc. This was perhaps my ticket to the PhD Im pursuing at the moment.

Hi Guys,

I've been noticing that a few of the students in my office (computer science department) have taken four years to conduct their research and write their theses. I was just wondering, do many students finish their research and write-up within the three year time period?

Hi Guys - Just a quick query - a friend of mine doing medical sciences was asking some advice about doing an MD in the UK. Could someone tell me if do you do this after a PhD or instead of one (if so which is more respected)?

Thanks

Thanks Ann.I really appreciate your advice and reassurance - its cheered me up :) I have spoken with my supervisor who tells me a software based approach is what he wants,and the funding body is expecting a product by the end of the PhD. Other researchers have told me that this approach may be dangerous if the methods taken to develop the software are not valid, but I guess I have to find a balance between the software development and theories behind development/evaluation.

Hi-I am doing a PhD in an engineering-related subject-my supervisor expects me to build a piece of software by the end of 3 years, and tells me that I will get a PhD based on mainly on the software,with some experiments evaluating the software on the side.As far as I was aware,people are awarded a PhD based on research, and not so much on a final product.Should I be examining another area related to my paid project for purposes of the thesis?My main worry is that the software may not solve all the problems that it is being developed to address.In that case, would that lead to a fail in the PhD?Could anyone provide me with some advice?Thanks.