I guess so. When you get the email do please post to let us know how you got on, and I will do the same so that we know the news is at least out and some hassling can be done to those individuals on the list.

I just had a quick look on the ESRC webpage and found this information:

(robin) Decisions are sent via the ESRC Institutional Contacts at the HEI by early August 2010. We no longer send results to individual students. Do not contact the ESRC for decision results. If you require information from ESRC please use the following email: [email protected]

So, the email will not come from them directly but through the uni you are applying through. Here is the page which shows all the institutional contacts: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/postgraduate/HEInominated/Index.aspx

Hope this helps

======= Date Modified 30 Jul 2010 15:37:00 =======
I'm waiting too. I think we should hear any time from the 2nd of August onwards

try this:

Andersen, NA (2003) 'Discursive analytical strategies: understanding Foucault, Koselleck, Laclau, Luhmann' (Bristol: The Policy press)

Aye, it doesn't give too much information away, but worth a look every few weeks to see if anything has moved.

Hello all,

It looks like I will get the opportunity to take up a teaching assistant post in October. I start my PhD in October too and I am looking forward to it, but I am kind of nervous about the teaching job. I'm sure it can't be that bad because all I am doing is taking 1st year seminars.

What is everyone else's experience of this type of thing? Is it more difficult or much easier than you would have initially anticipated?

Killahtron

I was entered into the open competition and I haven't heard back yet. I think though that this stage is announced later. Have a look on your Jes account to see what stage everything is at.

I will start my PhD in October and it is at a different institution from where I did my undergrad. After completing my undergrad in 2009, I started an MSc at the institution where I will do a PhD and, for me, it was a good decision.

First of all, I loved (and still love) the institution where I did my undergrad. However, I wanted to move on afterwards firstly, because the Masters course I wanted to do wasn't available there and secondly, because I wanted to broaden my horizons. Overall, it was a good decision because my BA was broadly theory based and my MSc has focussed heavily on methodology. This has meant that I now have a well rounded knowledge of both aspects of my subject and this has aided me immensely.

I did apply for a scholarship at my undergrad institution but was knocked back, and luckily I got into where I do my MSc. Although this scenario meant my 1st choice happening anyway, a part of me would have liked to have gone back. However, all things considered, I'm doing the right thing.

I think you have to ask yourself a few questions, aside from the practical ones regarding funding etc:

- Do you want a change of scenery, or do you feel that having a whole experience at one place is more fulfilling?
- Which institution is more inclined to your interests?
- What are the pros/cons of living in the different towns/cities (if this is a factor)?

The first question is one of personality. For me, I wanted a change of scenery and a new challenge. However, I know people who want to remain loyal and also gain the full experience at one place. This question can only be answered by you.

The other questions are utility questions that you will have to work out, but where you can probably get pretty objective information to use in your calculation.

Finally, your point about scholarships and industry funding: I have no idea! I assume you are in the science/engineering sector and this is something I know very little about coming from social sciences.

======= Date Modified 17 Jul 2010 21:24:33 =======
I know exactly how you feel. I applied through 2 universities, one being where I did my BA and the other where I am currently doing my MSc. The funding application steps were different for both uni's, and I had slightly different proposals at each one.

A the 1st uni where I did my BA, I got to the final stage of selection for the University Studentships and I got knocked back. I was really gutted by this because I know that this uni is slightly less 'prestigious' when it comes to my subject than the one where I do my MSc. I was also knocked back on selection for the AHRC here too. This made me feel really down and pretty much worthless because I was thinking 'if I can't get anything here, how do I get in there?'

However, I got a University Studentship from the uni where I do my MSc. I am so happy because my topic is better there and it was my first choice uni. Also, my supervisor is the best in the field I am doing, bar none really, so that makes me extremely proud and honoured. Turns out he is a really nice guy and has given me some very good advice, general as well as academic.

Currently, I am waiting on the ESRC to get back to me from the same uni as I got the Studentship from. I hope I get that because it means that a studentship will be freed up for someone else. Also, although less importantly, the ESRC pay about £1000 a year more in the maintenance allowance so every little helps I guess. Mostly though, I just want someone else to get a chance although I don't know who would be next on the list. They might go somewhere else in the faculty and not to my department.

I wish everyone good luck with their endeavours and the best success possible. And keep plugging away on the Masters dissertations. I hope everything works out for you Helena, please let us know how you get on. I do empathise with you.

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======= Date Modified 17 Jul 2010 23:23:02 =======
I have an average of 73% on my MSc so far, yet I have been told that I need a 75% on my dissertation alone to get a distinction. I think each university operates differently, and unfortunately in my case they have decided to make it even tougher.

Got the news from my 2nd choice University, and it wasn't good.

Then I got the news from my 1st choice University, and it wasn't good either............. it was amazing!!!!

I managed to get a full-funded PhD place so I am so pleased.

======= Date Modified 29 Apr 2010 10:01:05 =======
yes, Scollon's book is a good one.  It is a fairly broad school with a few different strands. Foucault's theories are worth a look, but also Laclau's.  It really depends what you are trying to explain/interpret. Andersen's book is a broad outline of the philosophical positions, and then other books will help you grasp more practical techniques of analysis.  If you look in the library in the qualitative methods section you may find some interesting stuff on text/discourse analysis methods.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Also, Chilton 'Political Discourse......' I can't remember the exact title but it's something along those lines

This is a useful place to start:

Andersen, NA (2003) 'Discursive analytical strategies: understanding Foucault, Koselleck, Laclau, Luhmann' (Bristol: The Policy press)

De Vaus (2005) is a good book. Can't remember the title but stick the info into amazon. It's a blue book.
Also Oppenheim (sp?), a book about phrasing questions, likert scales etc.

I'll be voting SNP. In the event of a hung parliament, it is the best way to try and prevent drastic cuts coming to Scotland. There will be cuts, but hopefully not as drastic as some figures that have been banded about.