I think with a Bsc and a Masters you should be able to pitch an idea and get a PhD placement, however in the UK GPA isnt a thing and also you need to be in a university/institute to do a PhD. This is cause of the need for monitoring, additional roles like TA, regular work with supervisors and teams, plus the use of equipment such as labs/ rooms to do your research in.

Being nearly 2 years (minus a few months off) into my PhD I feel that I need somewhere to record my experience and be an outlet for my feelings around it. The road has been long and difficult, full of problems both predicted and unforseen. Nothing can really prepare you for doing a PhD as it is like nothing else. I've worked in various roles and its nothing like that. It is also nothing like undergrad either. I suppose it could be like a Masters but having never done one I wouldnt know.
I am just back from a few months off and I have a meeting later in which I hope to sort out what I am going to do for the next part of my project. A lot of my project relies on the NHS and on my supervisors sorting things out. As much as I trust these people, the lack of control and the pace of which the whole main project has been moving is terrifyingly slow. I am meant to complete in 3 years and that is not going to happen in any way shape or form. I'll be lucky if I complete the study by the end of the third year and then pay for a fourth to write up. Honestly I think we are looking at another few years. I only hope some part time teaching role will appear and I can work as well.

About 2 months. 2 weeks to be told they were still arguing about it, another 2 to be told that they had chosen but the Dean needed to sign it off so they couldn't tell me who, then 3 before I got the acceptance letter.

Thanks for all the messages. I'm glad that it isnt just me experiencing this.
I'll extend my literature review and I start teaching in just over a week so that should keep me busy too.

Hello
I read a lot of posts about the end of the PhD but not many about how people found it in the beginning.
I am finding that it is going very slowly. Im about 3 months into it and my supervisors are indecisive about everything and very laid back. The one that had gumption has gone on maternity leave early. Our NHS contacts are always on holiday or busy and so it's been nearly two months trying to get a meeting with them. I've been working on the NHS ethics form for about a month now but there is so much I can't fill in cause we need to have meetings with the contacts to discuss the procedures and how recruitment from their hospital population is going to work.
I literally am spending most of my time just waiting around hoping that another meeting won't fall through or that something will actually happen.
Did anyone else experience such a slow and frustrating start to their PhD?

I am in England and I went straight from UG to PhD. Basically a fully funded PhD post was advertised in conjunction with a teaching position, I applied, was interviewed and was deemed the best candidate. I was very shocked cause I thought that I would need a MSc first but apparently my grades in certain classes and my volunteering work with certain groups made me a contender.
However, I am a mature student so that might have also gone in my favour??

Don't ever feel bad for being chosen over other people, the supervisors obviously saw something great in you and it is their criteria that you needed to fullfil not anyone elses.

Hello Satchi
It's 1000 words and in the area of neuropsychology.
There are 4 sections to it and Im good for the research method, ethics and background. It's just the specific research questions that are an issue cause every time we discuss what Im doing, my supervisors suggest other areas or expansion or alternatives and seem really happy with it being vague.
I have a central study storted but there should be other further studies. Due to the nature of a year of collecting sample data we need to test everything on everyone. Thus it would be really useful to actually know what additional research is able to be done now rather than some vague future point.

I'm writing up my official proposal for my reserach and my supervisors are being no help. They keep saying that the proposal will be easy and that I can be vague about details for further research but this doesn't sit well with me. I'm trying to write it up and it isnt easy. Our meetings have been rather vague. I try and be specific but I keep getting told that 'it'll all be ok and we can sort the details later'.
I'm getting to a point of not wanting to bother my supervisors and just put down what I think I should be doing. Specially as the proposal is due next week.

Hello
I believe that is the Braun and Clarke (2006, 2013) method of thematic analysis. I used it for my undergraduate dissertation and also recieved training in it at the BPS. They just refered to it as thematic analysis. I dont know if that helps.