I am in engineering and I never see handouts. I assume the audience knows basic stuff and add the occasional reference in the presentation itself. If they have further questions they can ask me in person but I am a very different field. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

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They might ask for the research proposal after you get shortlisted or they might ask for a short (5-10) presentation as part of the interview. I got asked fro both but it can differ but you definitely need to have some opinions on topic. In my interview they talked about the project and I knew the basic literature and methods. Even if you don't get asked for proposal, I would do a basic one to prepare yourself for the interview.

If they ask for references you can definitely use the company. Good luck with the applications

What sort of PhDs are you applying for? Usually the research project title is written by the person who gets the money. If you are finding the money yourself you can write your own research proposal but that route is very competitive. If it is a fully funded PhD you will be expected to do the project they got funding for. You will have discretion on how to achieve that project but you can't submit a random proposal.

Agree with PhDhere, he has no money and he doesn't want to waste your time.

Be honest with him and tell him that you don't like his supervision technique. You are a new mother and your concerns are legitimate so don't fell that you are in the wrong. If he is new he will want a PhD completion and you asking for a new supervisor will look good for him at all. So if you say that you want a new supervisor unless he is more supportive you might gain traction.

What does your co-supervisor say? Does he agree with the new one about the extra work?

It sounds like you want to quit but want permission to quit. It is your life and do what is best for you.

I would prioritise your mental health and not put on too much stress.

You sound like a good candidate and will be considered favourably. As Cat123 said, apply for both and see what offers you get. An MRes will definitely help your PhD hunt and if you do well you should get one. Though I have heard such good things about the 1+3 courses. If you do well, you start a PhD with after a very relevant masters but if it doesn't go well, you can make a clean break while still getting a Masters.

I would attend it. You have moved on to a better PhD role and there is no point hiding from him. If you do bump into him and have a professional conversation about what you are doing, it will give you closure.

Does being a regular contributor on your forum count?

PhD supervision can be one smart socially awkward person trying to guide another smart socially awkward person. That sounds like it can cause friction and it isn't always the supervisors fault.

A PhD should be awarded when someone writes a thesis on their work showcasing their accomplishment as independent researcher. The problem is "fuzzyness" on the standard of work and how independent you should be. Two smart socially awkward people may have different perspectives, standards and availability. That is why I always say you should choose the PhD on the project and the supervisor match.

Though on a side note - I was talking with an old school professor who is in 70s and he said PhD supervision has changed massively during his life. Reportedly after his first year of his PhD he would only meet his supervisor once every 2 months or so, just so the supervisor could check he was still studying. He also reportedly only had 1 major draft of his thesis before submission where the supervisor gave general comments on the content but nothing more. Back then it was expected that you learnt from other sources and not rely on your supervisor. I know things have changed but it does show that there is no clear right/wrong way and things are always changing.

So the overall work and conclusions are good, which is good. I would take that as a massive positive and use that to help justify your worth. It sounds like you have something like impostor syndrome were you doubt you if you are good enough for a PhD. I have had it and I dismissed all my achievements as no good enough or flukes. But embracing the positive words from your supervisors could help motivate you to finish.

With the thesis, do you have a clear structure? You might be able to find the gaps by plotting out each chapter and the key points. By simplifying it you might be able to find the gaps yourself or with the help of your supervisors so you know were you need to improve.

Do you supervisors have problems with the work or the writing? If you can explain your research verbally to them and they agree that the work is good, you will be fine. Your writing just needs improving and you can try many things to improve that. There are plenty of Dr's out there that had trouble writing up and it is a common problem so don't give up.

If it is the actual work, I would have a sit down with your supervisors and have an honest chat about what you need to do. Work out what needs work, what is good and how long it will take. Make a plan and then decide if you want to quit.

I don't think your supervisor has much of an impact other than choosing the examiners. Examiners can vary a lot and have massively different standards. Unofficially your supervisor will know stringent the supervisors are and can choose easy examiners to get a poor student through. If your supervisor purposefully chooses people they don't know or have a reputation for being a stickler, prepare for the worst.

Though one of my supervisors reportedly had a 40min viva because their supervisor knew the external and wanted the viva done fast so they could go to the pub. Obviously they were not independent. Also my supervisor has already organised my external who said "the concept alone is worth a PhD". He is also a well-renowned professor who has reportedly never given someone a fail in a PhD viva in over 10 attempts. The guy reportedly looks for the "contribution to knowledge" over the small details. The system can be massively gamed if you can find easy examiners.

Your supervisor can't openly ask your examiners to fail but he can make it difficult. I would assume that you have to meet high standards and have an answer for everything.

Thankyou! It sounds slightly irrelevant but was wondering if there are any long term downsides (like your old Facebook account). But it doesn't seem to matter that much.