Hello everyone,
I wonder if anyone can help me out here. I am currenty in the UK where my partner is working fulltime. We have been living here for five years. Ever since coming here, I have been a stay at home parent. Now that my kids are in full time school, I having been planning to get back to academia and possibly pursue a Phd in the field of computer science/engineering. I have a masters degree in mechatronics engnieering from an overseas unviersity which is considered equivalent here in the UK. I have previously applied for a masters in computer engineering here in the UK but my application was rejected for unspecified reason. It took a toll on my optimism and I didn't reapply. I am now yearning to get back to academia as research. However I am in a dilemma whether I should go for a second masters in computer science or look for a phd position. Then there is the issue of funding as well. I may just about be able to self- fund my masters as a home student but getting a student finance may greatly help with other expenses such as childcare etc. From what I understand, because I have masters already (although from overseas) I may not be qualified for student finance(?). On the other hand if I were to apply for a phd position I wonder if any supervisor will be willing to supervise me given that I have had a 5 years gap and previous masters in a slightly different field. Also, I have no idea how to get financial support for phd and if i will qualify for one. Its a frustrating dilemma, I did fairly well in my previous masters research and I am hopeful that I will enjoy my phd journey but i do not know how to get there and where to get the support i need. Would love to hear if anyone has been in similar scenario and what did you do? I have no interest in doing anything else other than research.

Thanks for your kind responses. You guys are one of the reasons I love this forum :)

I have finally picked the courage to apply to a different uni in the same city I live. I have also written to the first uni I applied requesting the reason for rejection. Hope they will respond.

To answer yogi2019, my previous masters was in the field of mechatronics engineering. I did quite well with distinction and managed to publish in international journals. But after coming to the UK, starting a family and a gap of few years, I do not feel confident enough to start a PhD yet, besides there are hardly any funding for non EU students as far as I am aware. So I thought doing a second masters in the field of computer science would probably be best. Perhaps I need to work more on marketing myself for PhD opportunities. I have signed up for an open day at the uni that I am interested me . Hopefully that will give me some ideas.

All the best in your journeys,
Liah

Hi everyone,
I have a recently applied for masters in computer science in one of the prominent universities here in the UK. Unfortunately my application got rejected although they didn't explain why. I am currently living in the UK as my husband is working here. I have been a stay at home mom for 3 years and really wanting to go back to academia and pursue a Phd. I am from a non-EU country and willing to self-sponser. I have a masters in Engineering from my home country. Because of this rejection my confidence has taken a knock. I wish they had explained a bit more why my application was rejected, so I could work on it or find a way. Wondering what would others do if they were in my place. Thanks for any advice.

Hi guys,
I've been planning to embark on my PhD Journey in computer science a year from now (once my hubby is finished with his). looking for some advice and book recommendations on PhD survival as I have plenty of free time at the moment. I know it wont be the case once I start my PhD while raising a young family. I had benefitted a lot from this forum during my Masters few years ago. So any advice, book recommendations at this stage will be valuable and very much appreciated. :)
Thanks.

Thanks TreeofLife!
That really helps. :)

Hi guys,
Help me out here please. Trying to submit to a journal but unsure about the following instruction:

...All Figures (charts, diagrams, line drawings, web pages/screenshots, and photographic images) should be submitted in electronic form.
Figures created in MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, Illustrator should be supplied in their native formats. Electronic figures created in other applications should be copied from the origination software and pasted into a blank MS Word document or saved and imported into an MS Word document or alternatively create a .pdf file from the origination software.

.
Does it mean I have to remove all the figures from my main text file and create a new file for each figure then submit separately?
thanks

Hi guys!
How do we know if a journal is good enough to publish with? How can we find out its impact factor and whether is considered Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4 journals? Also how do we know whether its scopus indexed or ISI journal.
Thanks in advance!

Hi guys,
I have recently submitted a paper to a reputed journal in my field. As instructed in the website of the journal, the manuscript was to be emailed to the editor-in-chief, which I did. However after more than a month, I have revieved no confirmation from them. Previously, for my other paper, I had uploaded on the website of another journal and immediately recieved confirmation after that. Should I be concerned or is this something normal?
Many thanks!

Hi guys,
Help me out please. What does it mean if out of four reviewers, one reviewer marked my paper as "not acceptable"?
thanks

Thanks a lot Memo! I have sent you my email address.

Hi everyone!

Would appreciate if someone could help me get this article:

Hi guys!
I am back after a study leave of 4 months (personal and health reasons). Its good to see everyone making some progress. Congratulations enmaki on finishing your first draft! Good luck to everyone else.

As for me, I hope to finish in the next two months or so (trying to keep a realistic target this time around). Already drafted the first two chapters. Currently working on the third one as well as the controller design.

Hope you all have a productive week ahead!
Liah

Hi wasabi,
I have been looking for such bulbs for my desk lamp for months and almost given up. If you could recommend some bulbs that gives enough light to trick my brain its daylight, would be a huge help! with deadlines looming near, I have no choice but to work nights as well.
Thanks
Liah

That's awesome Rina. Good to have your company. Let's burn the midnight oil and finish off this thesis. Planning to stay till 1AM tonight. 5 hours of non-stop work. I hope. :)

Hi, just came across this forum and it is just what I need at the moment. I have no choice but to work at night for the next few months till I submit my thesis. Anyone else up working tonight? x