Thank you everyone for your valuable replies. I am from India and I will be taking a loan for my education. Since, the courses are of my interest and both have renewable energy companies in the city.. and that I will be on loan, cost of living would be one of the main criteria. Also I shall do further enquiries on the courses attracting more companies. I would like to request you people get me in touch with any existing students of newcastle university if possible.

Thank you.

Hello All,

My name is Anirudh and I have received 2 offers, one each from Newcastle University and Aberdeen University.

Details:

University: Newcastle
Location: Newcastle uponTyne
Program: MSc Clean Technology

University: Aberdeen
Location: Aberdeen
Program: MSc Renewable Energy Engineering

I am very much passionate about the subject and I think I have no problems with the curriculum of both the programs. So I need help with the university profiles:

1. International Outlook (which gives better chances of PhD in UK/EU/US?)
2. Employbility (Prefereably for the specific program if available)
3. Which location has more access to renewable energy companies?
4. Which is cheaper to live?

Thank you

Anybody who can help me with this, it will be great!!

Yes it is Ian. But the focus is on the word "possible" and "availability of funds".
However, if in case I am not able to avail a fully funded PhD what can be alternative options for my career like industry/consultancy jobs. It would be great if you have an idea on this.

Thanks
Anirudh

Hello everyone,

I have been offered an MPhil position at Newcastle University, UK in the field of Bioenergy and I am quite interested in it. I would like to know what are future prospects of an MPhil graduate apart from a possible PhD. How do industry guys look at these graduates?

Thanks

Hey Peter,

Thank you very much for the broad description about wageningen university. This is really very helpful information.

One of my other concerns that's bothering me was the availability of part time jobs for intenational students during weekdays or weekends and it's availability for English only speaking students and also if I learn the Dutch language how will it improve my chances.

Thanks

Hello Everyone,

I have got an admit for Masters in Biotechnology at Wageningen University, The Netherlands. My primary interest is in Biofuels and the particular course can be specialized in the field of my interest. So, I am quite ready go ahead with it for February 2015. Although, I would like to know the following details:

1. Accommodation, living costs and part time jobs?
2. Job prospects and average salary in general related to university ? (if anyone can inform me about the specific course it would be even better)
3. Fully funded PhD prospects? (as applying to these courses, I have wasted almost an year)
4. What is the general opinion/comments about the university (I have seen that it ranks in top 100, but ranking is not everything, so a generalized views?

Apart from this I have an offer for MPhil in energy at Newcastle University, UK. I have seen a range of comments on how an MPhil degree is considered as a failed PhD. However, I have also seen that MPhil students are considered over PhD graduates (considered as overqualified) for an industry job. I am not interested in academia either and I am looking for industrial job prospects.

Any comments on the MPhil degree and its job prospects will be a huge benefit to me.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea on these things.

Thank You

I have got an offer for Masters in Biotechnology at Wageningen University for February 2015. Could anybody suggest a few scholarship availability.

Thanks

No, I did not mention I wasn't interested in academia directly or even indirectly. As a part of my career plans in the statement of purpose or letter motivation I mentioned about my industrial ambitions but not about the disinterest towards academia etc.

Do you think they might have rejected because of the industrial motivation?

Please help me connect to people who have a fair idea about the MPhil job prospects.

Thanks You

Hi all,

I am Anirudh a graduate student from a prestigious institute in India. I am an research enthusiast in Biofuels and have trying for a PhD in the same area in UK/EU but have found no luck. However, I have no interest in academia and clearly mentioned in all my applications that i would interested in taking up an industrial job and later start up my own business or something.

I havent got a single PhD opprtunity but at present I have got MPhil opportunity in Energy at Newcastle university for January entry. I would have to pay 15,000 pounds as fee most of which will be loan. Will it b a good idea to take up the opportunity and applying for jobs in UK/EU on the MPhil degree. Going through the forum I have got an hint about how phds are considered overqualified for industry jobs. Also, I have been in touch with the supervisor emails who has been telling me things as they are actually, about lack of PhD funding and over qualification of a phd for an industrial job.

I would like to get the opinion from the forum how are job prospects for an MPhil graduate in UK/EU in biofuel sector. If so how should I prepare myself from the day 1 of MPhil to gain a job right after completion. I would also like to know if any full or partial scholarship can be awarded for an International graduate applicant for MPhil.

Thanks in advance