Hi there, please don't be too proud to apply for JSA - That's what it's there for.
I found myself out of work for the summer before starting my PhD and quite honestly JSA really helped while I was sorting myself out with some part-time shop work as a stop gap.

If you don't want to find a career type job while you're writing up, there are certainly other avenues to explore that you could do temporarily. Personally, I was looking for retail, bar work or something animal care related. The shop work came up and it felt like a very nice career break!

I haven't moved far from my original degree and am now doing a science PhD. I'd be interested in taking on some pay per piece work, I've already done a bit for my university. I think it's a great way to boost my income a little bit while I'm studying

Haha can I join this group if I say that I'm currently learning social science research methods for my vet science phd? :-)

I just wanted to go back to the original question in that here at the RVC very few people seem to be in all the time and many people seem to come from quite a long way away. I share an office with someone who lives in Bournemouth and another in Oxfordshire.

We have various commitments in terms of research seminars and some mandatory training, but realistically I'd say that I only really have to be in one or two days max... Plus I hate driving the country lanes in the dark so often leave early at the moment to make the most of the daylight! I suspect for me, work load will vary depending on what stage of the project I'm at... At the moment I'm still doing a lot of reading so I tend to break it up and do some work in the evenings and at weekends rather than do a 9-5, Mon-Fri

I can't comment on placements, but I did my Masters part-time over two years. It was good in that I was able to keep my job while I was doing it and work part-funded me, however I was told up front that I would have no reduction in work - So I ended up doing a full-time job in two and a half days a week and then had to do my Masters work on top. I was also only allowed two days off for study leave, so no reading weeks for me to go over stuff that I was unsure of. Also in terms of other people on the course, there were only a few part-timers so I got to know the full-timers on my course the first year, but the nature of the modules in the second year meant that I got to know practically no one from the second year.

Part-time worked for me in that I wouldn't have been able to afford to take a year off and fund myself, plus I had my job security. But I would always recommend to anyone that if you can do it full-time, then to do it.

It's also one of the reasons why I decided that I wanted to do my PhD full-time and based at the university.

When I tell people I'm ding a PhD most people assume I'm doing a course and going to lectures and stuff. I've got bored of trying to explain what a PhD actually is. That said, it doesn't bother me... I mean, unless someone works in academia, why would they necessarily know anything about postgraduate courses? I've not come across anyone making fun of me though. Well apart from my other half who refers to my working from home as "having the day off", but I think that's just because he knows it annoys me!

I'm kind of the opposite. Having worked in the public sector for 11 years prior to starting my PhD last month I have always been in open plan offices with clear desk and hot desking policies. - And yes, that means lugging your laptop around with you (although my last place provided very small lockers).

Now, I'm in an office with 8 desks which I occupy more or less by myself. The first two weeks I was going crazy by myself! It takes some adjustment but you get used to the situations eventually. For busy hot desking areas I very much recommend investing in a pair of good quality headphones.

I'm currently using my personal laptop, which is OK, but not ideal, my 30 day Endnote licence is about to run out. :-( I'm only getting a work laptop because it was budgeted for in the grant money for my project - It was finally ordered last week so hopefully will turn up at some point!

Thanks, I'm still struggling a bit - With motivation mainly, keeping going is proving difficult!

I think my problem is that I'm being advised to read stuff that's not even related to my field in order to familiarise myself with the issues - The "elusive gap" is so big in my field of research I could drive a tank through it! And if you'd seen me drive, you'd know that is no mean feat!

I think essentially, I'm just really impatient and so desperate to actually get started on my research! I think it possibly doesn't help that two people I know who started at the same time already seem to be required to do so much more.

I'm just trying to break things down into small chunks so it doesn't seem so big and black hole like!

I would suggest it depends on where you did your qualifications as well as what you got. I 'only' got a pass for my Masters. Studying part-time, while working full-time, doing a very difficult course where the only other successful outcome was a near impossible to get Distinction.

I have never, ever even thought that a Masters pass would be considered a bad grade?

I'd also consider what you got for your research projects for both degrees. If actually, you scored really highly in your projects and it was exam situations that let you down, then I would suggest you were in a better position to complete a PhD than if it was the other way round?

Hi everyone, a newbie here 😊
I started my PhD 4 weeks ago and was just wondering if anyone had any tips on getting started? My supervisors seem quite happy with my spending the next few months ‘background reading’ without coming up with any kind of research question.

Having come from a very output focused background, I’m having difficulties accepting that all I have to do is reading (and motivating myself to do it). Any suggestions? I seem to have spent most of today procrastinating!

I just wanted to say, well done for having the courage to ask for a new supervisor. I know it isn't easy and you will undoubtedly be worried about how it reflects on you.

While not related to a PhD, at my previous job I got put on extended probation by my line manager. I felt like I could do nothing right, that she criticised me over insignificant things. At the time I wanted to ask for a new line manager, but was worried it would reflect badly on me, like I'd thrown my toys out the pram over the probation extension. Ultimately, I ended up losing my job because the head of department took her work over mine that I wasn't good enough, and at the final meeting I actually said that not requesting a change was my biggest regret.

I've got the last laugh though, because the day before that meeting, I'd got accepted for my PhD, which I started 4 weeks ago! :-) It has greatly affected my confidence though, and I feel like I'm requiring a lot more reassurance and hand-holding than perhaps I would have done.

I don't think changing supervisor is something that should be done lightly but I do feel you have the right to be supported and encouraged and it sounds like you made the right decision. Good luck with it :-)