By the way Buttercup, Roger Tarling is the best on regression. Andy Fields as well.

While it is ok to find the relationship between a dependent variable and one independent variable, I would think this is too simple a model. I would suggest controlling for other factors as well. You might find the relationship is not so stong after all given other factors and this is what real world data is like. My suggestion is 1) run the simple model first, and 2) try controlling for other factors (if there are other actors) and see what happens. I hope this helps.

If you are a mature student doing a ful time PhD like me, with 2 young chidren, a part time job, a husband and self-funded you wouldn't even realise who is self funding or not. All you want to do is get on with your work. I think this boy referred to by Maria1, is just that, a boy, with no responsibilities. Spends his free time poking his nose into other people's affairs. Shame on him really.

Hi Supersteff, I think you are being too hard on yourself for nothing really. Many of us PhDiers have merits for our Masters. It doesn't bother me a tiny bit. Come on, you are doing a PhD and that means you are good enough. If you knew you weren't you wouldn't have applied and you wouldn't have been accepted. To me you got an excellent mark!!!

Thanks Leaf, but like I said just go ahead and prepare a draft proposal then look for a potential supervisor. You have got more than enough credentials.

Hi, just go ahead and apply. I just handed in my dissertation for my Masters yesterday. Like you, I am coming from a not so popular London uni, with a first degree from outside the UK but got an unconditional PhD offer with a Russel Group uni. I am starting on Monday. I am headed for a merit by the way. I think maybe my advantage was, I did a Research Methods and Statistics MSc. I am not even sure. But just get yourself a supervisor first before you apply.

Just to add on to the "economically useful, science and engineering threads", I think it is absurd to suggest that some degrees are better than others. As long as it is an Honours degree, it is just as good as the other. Take for example, medical scientists. Who is there to give counselling to a patient when they have given their cancer diagnosis, a counsellor(a social scientist). Doctors work hand in glove social scientists. When there is a major development about to take place in an area, e.g, a new motorway or shopping mall, who is there to study the culture and social aspects of the people to see what they need or don't need? It is a social scientist. So why this stupid distinction anyway? It is misleading. Some of us love the arts and social sciences will encourage our children to do the same if they wish.

Hi all, this might sound silly, but I applied for a PhD place and just got an email congratulating me for getting an Mphil place. Is this because in England you first enrol onto an Mphil?

Thanks everyone for your support, I am much more confident now and hopefully I will have a place soon.

Thanks Delta. This is not a funded place I am applying for. I am looking at self funding and what I need for now is just a PhD place.

Sorry to barge into your forum. I need some genuine advice. I am almost 32 and almost through with my MSc in the social sciences. (I am expecting a merit). I am in the process of applying for a PhD, have had 1 regret with no explanations. However, I have a potential supervisor (Birmingham) who has shown great interest in my proposal. I am yet to hand in my application and don't want to mess it up. My work experience is not relevant to what I want to study. Does this matter and will it spoil my chances of getting a place? Moreover, I took time out to raise my 2 children and haven't been active academically and in the workplace for the 3 years prior to my masters. I really want this PhD place, I have a very supportive spouse and given my age I really know what I want and what I am going for. Do you think I am at a disadvantage? Your help will be greatly appreciated.