I second Smoobles' post. It's great that you're thinking ahead and planning for the future, but I don't think you decide on doing a PhD until you've experienced an undergraduate and Master's- it's a pretty long road until you get to the PhD stage.

I haven't begun my PhD yet- I begin in September- and I can already understand the threads here because of stress during my Master's. Just because people experience stress and need others to speak to it doesn't mean they don't appreciate or enjoy their overall PhD experience. Please don't insult people who are going through difficulties because of stress. I'm currently putting the finishing touches to my Master's thesis (which I have loved researching) and due to anxiety I have developed stomach spasms. It's great being here and not hearing the kind of opinion you've put below- people in this situation need a support network, regardless of the fact that they are privileged to be doing what they're doing.

I've found that my Master's has helped me to learn time management more when it comes to investing in my relationship with my husband; for the first month or so I barely left my office room and then I realised I was neglecting my home life a bit too much. Hopefully things may become easier with the PhD as, though I know it will be a lot of hard work and deadlines, I think things will be more spread out and less intensive than a Master's.

In my current naivety I'm hoping I will be able to comfortably have a 40 hour work week and spend the weekends a bit more freely than I currently do. As my thesis is due in next week, I've been obsessively going over it on the weekends...

Where are you beginning a PhD, and what is your field?

Your post made me smile- I am in the same situation. I am both very, very excited, and also very apprehensive- particularly after reading the recent thread about the health implications of a PhD! I am quite a perfectionist, which I had never realised until my Master's thesis, so I am worried about how I will mentally deal with that over a three year period!

I guess everyone has different experiences, but I'm hoping motivation and a great supervisor will help to make my PhD experience a bit more smooth sailing than some stories on here..

No, I'm doing my PhD in Edinburgh- I should have made that more clear.
The Netherlands seems to provide a good system for it's PhD students, though I believe it suffers, like the rest of the world, with a lack of funding for the humanities. It was never really an option to study the PhD here, as my husband and I are moving back to Scotland in June.

Also, though I study in Leiden I live in Amsterdam as my husband works here. It is an amazing city- you'll never find anywhere else like it.

I am currently completing my Master's at Leiden University in the Netherlands. I have found it a very, very worthwhile experience. I have now been offered a full scholarship for a History PhD, something I am quite convinced I wouldn't have been offered quite so easily had I got my Master's in the UK. In this current climate having something that sets you apart it is a huge benefit. Aside from that, the life experience is invaluable. The Netherlands is a wonderful place to live, and in addition tuition fees are around a third of the UK.

About the Master's not being as strong- they do tend to encourage 2 year Master's over here, so maybe a one year isn't considered as strong? However, I have a one year taught Master's, and I haven't encountered any problems in being accepted on a PhD course and obtaining funding in the UK.

It's completely a win-win situation! If you have any more specific questions please get in touch.

Hi Mulligan888,

You may not be being unrealistic- I do know people who have gone on to do a PhD and achieve an academic career after obtaining a 2:2, however it may depend whether you are hoping to receive funding for a PhD, or to self-fund. Funding is obviously very competitive, and both your grade, and going to 'less "academic"' university may hold you back.

Best of luck with the Master's.

I don't think you need to worry about putting your 2nd supervisor in an awkward position- they are there for a reason, and you need to address this before you give up on what you have been doing for the last 19 months.

If you aren't comfortable speaking to your 2nd supervisor, I would speak to student counselling, or something like that, who can maybe tell you more clearly who the best person to report this to would be.

Hi Nti97sma,

I wondered if you had came to a decision about whether you should go for a PhD? I have found reading articles online about the main reasons people drop out very helpful.(such as this one http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2002/nov/08/highereducation.books from The Guardian).

Best of luck with everything!

I have also just been offered a PhD recently. I think it's very important to be passionate about the topic, and happy to spend a significant period of your life working on the same thing.. though, of course, as I 'm just beginning I'm not the best person to advise!

"Also a bit worried about the workload, do most people find they get some evenings and some weekend to themselves?"

This is also a question that I'm wondering. I am currently putting so much into my Master's that I'm not spending as much time with my husband as I would like. Do people find the work load eases up much? I am the very conscientious-type.. so I always tend to work hard, but I would like more free evenings and things than I have now.

Normally I would have said that they would, however the fact that you have articles published on this topic means that I believe most universities wouldn't rule you out point blank because of your Master's field. It may be that you are asked to complete a course in History for a term, or something like that, but I think you would stand a very good chance of being admitted, especially as many students who go onto PhD don't have a Master's.

Good luck!

I have recently been offered good funding for a PhD in Victorian social history. I am really very excited, but also very apprehensive! I really don't know what to expect from the first year, as I feel that my proposal still needs a lot of refining. I am aware I won't be-able to tutor undergrads until my second year, so I don't know what the normal activities are for the first year, aside from reading and researching.

Are there normally seminars on carrying out a PhD? Or are you pretty much on your own?

Thanks.

Hi Ze,

It is cheesy, but the best source for writing a PhD proposal is passion and determination. You need a proposal that conveys that it is a topic you have thought a lot about and are happy to spend a significant amount of time analysing.

Best wishes!
Laura