I think historically it was easier to go straight from BSc to phD due to less competition, and other factors. After all, when I did my BSc, it was fairly common for lecturers in my subject (and others) to have a diploma rather than BSc.

That said, it is still possible. I recently applied for a studentship where they did not mention postgraduate qualifications as essential or desirable.

Definitely get as much 'real' research experience as you can.

As A116 said, it's a technical problem.

I have been offered a Dphil studentship, however my MSc does not finish until a month after the start date for the DPhil (they are at different unis). As they said there was some negotiation available around the start date I felt that this would not be a problem (but have not accepted the offer until I know what start date I could do).

However, I have been told today that I will not cease to be registered as an MSc student at my current uni until at least 12 weeks after my dissertation...and obviously that would cause problems.

Should I be querying this? (As my DPhil place does not depend on me achieving certain grades in the MSc, but equally I would like to complete it). I only know other people who have gone straight from MSc to phD within the same uni, so do not know whether this is common? (confused as surely if they expect you to be registered for the MSc 12 weeks after the course end date, why do they not offer accommodation etc?)

Depends on the subject area. I recently went for a Med Sci one, so a suit was appropriate. If I'd gone for something more engineering related, I'd have dressed down a bit.

======= Date Modified 02 33 2009 23:33:14 =======
I have only ever done a 'researcher's CV' (1 page max.) and a 'clinical CV' (2 pages with basic academics but focussed on clinical skills and experience in allied health).

Please does anyone know of any good guides (online or otherwise) to producing a CV suitable for application for a DPhil? Likewise for a covering letter?

I know these questions must get asked a lot, but I was also wondering how people explain slightly 'unusual' CVs? I have 2 sets of A-levels due to becoming ill, and whilst my voluntary work continued over that time, the gap is quite obvious. I also have quite a leap between my 6 As at A-level and my degree choice, as it's not one that people would normally do. Do you explain that sort of thing, or ignore it?

Grateful for any advice...

Does anyone know of any good proformas for writing a combined clinical/research CV for application to a phD?

I have a couple of informal phD offers. Whilst I do have a clinically-oriented CV (areas of placement, positions of responsibility etc), and a Researcher's CV (publications, conferences, one invited talk), combining the two results in a 4-page document, which isn't good at my level (qualified last year, and just finishing an MSc).

Does anyone know of any good proformas for beginning researchers/clinicians? I was advised by the Faculty Research Manager to include my publications/presentations, as it's unusual to have done them.

The university having the intellectual property rights is common...but not saying that your supervisor has to be first author. I've just published something from my undergraduate work (in sciences), and I was first author.

Anyone tried it when they've got someone with them? I'm a wheelchair user, so will have a trusty pusher, but I find people tend to assume that you want to come past and move out of the way!

I'd be interested on any feedback anyone has about first conference experiences from a slightly different perspective.

I'm an MSc student, and had my undergrad research accepted as a poster presentation at a big conference in the near future (I'm assuming it's 'big' as their website talks about 1800 delegates...and it's multidisciplinary).

I am trying very hard not to think, 'Help!'...but the only other people I know going from my institution are postdocs/staff (and I don't 'know' them).

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to get a friend with good taste to go through my wardrobe, and am trying to find people with conference experience to talk to.

Congratulations! At least a PhD is cheaper than (some) Masters. Career Development Loans can be an option, as can various trusts/charities (depending on your circumstances).

Thanks sourapple - that looks great

Unfortunately I am tied to my city (it took me 4 years to get to go to uni in the first place, as social services wouldn't fund out of county care - same goes for where I am now).

There are interesting opportunities elsewhere too, but I'm pretty much limited to my current institution unless I suddenly manage to be able to look after myself. They are trying to change it so that budgets are assigned to the individual rather than the council, but until then I'm pretty much stuck.

The only funded opp. at my institution is an MSc in Statistics with Applications in Medicine, but I don't really want to lose the clinical side.

As far as the MSc goes, it's Health and Rehabilitation - depending on the modules I take, it could have more of a social science bias, but not much.

Thanks for the advice - I already keep my eye on the external jobs page at my uni, but it's worth asking if there are any internal ones.

I already have a conditional place on an MSc, but I achieved a first, so I am now wondering whether I should be looking at PhDs instead. My ultimate aim is to achieve a PhD, however I have a number of concerns.

I can't move areas due to personal circumstances. This means that an advertised studentship may be out of the question, and I would have to come up with my own topic. As all of my friends who have done PhDs are scientists, I'm struggling to understand the process. Their viewpoint seems to be that if you want to do a PhD, you go and ask various professors until you find one ;)

My discipline falls in between the MRC and ESRC in terms of funding, so that could also be difficult.

How do you get more info about how to construct a topic etc?