Another example came to my mind. If you play football and you shot a ball with the intention to fire a strong shot at the corner of the net, then your shot came with medium strength and was at the centre of the goal but it was still in the net. Would you ask the referee to disallow the goal because you want to score a " brilliant" one? I would be happy to score an " average" goal and try to score a brilliant one next time.

This is absolutely what most of us tell you.

Sorry didn't get it first time. I think you can assume a maximum of 3 months. If your new employer is happy to wait 3 months, it is absolutely fine. If not, you may try to speak with your tutor or admin in the department.

Hi. If the company stopped payinng your stipend, why do you care so much for their interest? They have screwed you. You just see what is convenient for you and inform the company and the supervisor.
Do what is best for you only.

Hi. I am completely working in a different field but I would go for psychology career.
Something else, you only mentioned pros and cons for psychology, this reflects your real desire.

Hi. It is good to determine your goals. Having second class honour is fine but the competition is high. You can apply for many universities but the chance is not high. Another route is to work for one or two years as a research assistant and try to publish then try again.

Hi CadmiumRed19. I am sorry you are going through this. I think I know exactly how do you especially "It's just me sat staring at a screen on my own day in day out." I had this feeling for 5 years and ended up without a PhD.
You have a real issue. Do not listen to people who say, it is normal. Our PhD was like this the first year and it gets better. You seem somehow like me. I am never good without particular tasks and deadlines. Also "PhD is about self motivation and independant research" is just blablabla. There are good supervisors and bad supervisors. What would have suited you is a pushy supervisor.
Now what to do? I think you need to talk to your supervisor. Take tasks and deadlines from him. Work efficient. If your effective working hours are 4 a day, this will be fine. When you start something, set a timer, let us say 20 min so you work 20 min without leaving desk or looking at facebook, etc.
If you find it really impossible, quitting the PhD is an option exactly like divorce is an option. If you quit after 18 monthes, better than leaving after 4 years without a PhD.
I wish things work out for you but they won't without a big change from you and the PhD environment.

Hi. I would like to participate in the discussion. Of course not all PhD graduates learn the same. In a score from 1 to 10 some really learn 8 or 9. Some have like 4 journals and 15 conference papers in a three year period, really. But what if you learn 4 or 5? This was not what you have expected and hoped for sure. But it is never too late. You can try to choose a good Postdoc job and try as much to avoid what caused you to learn 5/10. Try to benefit 9/10 this time. it is not the end. It has only 3 years in your long research career and they were good, not perfect but let us look forward.

In my personal experience, I know when I had a bad experience in my job that it was 50% my fault. Now in my current job I try to change my bad habits so I feel I benefit much more.
So if you choose a better environment for Postdoc role and add to what you have already gained, you may have a better experience in your next move.

Hi. This is absolutely true. The image of Brits outside is totally wrong. You don't realise the value of the UK before you go there.
One important thing in assessing the supervisor and the PhD. The supervisor interaction with you. Will he the kind of pushy and asks every day what are doing or will he leaves you alone with minimal or no guidance? And to assess which quality is good and which is bad, are you the kind of person who works effectively independant (because I am personally not)? So if you need someone to push you, do not go with the supervisor with minimal interaction and the opposite is true if you work better independently.

Because you should plan now what to do after PhD. Would you like to continue working in the same country that you do your PhD? I know I may sound pragmatic but this is important. If you wanna get a PhD and do not care where to go after, it is fine. But let's say you wanna continue in the UK or Austria, then it would be important to assess the situation in terms of work permit availability for people who obtained PhD there.
For my case I went to Germany to do a PhD because I thought all Europe is the same, but I still regret leaving the UK. So if you look for a "new home" country, think carefully.

Hi Loubigher,
Are you a non EU citizen? If so you have to take into consideration what to do and where to work after PhD. This will have a huge impact on your decision.

Hi Loubigher. First congratulations. It is nice to have a PhD offer.
I agree with you that it is frustrating to have sevral choices. I personally like when I have a good offer and the others do not contact me. It is confusing and depressing (for some people).
I would normally recommend taking the Loughborough offer. The PhD in the UK is somehow structured and there is a panel meeting and most PhD students quit with a PhD. In my experience in Germany (I assume it will be somehow similar in Austria), the PhD supervisor has the ultimate power. He can pass you even if your work is not good but ofcourse can't fail you if you have published in journals for example.
If your work is OK but not brilliant like most PhD students, then your supervisor (who by the way is also your examiner), has the power to pass or fail you.
The PhD and also professional environment in Germany is not very professional. It depends to a large extent on personal views. In the UK, most professors are working professionally.
Ofcourse things expected to get even more personal and non professional in China.

Hi Tudor_Queen,
I am sorry for saying meaningless. I know it is valuable. I put it between brackets to imply that ambitious persons like you always underestimate their work. Some people will see always their work as meaningless even if they win a noble Prize.
I can see your reasoning. Although I won't recommend going for MPhil but I can see some logic in what you say.
If you eventually decided for an MPhil, the most important is not to wait long before looking for a good PhD. Not long IMO means 1-2 years.

It is a postgraduate qualification. But to be honest, the MSc value is much more valuable than PgD. The MSc credit is 1.5 times the PgD but its value is at least 4 times the value of PgD.

Hi all. I agree totally with pm133 two points.
Another point. Do you know what is worse than spending 3 years doing "meaningless" research and get a PhD ?
It is spending 3 years doing "meaningless" research and NOT get a PhD.