I have just completed my masters and have just been accepted to transfer to the second year of a PhD (in English Lit.) Although I am very excited about doing a PhD and feel very confident about my topic/research, I am a nervous person and still get quite intimidated by supervisors/ speaking in seminars etc/ being asked questions in presentations etc. I was wondering if anyone else doing a PhD had the same problem, I am going to a conference in September and i am really nervous about it (although i am not even presenting). Also, I will be taking undergraduate tutorials next year and even this terrifies me! Any advice? I'm starting to wonder if I should take a year off to grow up a bit.. (I'm only 22)

Hi, a bit out of the main topic: I wonder do you still get your degree certificate for completion of your masters degree b4 transferring to your 2nd year of PhD?

I am a very nervous person too. I am in the 3rd year of my PhD now and I have found it difficult especially giving talks, going to new places and meeting ppl. However I think that the only way to reduce the nerves is to actually do stuff like that. I am giving a talk tomorrow at a conference and I am terrified about it, but it has got better, I no longer can't sleep for wks before the talk!

Dantheboi - No, I won't be getting the certificate for my masters, i think it might be different at different universities or for different subjects though. I am doing literature at Edinburgh. Hope that helps.
Jen - thanks for your advice and good luck in your presentation!

While I'm here, any other PhD students from Edinburgh?

I agree with Jen. I used to be terrified of asking questions in seminars etc., but I forced myself to try, and the more I tried the easier it got. Also with talks I used to get myself through it by thinking in ** hours it will be over. Really helped me. But you do need to push yourself out of your comfort zone. It will become easier with time.

Ok thanks, nice to know that other people have the same problem. I think one of the main problems is that most people in my field are so articulate, where as I just get tongue tied and flustered. I'm sure it will get easier though.