I am starting my final year of a Zoology degree this autumn, and will hopefully gain a 1st or a 2.1. I really want to have a career in research, so need a PhD. When should I start to apply? The ones I've seen all appear to be for this September, so when will the PhDs for September 2004 start to be listed?Please help

You should start looking from October onwards. Application deadlines can be as early as December, but many other studentships won't even be announced by then. By starting your search now you can put together a shortlist of labs you'd like to work in. Come October you can begin to find out if and when these labs will have studentships for 2004.