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I have noticed that academics often have interesting sayings, which they try and live by, and will often share at opportune moments. Obviously these pearls of wisdom must have a grain truth, otherwide these people would never have managed to become academics!

I was wondering if people wouldn't mind sharing their supervisors sayings, the sayings of academics that have had a major bearing on their career or even their own favourite sayings. (Or catch phrases).

Have you seen the no of EngD's around? It seems like universities have lots of them and are begging to give them away! (Seems like gov new plan to have lots of engineering managers). Mind you I think anyone would have to be a mug to work full time and being doing a PhD at the same time.

Well I think Propects or Grad UK sent an e-mail round telling people about how increasingly industry are looking for people with PhD's....so I think the tide is turning. PhD's were seen only useful for academia but now indusrty has woken up to how useful PhD students in terms of all the skills and characteristics that they have.

In Germany, I am told because so many people have degrees you need a PhD to be a manager, but I don't know if that is true. I think the same will eventually become the case in this country.

Oh yes and I forget to mention that the OU is very supportive of people with disabilities or health problems.

Have checked the OU website and registration deadline for the two level three courses closes 14/12 to start in Feb. I would book them now, while there are still places. In the meantime you can submit form for transfer with you transcripts. (I think it can take 4-6 weeks for them to process).

I am at a top ten university and the OU is highly regarded there.

I really hope everything works out for you.

Glad you found the tip helpful. It can take a bit of time to sort out credit transfer because it takes a few weeks for them to get back to you after applying for the scheme, especially at busy times of year.

Also good idea to book courses well in advance. Some modules only start on one date a year which can be in almost any month. Good luck!

Well, to be honest doing anything with a third will be difficult, let alone law. You should know how competitive law is. Many people don't get accepted on training contracts as lawyers and spend the rest of their lives working in a law firm as an administrator doing photocopying on 14K. This could be because they didn't go to a 'good enough' uni, didn't get a good enough grade, are applying over the age of twenty five and various other reasons. Law I'm afraid is still a fairly elitist profession and there are so many applicants, that they can pick and choose.

If I were you I would investigate the credit transfer scheme at the OU. By doing two level three options you could come out with a new degree grade. I would ring them up and ask them to explain to you how the scheme works.

I would also advise that you ask law firms about what they look for and the university careers adviser.

I would say go for the masters! But do your research into what and where to make sure that your masters is worth the investment.
(Mine has certainly helped me get alot of interviews in the areas that I want).
I would advise thinking about what PhD you would like to do, keep applying for PhD's and do a masters in the meantime to help get you there.
I would also advise buying books off amazon about doing and applying for PhD's. They will help you decide whether a PhD is for you. Good luck!

Hi there!
I am in the social sciences background but I have applying for sciences and social sciences PhD's. At every interview I have been for they loved my masters because it involved a module of research training, doing a research project(dissertation) and studying at postgraduate level. I would say that interviewers hope you have done research training, put it into practice on your course and if you have any work research experience that is a bonus! I have really enjoyed my masters and for the extra ways it has developed me was certainly worthwhile. Studying at masters level might help you decide whether continuing at PhD level is for you. I think at the end of my masters people decided they either wanted to carry on studying or never wanted to do it for a long time!

Sounds like an 'SAS fitness instructor' type of supervisor. You will either have to respond to this positively and spring into productive action and work your backside off, or quit and find another project. If I were you I will try and rise to the challenge. Don't take his comments personally, he is just trying to be honest with you and speaking his mind. (Better that than be false and insincere?) He is trying to motivate you and push you forward (army style). Try and do lots of good work to please him and show him that he is wrong!!!

Hmmm he sounds like the 'go away and research something and come back and tell me what you have found out (if it is interesting)' type of supervisor. In other words, 'don't come and see me and ask me loads of questions, if you haven't done much work.' He sounds like the type that expects students to be fairly self sufficient. To jump out of a can and be read to go and hit the ground running. They expect the student to produce considerable amounts of work under their own steam, and only arrange to see them for feedback and checking of work. They want a 'low maintenance student' who isn't going to cause them any hassle or need constant reassurance and will work well independently. The supervisor wants to get on with their teaching and research.

Well if you are resubmitting, try and get any friends or fellow PhD students to comment on your work. Maybe you could do a seminar presentation for them and ask them to comment. This might help you to pass. I know your supervisor may have let you down, but I think it is up to you to not be defeated. Even if he is a poor supervisor, you should try and be the best student you possibly can. Make sure you keep in frequent contact with your supervisor. Don't rely on them to chase you up. Send them drafts of your work, even if not requested. It is their job to read and comment on them and send them back. They can't give you feed back if you haven't submitted anything. Then at the end of the day, if this doesn't work out, you will know that you did everything you could to make it work, you gave it 120% and can feel blameless. I am sure that you are good enough for a PhD. Believe in yourself. If you work hard and consistently you will succeed.

Thank you for answering!
1) Yes I am in the process of changing disciplines.
2) The MSc is funded.It is intended that the best students who don't want to go into industry will be selected for a PhD. (It is not an ESRC 1+3 studentship).
3) The reference for my undergraduate degree is favourable. I don't know about my masters. I am a bit worried that my supervisor might give me a poor reference because I asked for an extension. Although I guess they shouldn't do because my reasons were very valid... I applied to the Access Fund and the messed up my application leaving me with not enough money to live on. I had my phone cut off, I had no money to buy food and was nearly evicted.
4) I am better from my illness. I know lecturers shouldn't discriminate, but I'm sure in reality they do.

I asked what I had to do to get on the course for 2008 and the course leader said to 'work as diligently, efficiently and as effectively on my masters as I can.'

The deadline for my MA dissertation is 15th October and my MSc course would have started on 1st October.

I applied for this course in 2005 and was told to go away and do some modules with the OU to show my academic ability and reapply. I now fee really cheated as I have gone away and done a masters and yet still that isn't good enough!!!

Do you think he course leader knows I have an extension? Do you think I had a bad reference? Do you think I can reason with them and persuade them to take me??? Am really distraught. Any advice welcome.