The book is very good, I have a copy I will let go for £5 (plus post) if you are interested. I found the book very useful in the run up to my Viva.
Max

I applied to do a PhD, in 2010 after graduating with an degree in 1996. i went straight to PhD (not via a Masters), although I was originally registered as an MSc student. A lot will depend on the Uni you apply to , you may well have to submit an upgrade report after your first year to transfer onto a PhD, i was given the choice of either completing an MSc and then starting a PhD or forego the MSc qualification and transfer straight on to a PhD. I finished at the beginning of the year and graduated last month. It can be done, I would have a chat with the Uni you were interested in

Max

During the process of completing my PhD thesis I started a journal paper with the intention of attempting to get it accepted before I completed my studies. Due to working full time as well as doing a part time PhD the paper didnt get finished. The original draft was a follow up to three conference papers I had written with additional results / conclusions that were taken from my thesis. Before I submitted my supervisor reviewed the paper and said it was OK, but needed some parts re-writing as the Turnitin results were showing too many matches (90% of which were to my own conference papers). Now I have submitted my thesis, this result will be even higher as teh new material in the paper was taken from my thesis (which at the time hadnt been submitted.

My question is "re-using" sections from my own work still classed as plagiarism? I dont want to re-invent the wheel by starting over, when the hard work is already done, but also dont want to get the paper rejected based on results showing it has been copied (albeit off myself).

If I have to completely re-write I will but I wanted to try and save some time if I dont have to

Has anyone had any similar experience?

Thanks
Max

Well, done you. Get your corrections done and get it submitted and the sit back and feel proud of your achievements....,. You deserve it, dont under play what you have accomplished.

it can be done, I started my PhD at age 40 ( after graduating from my first degree 14 years earlier. After 10 years of part time study, I finally passed my Doctorate aged 50. 33 is still young enough to be deciding upon your career path and you still have time to change direction if needed. Max

I submitted at the beginning of the year and like you, found minor errors after. I just took a sheet into my Viva with me and at the end when they spoke of errors I said "yes I am aware of erros X, Y Z, I have already addressed them but had already submitted before I noticed them". The examiners were fine with that... I passed with just a few minor corrections so it cant have been too much of a problem. Good luck with your Viva . Max

After ten years of hard work I have finally passed my PhD. I had some very minor corrections which were finished and submitted in a week. I just wanted to assure everyone having doubts that YOU can do it. I spent ten years convinced my research wasnt as good as everyone elses and I would never finish. Keep going and you will get there too. Use this forum for help..... there is lots of knowledge and experience and people always willing to help. Thanks. Max.

I am looking for someone who can help me with a GNUplot problem. I have created a X/Y graph from some data generated within GNUplot (I have a script I am running within GNU plot rather than reading in column data from a text file). I want to be able to export the XY data to a text file so I can use it in a table / other graphing software. I can see how I can export the graphs as a PNG or PDF, but I want to be able to get access to the actual values as a text file. Is this possible?

Thanks
Max

I am trying to compile my thesis in Latex and am getting multiple errors for my tables. The error I get says" Latex Error: Illegal character in array arg. My table look like the one below:

\begin{table}[h]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{||{2 cm}||{8 cm}||}
\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{Internal Combustion Engine Operating Speeds} \\
\hline
Number of Cylinders & Engine Speed\\
\hline
1 & 2500 rev/min \\
\hline
$>$ 1 & 1500 rev/min \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{Internal Combustion Engine Operating Speeds. }
\label{tab:Engine}
\end{table}

can anyone help please

Thanks
Max

Hi Ian, my current employer is trying to recruit more staff to ease my current workload, so I am hopeful that things will get easier. Time will tell if that becomes a reality, but for now something has had to give, unfortunately studies have had to take the hit. It has taken a lot of thought to get to this point, I have been trying to put off a leave but I currently think that it is a break or the funny farm.

I am hoping a few months break will give me time to clear my head, re-charge batteries etc so even if work hasn't improved in 6 months time I may be in a better place mentally to continue.

Max

Thanks for the replies, I have spoken with my supervisor and started the application process.

Satchi, I have sent you a direct message :-)

Thanks
Max

I am looking for some advice regarding applying for a leave of absence, I have been struggling to make any real progress for that last 12 month (I am a part time PhD student and work full time (currently very busy working in excess of 50 hours a week) I have finally hit the point where I think something has to give, and I think it is going to have to be my studies. Does anyone have any experience of applying for a leave of absence, what is the general process and was it agreed. Also if anyone has been granted leave how di you cope with your return to study, any advice / suggestions welcomed.

Thanks
Max

Well done Satchi!!!! Congratulations

Just had a reply (with a bit of an apology) and also a request for some ideas for a paper to present at a conference later in the year (this would be my first one) . Now need to arrange a meeting to discuss my work I sent him.
Thanks for all the support / advice
Max

Thanks for all the replies, I am glad its not just me. I think I will give him till Monday, that gives him 2 weeks + a weekend and then I will give him a ring (even though he tends to be difficult to get hold of by phone, I wouldn't be quite so bothered if last I sent him a progress report that I had been working on till gone midnight every night for a few weeks (after starting my full time job at 6am) I travelled 200 miles for a meeting to discuss it to find he hadn't even read it.
Hopefully I will get a reply tomorrow (heres hoping )
Thanks
Max