Thank you so much for all you replies. I really do feel a bit better as I felt I was flogging a dead horse to be honest! I'm completely aware of the funding situation and tbh I'm not even going to apply. I know of many people at my old department at UCL who had top academic records and didn't even get a look in for funding. I think I'll be able to make ends meet by working part-time and a bit of help from family so I think I'll be with for funding myself.

My real concern I had was if I'd get into a top university to do a PhD in English.. I wonder if anyone knows of anyone who has got into Oxbridge for a humanities PhD with a 2:2 and a merit at MA level? Or is it almost a definite no?

I want to do a PhD in English but wanted some advice on my undergraduate degree. I graduated from a top university (UCL) several years ago with a degree in English and got a 2:2 - just a couple of marks off a 2:1. I'd like to say that it was due to extenuating circumstances but in honesty it was down to pure laziness and rarely doing any work. I'm surprised I managed to even get a 2:2 with the lack of effort I put in. It's doubly frustrating as I was told by tutors that I was one of the more gifted students they had seen over the years and could easily have achieved a first if I'd put in work. I know it wasn't empty praise. I then did an MA in English from the same department and got a merit. Again, I could have got a distinction but I wrote my dissertation in less that a week. Unfortunately my lack of focus is now coming back to bite me as I realise just how much I love my subject. I know it sounds ridiculous with my track record, but I've always wanted to do a PhD and would love to start one in the next few years.

I'm confident things are different now. In short I've grown up and I know that I would sucessfully complete a PhD. I'm not the same person I was and have very different values and a different way of living now. My question is this, how difficult would it be to get into a top university, perhaps even Oxbridge, to do a PhD. I've researched my area extensively and have a good idea.

My work ethic has done a complete turn around which is very clear in my current job and the way I currently live my life. Will I be paying for my youthful foolishness for the rest of my life? Or is there something I can do to combat the effects of the 2:2?