Hi Huhu
thanks for replying. No matlab undergrad courses or tutorials - that was my initial thoughts. There are other postgrads in my dept. who do use MatLab but they haven't been too helpful. I guess they have either been through this issue or they happened to do a BSc which covered MatLab.
I had to buy a version of MatLAb (incidentally via a friend at another university). I have been struggling along with a book and the online tutorials but feel I could make more progress in a class/personal tutorial situation.
This issue is actually only one of a long series of "hoops" I have had to climb through with little support or advice. I guess that is part of a PhD
salsaroc

My supervisor has identified I have a lack of experience in data anlaysis and programming -specifically MatLab. I am 2 years into a part time PhD and this issue has only just been mentioned. My university does not offer training in this area and my BSc did not cover this in any great depth. I have never used MatLab for example. Somehow I am supposed to acquire the skills and training but have had no advice as to where I can find this training. (Maybe they thought I was born with this knowledge!) Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Do any other universities take external students on their training courses? I have contacted a few that do run intro to MatLsb courses for their graduate students but no luck.:-(

I am in my first year part time - self funded. In order to carry out my research I was promised access to facilities and equipment but this has never materialised and no explanation as to why. My original proposal and ethics were passed without any changes or comments but I have changed my primary supervisor (personality clash!) and had to also change faculty. The new faculty will not pass my original proposal nor the ethics. Proposal - don't like title, ethics - need to know where data collection will take place although its clearly written on the form! My new supervisor is supportive of the project but feels stuck in the middle between me and the university. The data collection will now take place off university premises (a proportion of this would have been collected off campus anyway and this was known about and encouraged at my interview and during my initial time at this university. However now there are concerns that no one will be able to oversee the collection. I am now looking for internships at other universities in order to collect my data.
So is my case unusual or do most universities play around with their students in this manner? Is it usual to be promised equipment and then be prevented from using it?
Do I stay or do I find another place? This is probably easier said than done plus my supervisor is excellent and wekk regarded within the field.
Any thoughts/advice welcomed.