i write up the methods section while i'm doing the experiments. i find that really helps later on during writing-up as you already have a finished section

the netherlands. being a phd is a regular job with a standard contract, 9 to 5. i know very few phd-students here who work longer hours or in the weekend.

the only thing i really don't like about the netherlands is that decent affordable housing is really hard to find.

ear plugs.

funding in germany is very rare and difficult to get. on the other hand, living costs are cheap and fees are very low. most people study part-time (unless parents help out) and have a job on the side.

so you texted her, invited her and she didn't turn up? sounds like she's not interested, sorry.

When students asked me evil questions I would say: "That's a very interesting question! I'll think about it and get back to you next session." The student in question felt clever and I could find a good answer and bedazzle them in the next session.

is ahrc so different to esrc then? it doesn't sound like what i had to do for an esrc quota position - don't you have quota positions with ahrc, only open competition places?

my biology teacher at school took part in an experiment whilst writing up his phd thesis: he was locked into an underground bunker for 6 months, without daylight, radio, tv, papers etc for research on biorhythms. he said it was fantastic - he got paid for writing up his thesis and he had no way of procrastinating...

hi shani,

i'm aware that it's a totally different system in england, a lot more structured and monitored. i'm used to the "laissez faire" attitude in germany which really does not help when studying. i think that studying in england will be a positive experience as i've noticed that i really LIKE deadlines and being monitored!

hey shani,
sounds like we studied in the same system
i'm racing to get my ma degree before i get to london in september - still got to finish my ma-thesis, write one more "small" thesis and pass two oral and one written exam - all that till september... after all these years of studying for the damn degree i REALLY want to get it before i start studying in england!

I had to give a 10-minute presentation of my proposed project - on the phone (phone interview). I have presented my previous work (which is related) several times already so I wasn't too nervous about it. I had written a project proposal already, so I shortened that and then presented it.

that site is awful. it doesn't really tell you important stuff like that, does it? i've been crawling all over that site with exactly the same question...

sounds more like HE is in trouble than you... he couldn't probably care less if you had to pay back money, that wouldn't be his problem, would it?
he's in trouble because if you say you dropped out due to lack of sufficient supervision/poor quality of project/design then he looks like an idiot and won't get any more funding for the next student he wants. if your funding agency wanted their money back i'm pretty sure THEY would be the ones sending you a nasty letter.

i also really miss having contact with other students who are in the same phase as me (writing up my MA thesis/doing final exams) who understand my problems and could give me support.

i have been commuting back and forth between germany and the netherlands for the past five years (i'm currently an MA student in germany). i'm working at a research institute in NL while finishing off my studies in germany. i've noticed that although i make sure to keep in regular contact with my prof in germany (whom i worked for before for years as an assistant), relations aren't as hearty/friendly as they used to be, purely because i'm not there often enough. i also don't have a clue about what's happening at the department in germany. it's not a good situation for me and i would never do this again if i could help it, i feel totally out of it all. fortunately i will be finished by september.