Hi There,

I'm only a first year, but so far things have been pretty good for me! I definately have a chance to do things other than my PhD, but my supervisors seem happy with the amount of work i'm doing :) There was a thread similar to this one: http://www.postgraduateforum.com/threadViewer.aspx?TID=16927
lots of replies from positive PhD people :)
Good Luck!
x

Hello Tigger,

I'm a newbie too, started in Ocober this year :)
I too have yet to do a literature review, the guy who started at the same time as me is doing one 'cus his supervisor asked him to but mine have said nothing about that.
I have been more focused on planning my practical work, I have been mainly working on designing a questionnaire, as well as lots and lots of reading. Soemtimes I just keep following references within papers ("oooh, that looks interesting...") over and over until i end up reading something completely irrelevent!
But anyway... I reckon as long as your supervisors are happy then you should be fine!
I hope you are enjoying the PhD life as much as I am :D
Merry Christmas!

Hello! I have only been a PhD student for about 3 weeks so I am still in the phase where i'm trying to find my feet and get some sort of direction to my research... at the moment i just seem to be reading anything that vaguely mentions my main topic! But I really like the work environment here, so many clever, interesting people to chat to about ideas and what-not, some really good discussions have come up and everyone seems pretty happy to give advice! :)
So... so far so good! :D

======= Date Modified 04 Sep 2011 10:51:32 =======
Firstly, congrats on getting a fully funded PhD :) Secondly, as you havn't even started yet, you havn't been paid anything right? perhaps you could wait until a few installments come in before thinking about a new car? (unless of course you are not living close to the uni and need transport asap, in which case this advice is completely useless!! :P). I wouldn't worry too much, I can only afford an old vespa (4th hand, ebay!), which won't start unless you literally leap up and down on the kick start hehe! Though I would reccommmed a two-wheeled vehicle if you're on a budget, soooo cheap to run petrol wise, only 15 quid tax a year, and free parking! oh, and you can sneak past all the traffic and be hated by everyone else on the road 8-). Good luck with your studies and vehicle purchase!

Hallo! If it was advertised as a fully funded studentship (fees plus stipend) then they should notify you if that has changed... if it said it was a competition funded phd then there may have been a number of other projects vying for the same funding grant! I suggest you double check with them, that's the only way you'll know for sure!

Don't be discouraged by a knock-back or two... I have applied to about 30 this year and only got invited to two interviews! I have been successful in one of these interviews (haven't done the other yet) and should be starting in October this year! I also only have an undergrad degree and have only been working in completely irrelevant jobs since in order to scrape together some cash so there's still hope!! :)
also maybe you could consider doing a masters by research rather than a taught programme?? This would give you more control over what you study and perhaps more freedom to push your research in the direction you want it to go (thus avoiding the overlap of material covered in your undergrad course).
Good Luck for the future my friend!! xxxxx

Thanks for your quick replies, and no you were not being harsh, i know it's really poor form to decline last minute! Like I said, it's unlikely that i'll even be faced with this choice so I won't worry too much!
Thanks again, hope I can impart some useful advice/ reassurances in the future :)
Txxx

======= Date Modified 20 Aug 2011 11:32:35 =======
Hi all,
I was recently successful in a PhD interview and was offered a fully funded studentship starting this year (hurrah!). It's a really interesting project, and i am very excited about it.. still can't quite believe that i got it to be honest. Thing is, I have an interview next week for another project at a different Uni, if successful I would definately choose it over the current one as it is a topic that I am more passionate about (I would specify topics, but i'm a bit paranoid about supervisors trawling sites like this and finding out it's me!).
The first uni has emailed me asking to confirm that i accept the studentship, and i had no choice but to accept, but what i want to know is if i can change my mind? I haven't signed anything, just emailed saying that i'd like to take the studentship. I guess I may never be able to get a job at that uni again if i turn it down for another project last minute, i'll have a black mark by my name!!
what makes it worse is that i studied at the first Uni before and am on first name terms with all the supervisors, i'd feel absolutely dreadful for turning round and telling them they have to find someone else!
Of course this is assuming i actually get offered this second one, it'd be a bit jammy to get two phd offers in the space of two weeks!!
Anyways sorry for the rant, like i said i wasn't expecting to get the place, so i am pretty nervous about the whole phd thing anyway!
Help!!
:p

T xxxxx