PhD support group?

Basil_Fawlty

pug_in_a_bed wrote:

My phd is in english lit.

They are such big groups that I think they might have to run more like a seminar than the informal tutorials I'm used to. All three sessions are actually for the same course, so the first group will have me a nrevous wreck but hopefully by the third it'll be a totally different experience.
You know that feeling when you've committed to something and then :eek:

Arts Student!!! :rotfl:

<makes quick exit>

misskool

pug, It's that sinking feeling after the elation. Like when you hand in your thesis and you're so glad it's done and next day you think, oh no, what if....

But I'm sure you'll be fine! And what are you specialising in english lit? One of my friends just completed a thesis in agnosticsm and thomas hardy..or something like that! I don't understand too many long words, being a scientist and all that.

mlbarrett

Hi all!

Would like to be joining you in this thread

Currently at end of second year of my PhD in Environmental Science, with contract plans to move to the University of Cantabria, Spain, in the coming year.
Things were going fine until my uni decided to change from schools into faculties in the past few months. My measly £1000 for consumables/equipment/travel expenses etc. (am uni funded) disappeared and have had to find a company that may (fingers crossed!) financially input into my work. Now this seems to taking forever to come through despite the Business Development Manager for my Faculty helping out. So currently things are extremely slow at uni, and looks like not much can be done about it, my Director of Studies is pulling her hair out. Looks like I'm about 9 months behind now.

Plus (not wanting to sound too depressing), my landlord put his house up for sale, which I did agree to as he had no intention of keeping it once I moved to Spain. However, after months of no interest, someone has now started signing papers for a sale, so I now have to look for somewhere else for a few months. So all seems to be up in the air, with uni and home. My man and his brother have been looking for a room for me in the area (two options available to me) but I hate packing and moving.

Sorry for the negative post. Sure that will feel more positive in the coming months once things are settled.

Michelle

pug_in_a_bed

misskool wrote:

pug, It's that sinking feeling after the elation. Like when you hand in your thesis and you're so glad it's done and next day you think, oh no, what if....

But I'm sure you'll be fine! And what are you specialising in english lit? One of my friends just completed a thesis in agnosticsm and thomas hardy..or something like that! I don't understand too many long words, being a scientist and all that.

I'll be specialising in women's religious literature. Sounds breathtakingly interesting doesn't it :rotfl:

I can't even remember why I picked it, sure will be kicking myself at some point. Actually its hard to find info on what it's like doing an arts based subject phd like in English, everyone does science, which because you do experiments and that is much more structured and I guess you come out with a result, so to speak (sorry not very scientific). I havent a clue where i am going to start or how....

another question, will i be expected to be in the department every day? I worked happily from home on my MA course, and I don't do well in the library.

misskool

Hi Michelle! First of all, welcome to the thread.
phd wise, I am at the end of my third year starting my 4th year soon. :eek:
Would it be possible to take a break with fees (unless it's all already paid) and sort out the problems first before continuing with it?
For the house situation, can you ask the university for help with transit housing or a temporary accomodation for a few months? Get the administrator to send an email around the department to ask if anyone can let you stay for a few months. Packing and moving is a lot of work and feels like a waste of time but if you pack for the move to Spain then you can start clearing things out and just live on the bare essentials for a few months.

pug- I spoke to my friend who said that you don't need to be in the faculty unless you're there for a lecture or seminar or generally want to talk to another human being! It's best to start thinking about what your general arguements are and she recommends sitting down with your supervisor to get a list of texts that you're analysing and working it from there. Also, the way to finish it is to start writing chapters to organise it. And then you can rewrite the chapters when you're done. It's easy to go on and read more texts but don't actually write anything. That's all that she told me so I can't help more than that.

And being a scientist it's nice to have results although if they are not reproducible or if they don't really fit in your nice theories based on your earlier results, it can be incredibly frustrating!! I've had the laziest weekend of sitting around for 2 days, so it's time to get back working again.

Have a good week one and alll....and if anyone has any good news or good vibes can they pass it on this thread?

talksalot81

Michelle, your problem sounds familiar! Our Uni did something rather similar and the change of schools/faculties/divisions/clusters/forums has caused endless problems for everyone (not just students). The only people who ever seem to favour these changes are administrators, it does not seem to be in the interests of either academics or students.

I was lucky with the money I was due... though somehow or other the university swallowed it the first 2 years (but I got a dinky laptop for thesis writing in 3rd year). Certainly our uni is a bit like the government... if you dont ask for something, even if it is actually yours, you have to fight for it. If you dont, they will keep it.

hostie

Hello Michelle :hello:

It sounds like things are really up in the air for you but one thing that could ease things a bit is money. There are loads of funds which allocate money to postgraduate students who come accross 'unforseen circumstances'. I think your case would definately count as that. The best way to find out about these and about other funds which could help you would be to make an appointment with your welfare advisor. Hopefully they will have this great software that my welfare advisor has. You punch in all your details (what you are studying, where you did your undergrad, where you grew up, where you live etc etc etc) and the software comes up with loads of funds that could help you. Some of them require an application form but others just need a letter and once you have written it you can tailor it for the others that you are applying to. If you set aside a couple of weeks for this (or a couple of days if that is all you can manage) and post away lots of applications, you should get some money to help you. As always it is a case of studying their criteria and making sure that you show how your situation meets it.

I also recommend submitting an application to the Access to Learning Fund ASAP and highlighting in it that you are facing unexpected circumstances. They might be able to give you the deposit for this new temporary place or something. The reason I suggest you do this now is that they will have some summer money left and they will want to get rid of it before October (as they have to return any money that they haven't allocated to the government). You will also be eligible to apply again next year and in my university you can apply for 'general help' during the year as well as help for unexpected situations such as you are facing now. I don't think they help to pay fees.

Spain sounds amazing - lucky you!

Hi Pug, :hello: I can imagine how nervous you must be about teaching all those students. I would be extremely nervous and I have to admit I am really glad it isn't me yet. I will come back to you for tips when my time comes. Please post here and let us know how you get on and things that we could avoid when we come to it.
It is great experience and will probably give you great confidence as well as being extremely useful on your future funding applications. Good luck !!!

OK this post is huge , must go now. Hope I helped a wee bit!!!!! I must go as I haven't finished my MA dissertation yet and have done hardly any work on it.

melancholly

michelle - i don't know if this link will help you - it's a foundation that offers grants to final year female phd students:

http://www.bcfgrants.org.uk/

I don't know when their next deadline will be but it may be worth a go.

ikontix

Calling science bods! I want to ask you to use https://www.i-kode.com to cut the waste of junk print mail sent to you at Uni. It's free and it really does work. Many thousands of tonnes of science literature are sent every year. Some is welcomed, but at least 50% - and as much as 80% - goes straight to landfill. When you're writing up (or have left) and don't want any more mail from suppliers, let i-kode.com know and they will get as much mail to your old address stopped as possible.

charts

sciencegeek wrote:

Publications
I have not published any papers yet (1 is in preparation though) and i still managed to get a great job i really enjoy that uses the qualification and skills ive learnt. Dont worry about not publishing during your PhD, there is plenty of time for that in due course. Concentrate on getting your thesis written first!

I think a little bit of caution is needed regarding publications. Whilst I don't know that much about other disciplines, I can say that in my field it is more or less impossible to get any kind of lectureship without published research. That's not to say that I could not go off and do something else that is equally fulfilling, but unless I get my finger out and publish I'm dead in the water. _pale_

It seems sad, but most good universities are only bothered about research output of staff. I can't say I blame them, because as I'm sure everytheir research grading directly influences the influx of money from gov't and other sources. Having said this, the forthcoming RAE has caused a hiring frenzy for good researchers, and once it is out of the way there will probably be another 8yrs to the next one (and we don't definately know there will be one yet).

I have frequently come across people who don't give a stuff about teaching or short-changing students but rise through the ranks because they are good researchers. I suppose they are just responding to the incentives on offer, but I rather prefer trying to imitate others who still care about teaching and offering a high level of 'service' to students whilst still producing the research.

Again, I'm only talking about my own subject!