I'm originally from Ukraine and have a medical degree, a PhD, and extensive experience in university teaching and research. I also have some experience with clinical trial documentation.

I've been living in Scotland for a few years and am trying to find a way back into a career that makes better use of my qualifications and experience.

The problem is that I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong or what I should be focusing on. I've applied for different jobs and had some interviews, but I still haven't managed to move into a more suitable role.

I'm not necessarily looking to become a lecturer again. I'd be open to research, clinical trials, medical education or other areas where my background could be useful.

I keep wondering whether I have gaps in my knowledge, whether UK employers expect additional qualifications or local experience, or whether I'm simply looking at the wrong jobs.

For those familiar with the UK job market, especially in research, healthcare or higher education: how would you approach this situation?

How would you figure out which jobs are realistic, what skills or qualifications are actually missing, and what to focus on first?

I'm trying to find a practical way forward rather than keep applying for jobs without understanding what needs to change.

Hi, I want to apply for a phd at the uni of edinburgh and I am now at the process of writing a first email to the professor I would like to be my supervisor. I have a question concerning the uk style of emailing. Should I keep my email to a moderate-big length that however unfolds pretty clearly the reason I want this specific supervisor and my research ideas or should I keep the email generic and short and attach my reasons and research thoughts with a different file? In the first case what troubles me is the length of the text, while in the second case what troubles me is that the email might appear very common and the professor won't bother to open and read the file.

Hi!

I’m a prospective international PhD applicant to UCL. I’ve identified several funding schemes that could work for me, but only one or two cover the full international fee. Most only cover home fees.

From what I understand, UCL has something called the ISAD, which covers the difference between home and international fees for UKRI-funded studentships such as UBEL.

Does anyone know how it works for funding that isn’t from UKRI? For example, if you’re on an NIHR Doctoral Award, is there any way to get the fee difference waived?

Thanks!

P.S. I tried posting in the UCL-subreddit but haven't received any responses, so I'm trying here as well.

I heard MIBTP is extremely competitive and I’ve actually applied for it before and didn’t secure an interview.

Saw another project advertised and it looks rly rly cool, but I graduated in July with a low 2:1 MSci at a russell group with no co-author publishing. I had a research internship (around 6 weeks), society committee and student board work.

Is it even worth trying to apply?

Hi everyone,

​I am an international student planning to apply for a Ph.D. in Biosciences/Biotechnology in the UK. I am specifically looking at the University of Wolverhampton, University of Birmingham, and University of Nottingham.

​I have a strong research background with hands-on experience at top national labs in India (CSIR & ICMR) and have qualified national-level exams (GATE), though I don't have published papers yet.

​I know fully-funded UKRI studentships for international students are incredibly competitive. Therefore, I am trying to understand the reality of partial funding for Ph.D. candidates at these specific universities.

​My questions for current UK Ph.D. students:

​How realistic is it to get an "International Fee Waiver" (reducing international tuition to the home fee rate) at Nottingham, Birmingham, or Wolverhampton?

​Are Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) positions common for first-year international Ph.D. students at these unis to help offset the tuition costs?

​If you are partially funded or self-funding your Ph.D. at any of these universities, how much of a fee reduction did the university actually offer you, and how do you manage the rest?

​Any insights, reality checks, or personal experiences would be highly appreciated! Thanks

Hey guys,

I am defending my phd thesis today. Wish me luck🤞

Is there at all anyway to retain the level of access you have to academic articles online after you finish university or your student status expires? I would like to continue doing independent research but I feel a fair bit hampered. The alumni access is quite limited and access to the articles on Taylor and Francis, Springer and MUSE for example are almost always impossible to find without paying for them.

Is simply the case that I just need to be associated with a university either as a student or employee to get that level of access? Thanks.

Hi all,

I am PhD research from the University of Derby, i'm currently recruiting for my final 2 studies of the thesis. My work is concerned with conceptualising substance use, understanding the identity of users and deconstructing UK drug policy under a critical Post-Marxist lens.

For my first study I am looking to recruit anyone over the age of 18, who is a UK citizen to complete a 25 minute word task concerned understanding substance use.

For study 2 I am conducting interviews designed to understand how current substance users, understand use and construct their identities. The interviews are to create a safe, open and non-judgmental space where we will explore identity and offer a voice to an under represented group in research. In order to participate in the interviews you need to be over 18 years old, be a UK citizen and a current users of a substance deemed illicit by UK drug policy. Interviewees must consider their use either recreational, spiritual or for mental wellbeing purposes and deem their own use to not be problematic (i.e. dependency or otherwise harmful). If you would be interested in taking part in either study please see the study flyers in this post or contact me [100442840@unimail.derby.ac.uk](mailto:100442840@unimail.derby.ac.uk)

Hello everyone!

I have just graduated from the Department of Gender Studies (MA), and currently am in the midst of applying for different funding possibilities after my PhD proposal got accepted by my primary supervisor at SSEES.

I have found some funding possibilities, however, being an international student, it is extremely important for me that the difference between international and home tuition fees is covered. Therefore, I would like to ask if anyone has advice for me ; where should I look more/what fundings to prioritize?

I looked into the ESRC (UBLT) one, UCL Research Excellence Scholarship, and the AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award.

However, I have to say, I do feel a bit scared since I do not have a lot of employment experience ; I mostly focused on my studies and my research. In addition, I do not have any publications etc.

Any advice/information/recommendations are appreciated!

Thank you! xxx

I’m an academic, and I recently served as an internal examiner for a PhD viva for the first time. I’ve been struggling to come to terms with how the examiners’ discussion ended, and I’d appreciate some honest perspectives from others in academia.

Before the viva, I had documented significant concerns about the thesis, particularly its methodology, calculations, data and validation. In my judgement, these were fundamental issues, and I was concerned that the thesis might not meet the standard expected for a PhD. My recommendation was for the candidate to revise and resubmit rather than proceed with major corrections.
During the examiners’ discussion, the external examiner advocated major corrections. I felt increasingly uncomfortable maintaining my position when the external examiner and chairman started to appear to agree with one another. At this point, I don’t think the chairman is doing his job as facilitating. I struggled to defend my judgement and eventually agreed to and signed the joint report recommending major corrections.

What troubles me most is that I still have reservations about whether major corrections are sufficient to address the problems I identified. I also recognise that I did not stand firmly by my own judgement during the discussion.
This has affected me more than I expected. I feel guilty and disappointed in myself, particularly because this is not the first time I’ve struggled to stand my ground when others strongly disagree with me. I keep wondering whether I should have been more assertive, whether I allowed the pressure of the situation to influence my decision, and whether I fulfilled my responsibilities as an examiner.
I’m not looking to identify or criticise anyone involved, and the formal outcome is still pending, so I’m deliberately keeping the details confidential.

I’d genuinely appreciate advice from academics who have served as examiners or faced similar situations:
1.)Was it reasonable to agree to the joint recommendation when I still had serious reservations, particularly if the other examiners believed major corrections were the fairest outcome?
2.)How should an examiner handle a fundamental disagreement when the chair and external examiner favour a different outcome?
3.)How can I learn from this experience without becoming overly self-critical, while developing the assertiveness to defend my professional judgement in future?

I’m open to perspectives that challenge my own interpretation of what happened. I want to understand whether I handled the situation appropriately and how I can do better next time.

I’m a second-year PhD student and am currently recruiting participants for my research (international graduates originally from an Asian country who currently hold a UK Graduate visa/post-study work visa). If you are interested in my research, would like to share your perspectives on this topic, and want to help improve policy, please feel free to contact me ([yinuo.wang@education.ox.ac.uk](mailto:yinuo.wang@education.ox.ac.uk)). The research has been approved by the university ethics team and will not identify any personal information. Thanks so much!

At a Russell Group Uni starting my master's, and feeling a lot of pressure to join clubs. Is this a thing grad students do? If so, are there certain clubs I should join that will actually help from a career standpoint? Or should I just lock in?

Social sciences student interested in a career in social science academia and hoping to apply to PhDs while in my second year of masters.

Hey fellow redditors,

my_qualifications: MTech in Data Science from IIT, 2022 and BTech in CSE from some state university in 2019.

I am seeking PhD abroad mostly EU. I have done my BTech from a state university in 2019 and MTech from a new IIT in Data Science in 2022. I have 0 corporate experience. I have these - A MTech thesis done under two supervisors, TA experience for multiple subjects, and a AB grade on my final dissertation presentation. That’s all.

No one from previous IIT is agreeing to write me a LOR. I filed a formal complaint against two thesis supervisor because of academic difficulties. I had to go through psychiatrist treatment for it after MTech which wasted my years.

I have interest in AI/ML/DL field. My mathematics and coding is good. But with no publication, LOR, or pre-print I guess my chances are very low. I want admission in mostly Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Nordic countries, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland & Singapore (both stretch), Austria, UK, NZ, and Australia.

I am looking for a fully funded scholarship, a salaried job PhD (EU), or a partially funded PhD with living expenses easily covered with a part-time job there.

Help me out. I was actually looking to join a PhD programme next year only given I have already have 4 years of gap and am getting old according to Indian standards and marriage market.

Hoping for kind responses with genuine and verified advices. Please do not write LLM generated advices. Enough of that already.

Thank You

DMU has become the latest institution to plan to hire a portion of its staff through a subsidiary firm.

Writing to staff, Katie Normington, vice-chancellor at the Leicester-based institution, has outlined the “need to make changes to secure the university’s future” amid “financial challenges”.

A “shortfall” in student recruitment is “leading to a deficit and the need for savings”, she writes, announcing that a voluntary severance scheme will run until 21 October, with decisions expected to be confirmed in December. 

The university is also planning on employing all new professional services staff at its Leicester campus and academics taking on new “teaching fellow” positions through a subsidiary firm, DMU People.

Is this a good dissertation topic for an Accounting and Finance Research Project?

My proposed topic is *Player Amortisation, Profitability and Financial Sustainability: Evaluating the Impact of UEFA’s Financial Sustainability Regulations and the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) on Club Transfer Strategies.*

For everyone who has completed their dissertation or is currently working on one, I would really appreciate your advice on whether this is a good topic and whether you have any tips to help me write the best possible dissertation.

I don’t know how to progress after choosing a topic, how to develop research aims and objectives, or how to structure my research. In general, I’m not really sure what to do next, so any advice, guidance or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Hey guys, I’m looking for some honest opinions on whether I’m being realistic by taking my university appeal to the OIA.

I’m a Warwick student and was withdrawn after failing one outstanding module in my September resit. I appealed under Regulation 42 because I had evidence relating to serious family circumstances that wasn’t available to the Board when the decision was made.

During my first year, my mum had a serious deterioration in her mental health. I became heavily involved in supporting her at home, which had a significant impact on my attendance and ability to keep up academically. I had disclosed the situation to my Personal Tutor during the year. I also submitted a mitigating circumstances claim on 25 June, before the deadline. I had contacted my tutor beforehand asking for supporting evidence and spent quite a while chasing it. The tutor eventually provided the letter late, while I was also moving out of accommodation and attending a summer programme in London. I uploaded the signed evidence shortly afterwards, but the mitigation claim was rejected because the supporting evidence wasn't available when the panel considered it.

Afterwards, I found additional medical evidence, including NHS 111 records from March and August. I genuinely didn't know that NHS 111 telephone contacts generated accessible medical records, so I didn't know these records existed at the time.

The August record is particularly relevant because it documents me contacting NHS 111 on my mum's behalf during the revision period shortly before my September resit. I included all of this in my academic appeal. However, Warwick rejected my appeal under Regulation 42.3.7, saying: "there is no evidence of good reason why these issues have not been made notified to your academic department for consideration for the September 2026 Board of Examiners."

And this is where I think my case gets complicated. I accept that I did NOT make a separate mitigating circumstances notification during July/August specifically saying that the continuing circumstances were affecting my preparation for the September resit. That's probably the biggest weakness in my case.

My argument is that the underlying circumstances had already been disclosed, I'd already submitted mitigation and tried to obtain supporting evidence, and the July/August situation was a continuation/escalation rather than something completely new. I also genuinely didn't know the NHS 111 records existed.

So I'm struggling to work out whether Warwick was justified in saying there was "no evidence of good reason" for not notifying them before the September Board.