Hi everyone,

Just want to ask if anyone can share their experience for interviewing in person Vs online for a lecturer job and whether there is a preference or advantage for any? Especially if the commute for the interview is over 4 hours and no accommodation is offered. Happy to hear about both options.

Thanks in advance

Hello I applied for atas certificate on 28 sept and as per the 30 working days time ideally it should be coming around 10-12 NOVEMBER. Has anyone applied recently and got it in due time? or Anyone who received in oct? when did you apply?

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🤞

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 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)

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.

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

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.