>> 20.07.04

Higher noon
The all new and improved PhD-diarist is now back from moving houses and is well on the way to catching up with work that has been neglected of late and thus can spend some time making up for the lack of entries here. Although work has suffered quite considerably from all of the recent distractions, progress is being made towards the end of year report which is due in October, the first part of which is a reasonable proof that is setting on my desk, waiting to be edited. But... {>>}

>> 08.05.04

The Roberts review
Having spoken about it on more than one occasion recently, I have written a brief summary of the fourth chapter of the Roberts review, which looked specifically at the education and training of postgraduate students in the sciences. The review of the review is here and should keep you occupied for a good while if you are that way inclined.... {>>}

>> 04.05.04

Overseas student fees
The expansion of the EU last weekend could cause some justified sense of aggravation for some new member-state postgraduate students. Since the move has occured halfway through the academic year 2003-4, the government has recommended that universities classify postgraduate students from new states as overseas students and not as home/EU students. Looking as an example at the fees charged by the University of Surrey, it is clear that such advice could potentially cost new EU students upwards of £2000. When undergraduate students from home start moaning about the costs of... {>>}

Lengthen the PhD?
A previous entry mentioned briefly the recent International Review of UK Research in Mathematics, a high profile review whose charge was to: "[A]ssess the standing and potential of mathematics research in UK universities and comparable institutions, in comparison with international work in the field. The Review should look at the width and quality of all aspects of research in mathematics and its applications, encompassing all of pure and applied mathematics, and statistics." The review made several recommendations, nearly all of which were received well by the UK mathematical community and... {>>}

>> 28.01.04

Perhaps this is the point?
Although a slight departure from the themes of the PhD diary, it would be difficult to ignore the vote on the Higher Education Bill that took place this evening; instead of concentrating on the intricacies of the bill, however, let's consider telling arguments can be found elsewhere: from Linda Colley on the Guardian's education section: "The arguments over top-up fees have been so fierce that the really vital point is easily missed. Irrespective of whether or not the bill passes, fundamental changes in organisation, resources and, above all, attitudes must... {>>}

>> 22.01.04

Is a degree enough?
The title of this post is a common enough question and increasingly the answer is "no"; hence more and more students are turning to postgraduate degrees. The reasons for choosing a PhD, however, are becoming more and more varied; where once it was the course of action (excuse the pun) for those students wishing to learn more about their subject and move into academia, so we hear more about students undertaking a postgrasuate degree in order to "stand out from the crowd" and increase their employability. Quotes like the following,... {>>}

>> 21.01.04

Postgraduate study in the Higher Education sector
In the current climate of uncertainty facing the UK's higher education sector as a whole, little focus has been placed on how funding of universities affects postgraduate study, from both a student and a university perspective. Since this section of the website is designed to provide prospective postgraduate students with information concerning what it is like to continue studying after a first degree, it seems pertinent to widen the scope of this diary slightly to incorporate the higher education sector and the issues affecting it — and thus postgraduate students... {>>}