And out of the blue an update appeared
So...its been how long since I last updated? Hmm too long I believe is the answer. But to be fair I have had a lot of work on. And by a lot I mean A LOT.
So what have I been up to? Well I've now finished my first degree. 4 years of blood sweat and tears (In about equal measures) and I've finally finished it all. And hopefully when the lecturer's decide to mark my work I will even graduate. WIth a nice shiny Master in Science in Astrophysics and Computer Science.
So having finished my (first) degree it now begs the question of now what. As some of you may know (I've probbably gone on about it often enough) I wish to gain my PhD (There's just somethign about being called Dr that appeals) so to this end I have applied to both Keele University and Exeter University to study for my PhD. Both universities have offered me a place. In fact Exeter even offered me an Unconditional place to study for a PhD in Data Mining and Artifical Intelligence (Keele want me to get a 2.1 which I hopefully will)
Now we come to the tricky part, how to pay for this PhD. I have heard from Exeter that they are unable to offer me funding to study, but I am on the waiting list so if some one doesnt accept their place I may get funding. Keele haven't said anythign about fudning, although when I spoek to the person who is gong to be my supervisor if I study at Keele, he said the COmputer Science Dept didn;t really have any funding for the type of work I wish to do. Plus, while I like Keele a lot, Exeter did have a certain appeal. Firstly the PhD topic closely ties into my two specialities in computer science (Not to sound too smug by I got 75% in my A.I. Module and 87% in my module on Advanced Databases and Data Mining, its stuff I can do). BUt I cannot afford to fund myself through a PhD. Which leaves me in an interesting postion. I can either wait and hope that someone doesn't accept the place and so I get the funding... but I have no idea how long I'd have to wait or, having emailed Exeter I've found out that I can defer my place for a year and they'll apply again for funding for me next year.
Defering my application is a possibility, but then I have to find somethign to do for a year. I will have to seek some form of gainful employment, but I have no idea what. I can;t think of many places that would employ someone for a year. And I can;t do anythign involving my degree as thats all research and I need a PhD to be taken seriously in anyway.
One possiblity is a company on Keele Campus called COmptuer People, whom I went to visit a while back. They're a recruitment agency that specialises in I.T. Specialists/Computer Science COntractors. And I have the contact details of the person who deals with the short term contracts. Usually lasting about a year. So it might be worth re-doing my C.V. and sending it to her.
SO that might be an option, but if anyone can think of anything else. Or if some one happens to have won the lottery and want's to give me some money to fund my PhD then please let me know.
Anyway, this is enough about my PhD woes. I may write an entry about other stuff later, but right now I'm going to head to bed.
Peace, tranquility and random insanity
So what have I been up to? Well I've now finished my first degree. 4 years of blood sweat and tears (In about equal measures) and I've finally finished it all. And hopefully when the lecturer's decide to mark my work I will even graduate. WIth a nice shiny Master in Science in Astrophysics and Computer Science.
So having finished my (first) degree it now begs the question of now what. As some of you may know (I've probbably gone on about it often enough) I wish to gain my PhD (There's just somethign about being called Dr that appeals) so to this end I have applied to both Keele University and Exeter University to study for my PhD. Both universities have offered me a place. In fact Exeter even offered me an Unconditional place to study for a PhD in Data Mining and Artifical Intelligence (Keele want me to get a 2.1 which I hopefully will)
Now we come to the tricky part, how to pay for this PhD. I have heard from Exeter that they are unable to offer me funding to study, but I am on the waiting list so if some one doesnt accept their place I may get funding. Keele haven't said anythign about fudning, although when I spoek to the person who is gong to be my supervisor if I study at Keele, he said the COmputer Science Dept didn;t really have any funding for the type of work I wish to do. Plus, while I like Keele a lot, Exeter did have a certain appeal. Firstly the PhD topic closely ties into my two specialities in computer science (Not to sound too smug by I got 75% in my A.I. Module and 87% in my module on Advanced Databases and Data Mining, its stuff I can do). BUt I cannot afford to fund myself through a PhD. Which leaves me in an interesting postion. I can either wait and hope that someone doesn't accept the place and so I get the funding... but I have no idea how long I'd have to wait or, having emailed Exeter I've found out that I can defer my place for a year and they'll apply again for funding for me next year.
Defering my application is a possibility, but then I have to find somethign to do for a year. I will have to seek some form of gainful employment, but I have no idea what. I can;t think of many places that would employ someone for a year. And I can;t do anythign involving my degree as thats all research and I need a PhD to be taken seriously in anyway.
One possiblity is a company on Keele Campus called COmptuer People, whom I went to visit a while back. They're a recruitment agency that specialises in I.T. Specialists/Computer Science COntractors. And I have the contact details of the person who deals with the short term contracts. Usually lasting about a year. So it might be worth re-doing my C.V. and sending it to her.
SO that might be an option, but if anyone can think of anything else. Or if some one happens to have won the lottery and want's to give me some money to fund my PhD then please let me know.
Anyway, this is enough about my PhD woes. I may write an entry about other stuff later, but right now I'm going to head to bed.
Peace, tranquility and random insanity