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Apr 2022
9:38pm, 5 Apr 2022
53,937 posts
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LindsD
Most admissions depts, especially at Master's level, are used to mature students who don't have their certificates at their fingertips
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Apr 2022
10:44pm, 5 Apr 2022
53,991 posts
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DrPhleecingD
Glad to hear you're getting on well cas! I'd forgotten about this thread. My masters students are all loving the course now, and I can see they've improved hugely over the module. I think they've also learnt some really useful transferable skills. It's been a pleasure teaching them 
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Apr 2022
10:52pm, 5 Apr 2022
53,992 posts
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DrPhleecingD
Oh, and some hadn't studied for decades, and honestly I can't tell the difference now between those who had and those who hadn't
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Apr 2022
8:52am, 6 Apr 2022
5,952 posts
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um
shyfire - I'd talk to the admissions office and check - as 'academic references' from 25 years ago are pretty worthless & the certificate is possibly all you've got.
Is your company sponsoring you? That's often enough for a fairly easy application, I think.
[ If not, treat Dr. fleecy to a pint, get her to write something, redact the swearing and send that ]
Good luck with it. And learn good time management, as CasB says. I remember sat outside (sometimes inside) children's party places writing essays/assignments to fit them in.
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Apr 2022
11:49am, 6 Apr 2022
411 posts
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shyfire
Mercifully not contemplating hunting down former lecturers and professors in mostly non-related subjects(!) I have certificates and transcripts covered. Sounds like employer references should suffice but will check that out.
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Jan 2024
3:51pm, 16 Jan 2024
3,473 posts
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Kittenheels Kath
Time for an update, and to remind any students (mature or otherwise) out there that this is the place for support!
So, I re-submitted my change-of-plan PhD topic in 2021, it was approved, I submitted the finished product in May last year, and because of bad time of year had to wait until September for my viva: pass (yay!) with major corrections (boo!).
They don't want to put me through another viva though, which is good, because the first one was weird. I had to check with my supervisor and the post-grad chair, because funnily enough, I hadn't done a viva before, and they agreed it was an odd one. Suspect there's one external examiner they won't be using again...
So now I have until just after Easter to complete the corrections: it was my fault for suggesting two historians as external examiners; they want me to provide a bit of historical context, which was kind of what I was trying to avoid having to write. Ho hum.
Anyhoo, now I'm trying to pull myself out of nitty-gritty forensic rabbit-holes, which is where I'm happy, otherwise my 'corrections' will turn out longer than the original submission!
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Jan 2024
4:02pm, 16 Jan 2024
66,158 posts
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LindsD
Ooh. Well done. But do avoid those rabbitholes. I hated making my corrections, but the feeling when they are done is the best.
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Jan 2024
4:46pm, 16 Jan 2024
54,935 posts
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fleecy
Passing a viva with as few corrections as possible is as much about strategy as quality of product! Your supervisor should have advised you better really. Corrections are annoying, so just power on through and avoid those holes! I know people who have had major corrections and they got through, it's just a bit more time consuming.
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Jan 2024
12:00pm, 17 Jan 2024
3,039 posts
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Grast_girl
Well done on getting through it. I agree with fleecy and LindsD. Do what is necessary.
No-one need ever know you had corrections once they're done.
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Jan 2024
10:08am, 24 Jan 2024
1,204 posts
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CasB
Lovely to see this thread revived last week and good luck Kath with the corrections. I'm so impressed by anyone who takes on a PhD, what an amazing achievement.
Shyfire, if you're reading this, how did things turn out for you?
My turn to update...probably about three years ago now I got some really helpful advice here on my application for a part-time MSc. I'm very chuffed indeed to report that yesterday I graduated with distinction! We had a lovely day prancing round in caps and gowns, followed by a celebratory family dinner out. And some exciting opportunities to follow up some of my dissertation research, and potentially submit an article for publication, have come out of it, so I'm looking forward to those. Thanks to everyone who offered that early advice and helped me get started!
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