Firstly, note that this is a very long post - it's the cumulation of stuff I've saved since the last post a fortnight ago, rather than posting too often - most people reading this already know what living in the UK is like :) Don't worry, the rest will be shorter!The post the naysayers said would never happen (looking at no one in particular - you know who you are...)
Actually, this post is more to inform anyone who is thinking of following a similar path. If you just want nice photos, you may wish to skip to the bottom!
General NotesThe University of Otago generously treats international PhD applicants as domestic students for fees purposes and gives them equal access to the official 'University of Otago PhD Scholarships' (but not true for all University managed PhD scholarships - double-check if you're not sure!)
Incidentally, New Zealand Government, UNESCO and Commonwealth funding is available, but remember that some of the applications close prior to Easter the year before starting. Helpfully, the University's own scholarship deadline isn't until October-time so not having applied before (UK) exam-time doesn't put you out of the running.
The flip side is, of course, that you aren't guaranteed to know about funding before Christmas Eve and by the time you've sorted X-ray and medical appointments, added a fortnight for blood test results and the 3-5 weeks for the visa to come through it gets close to the mid-February start of term. Naturally, you can start medicals and police checks before that, but all in they cost around £290, so you'd need to be fairly confident that your application will be successful!
To put this in the context of my own experience, last week I'd got 3 sets of passport photos, been X-rayed twice, had a full medical and blood tests, got glasses fixed ready for going, cancelled contact lenses & direct debit, opened a bank account, obtained (further) certified copies of utility bills to open an NZ account, learnt all about banker's drafts, sorted scholarship confirmation, college admission and police certificates and it wasn't yet Friday. Rather exciting!
Since then, there's been a bit of running around with X-rays and emailing back and forward about visas. Unfortunately, as I need to get to NZ by 21st Feb and as I had to book a ticket to provide Immigration NZ with, everything will be pretty tight by the time the blood tests and police certificates get back. As mentioned above, I got confirmation back just before the Christmas fortnight and, as I was in England on 29th and 30th, the earliest medical appointments were the first Monday and Tuesday in January - 5th and 6th. Add a fortnight for results, becomes 20th, add four weeks is 20th Feb. Apparently, the 3-5 weeks has risen recently to 4-6 with an average of 6, so any prayer would be appreciated!
By the by, for any Linux users (or possibly Windows too?), I've found
Zim Desktop Wiki very useful for planning and organisation. It's a cross between a text editor and a spider diagram and can automatically generate todo lists from your files, organised by the number of exclamation marks (nice touch). Regarding Skype - at the moment, I have Ekiga instead (better Linux support and uses SIP - i.e. works with
other programs unlike Skype :s ). More on that when I actually get a webcam.
PhotosSo, some photos, largely because I can.
This is Otago Lower Harbour (courtesy of
U Lange) - taken about a half hour drive from where I'm going:
This is Strangford Lough (as CC-PD) - taken about a half hour drive from where I am:
Hmm... methinks I've been conned by my airline.
While we're on the topic of going places (tenuous...) -
this is where I'll be living (map courtesy of Google), specifically in
Knox College. Very much looking forward to it but will miss all you UK&RoI ones!
While it's in my head, I'll probably, briefly stop in Cambridge on my way (i.e. around 15th) depending on how the visa situation pans out, so I'll try to catch some people there before I leave the continent. You've been duly warned.
Well - regards to all and hope you've had a good first week of 2009!
Phil
PS - As far as I know, you only need
OpenID to comment, rather than having to sign up to blogger.com - GMail address should also work as they're owned by Google. On that, I quite like the principle of OpenID - a pan-internet passport. Unlike an email address, giving it to a website doesn't mean they can spam you forever more, you're not tied to a specific provider and there's no more filling in ridiculous online application forms. Plus it's open source, score! (I think I need to get out more, but 11,800 miles next month will certainly make up for it)
PPS - I need to write shorter posts. No more random pointless musings stuck at the bottom, I reckon. I'll think about that for the next post.
To celebrate (not having to think about visas any more [1]) here's the very cool official DunedinNZ.com tourism video and another pair of photos.
Finally, for any procrastinators out there who are considering a PhD (this is exam season...), briefly amuse yourself with this relevant PhD Comics strip. Thankfully NZ application hasn't been that bad so far, but I'd best hold back comment until I'm all visa'd up and there :)
