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IIRC 24d mandatory when you present your PhD thesis

Indeed - I thought that Vauxhall was only for budding doctors [when I rule the world only someone with a stethoscope can call themselves doctor…]

A most challenging puzzle - so much to like and much to not like.

Finished, but can't parse 3d even after reading Brendan's post 13. First word of clue is definition, first letter of answer "first class", but beyond that ... ?

Foi: 2d
Loi: 24d (all PhD students have one, and some grade borderline cases at UG level, at my redbrick unis)
Cod: 26 was fun, and some anagrams such as 14, 12 were very clever

More on 3d:

parses as 1 (which you have, first class), followed by 3 ("still", the tricky part...an abbrev), bisecting 4 ("benefits", relatively straightforward)

Reexamining my efforts of yesterday... can anyone explain the parsing of 28ac - I think I have it right but can't for the life of me see why.

Hi freddycat
Look up types of melon...

Finding this very difficult , like others found some clues very straight forward and others impossible. Gave up yesterday but have managed to make some progress this morning, stuck again with NE corner so will take another break and try again later.COD so far the brilliant 26 . FOI 22.

Aha! Many thanks chrise, you learn something new every time with the Guardian crossword.

Finally managed to finish with help from forum. Not an enjoyable experience and even with all hints here I still don’t understand 1d but I’ve lost the will to live now so don’t care!,
LOI 6d.

It took me a long time to work out 1d too, but it's actually very simple if you njust read it upwards (though the definition is rather loose!)