get another supervisor ASAP. It sound like you're onto a looser. It's good that the HOD is helping, maybe they can find someone.

sounds like a good problem to have. I should think if someone so well respected was queuing (can't spell that!) up to be your second supervisor you must have something going for you. Enjoy it.

Thanks for your comments folks, brilliant as usual!! I know what you mean about just stopping and starting again and about PhDs usually running over so maybe yeah, just starting again as a first year wouldn't be a problem. I suppose I was worried about the whole thing taking an extra year re: getting work, and about the expense of paying for it. I guess also I could go full time for a year if I needed to. Just worry I suppose, stress etc. Your comments have helped pull me back down to earth.

p.s. thanks for your reply anyway Miss Spacey!!

Miss Spacey - A supervisor from another university has expreseed an interest in supervising me and has told me I should be able to go in as a part-time second year. None of the other supervisors I've contacted saw that as a problem either. I'm self funded and am pretty sure swapping unis for me in this situation is not a great issue.

The matter I am concerned about is wether or not I can leave a year or so between leaving my current uni and taking up the new place.

Does anyone out there know if it is possible to stop a Phd and then re-start it six months to a year later somewhere else without having to start again? Or if their is anywhere I can find out about this? Thanks folks.

I started my PhD last year, in my late 30s, after a ten year break from studying. It is quite an adjustment to become a student again and if you'r trying to get away from working for someone else then this won't do the trick for you. In my situation (which has not been great, and I am about to move unis) I have never felt more at the behest of an authority figure. However, I am sooo glad I am doing my PhD, do it now, not when you retire or you could end up regretting and wondering what it would have brought you for the rest of your life. I know that is the way I felt - if you feel strongly enough about it then there is no choice. There will be rewards.

Hairiu - and to think I was dissapointed I did't get funding! Sooo glad now.

Hairui - I will have to leave the department and uni (and locale) because there is no - one there who could supervise this, my existing sup can barely manage it in terms of expertise (being a fish out of discipline is another reason I want to leave). The new uni and department holds a very, very strong specialism in my discipline. And it looks like I'll have to wait until at least this Christmas to start with the hopefully super sup because of his schedule. Thanks for the encouragement, I really hope this works out.

Hairui - A much better respected academic has been positive about my project and wants to talk about supervision so there is already light at the end of the tunnel. The hopefully new sup has a beyond ace record of getting his phds into good posts and into publishing books. so I have my fingers crossed. I was a bit concerened about wether I would need references from my current department, for any potential new one, but that doesn't seem to have effected your transfer. I am talking to my current HOD and when I go I will tell her exactly why I'm leaving. My current sup has a dreadful record with students hanging around for years after their planned submissioned dates. Can't help thinking this behavioutr/attitude is why.

Thanks Hairui - it sounds like you had no option given our situation and your self esteem. I am now even more resolved to get out while I still have a healthy degree of sanity. We should NOT tolerate this.

My sup also bangs on about how fabulous the university is and how fab she is. Funny, but when I've studied in truely fabulous places, with truely fabulous academics, nobody feels the need to harp on about themselves.

hairui: what kind of impact do you think your complaint made on your career?

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement people. I doubt I'll make a formal complaint though because I've already decided to move on, even if it means putting the PhD on hold while I look for a better sup. I know an official complaint would be the 'right' thing to do on a universal scale, but I need to make sure I survive, both in terms of reputation and emotional energy. Although I admire the courage of anyone out there who takes that route, I will be voting with my feet. Just hope I can get through my first year assessmentts alright.

Thanks for the tip about the dictaphone BHC. I think I will probably only have about two more meetings with my sup before leaving (fingers crossed) and hopefully this method will be ok for that time. Pineapple I feel for you, I have decided to cut my losses and move on. Truely nasty sups/people don't change and I guess if that's what you're dealing with then presservation of your self esteem and mental well being demand a move. I honestly think that if people accept this kind of behaviour it effects them and the kind of lecturer/professional/person they will be. Good luck.

speaking as someone in the early stages of their PhD I don't thnk it's wrong to want to do that. I'm really begining to think that because each supervisor is different and there don't seem to be any rules about all this then perhaps it's best to establish what to expect with the suprvisor. But I guess you have to have some contact with them in order to do that eh! Maybe you could ask the P.A., or if there are any university regulations about supervision at your stage, I can sympathise though. It's good to know someone else can't sleep