Just back from two weeks in Austria! Mind much more at ease. My work might dry up come the end of the year but I can live on savings for the better part of a year if required. I'm looking at applying to either electronics jobs or moving into a different type of engineering - that, or still possibly make a move into the police! I do have an opportunity in Germany where I get to specify my salary (within reason!) so it looks like this may have bee the more lucrative option, if I go for that.

The project is still really tough and is now critical for my company but on the whole, but I have more free time, more money and less stress! I almost faint at the thought of writing the MSc thesis so it was probably a good idea to exit from the PhD program- it really, really wasn't for me. :) I'm doing this part-time and for as long as the company want to keep me on - the thesis probably due early next year.

Spoke to my supervisor just yesterday and things between us seemed ok, so bridges weren't completely burnt. He told me not long back how he knew research was for him, but that he does have it on his mind 24/7 - I guess it's just for some people - not me, phew!

Anyway, just a quick update - things were so frantic a few months ago. It almost felt like the end of the world for me, the pressure was unreal. But now it's like a new beginning - so thanks for all the advice and to those who pm'd me who were also going through the same thing.

I'll try and balance things.. I say keep at it for a while but if you're really not enjoying it - and make 100% sure you're not making the wrong decision, then I'd think about leaving and looking at what else there is. I was fine for the first half a year of my doctorate but the following year was a nightmare and I left. So, so, so much happier now - definitely the right decision for me. Do you want to go into academia? What are your motivations? Money? Acclaim? For me, the money aspect didn't make sense - my friends who left school at 18 get more than research fellows, and acclaim... it's so narrow-focused usually, the average Joe wont care. I found you can never really switch off with research and I didn't want that the rest of my life. I reckon you really, really have to have an absolute love for your subject - and if you do, then good luck :) It's amazing the number of questions online you get with regards to PhD and how the answers are always 'stay on, try this' - it's good to be positive, but I'd like to see a more balanced argument for those of us it really isn't cut out for. The negatives obviously aren't shouted from the rooftops by the institutions themselves as they want to boost their figures. There are a few choice articles out there, though.
Anyway, my point was - you only live once - there's no shame in looking at other avenues to maxmise your enjoyment of life - the economics of your life.. think about it :)
Must be hard with your partner 20 000kms away!! Hope that still works out for you :)

Thought I'd bump this for those who are also having the same thoughts I had - look into what goes through the mind etc during this process.

So I've now deferred to MSc - my life is so much better :D Less stress, more free time, I've been looking at what else I could do - generally feel much better about things. Sure, I'm slightly worried about what I'll be doing at the end of the year when work is up, but hey, that's life! I might even take some of my savings and go travelling for a bit! I'll tell you, not having to worry about writing chapters, reviewing stale research papers and having to jump at every word my supervisor gives is a massive relief - I can't remember why I even joined up! I am never going back into academia!

Always look on the bright side of life lol :D

Excellent post, Beaud.
I was getting good money for my doctorate and it was the key reason I would have used to have stayed on. However, I didn't, and it is now the biggest relief not to be doing a research degree. There's more to life and if you're unhappy, don't just stay on for the money... Good luck in whatever you decide!

======= Date Modified 06 Jul 2009 10:16:06 =======
Sorry to hear about this, Olivia - any more updates on the situation?

And you, too, Checkoutgirl! :(

I recently quit a doctorate after a year and a half and have deferred to an MSc (even though I have an MEng!). I'm hoping to join some sort of graduate scheme and work my way up (or maybe even join the police) - best decision I ever made. I couldn't imagine the nightmare of spending a large amount of your life doing a PhD only to not be awarded with it - let us know what happens and good luck.

I was one and a half years into a doctorate when I decided to quit. The hardest decision I've ever made (that was about two months ago!). I spent an entire 2-3 weeks going over it in my head - and not lightly. Bad supervision, project going nowhere, no motivation, long hours, I couldn't see many positives other than an income. I don't regret quitting at all now - it was definitely the right decision for me. You just know when it's not working, and it wasn't for me. I'm now looking at getting another job in engineering come the end of the year... or changing career altogether, which is very exciting. I don't think I would have liked academia - I felt very pressurised and it wasn't a social enough job for me.

Good luck in whatever you decide - I hear a break can do wonders if you go ahead with that.

======= Date Modified 16 Jun 2009 16:19:23 =======
I also dropped out of an EngD (in engineering) - good luck and do what is right for you - feel free to pm. Out of interest, where are you based?

======= Date Modified 16 Jun 2009 16:06:16 =======
Life is far too short. Weight up all your options and do whatever makes you happy. I recently left a PhD after 1.5 years and it was the best decision I've ever made.
EDIT - is it an ENgD or PhD you're doing?

======= Date Modified 20 May 2009 23:55:27 =======
I was directly involved with people working on something like this - something called an EngD. A four year course including masters taught courses. There are ups and downs. Your supervisor probably wont see the point in the extra courses, will see them as a distraction from the real research. It can take its toll as you may find yourself doing research during the day and coursework at night. People might say 'what is this newroute thingy' and so may not think highly of it. And it's 4 years long instead of three (which means it will probably go on for five years!). There are plenty more points like that. Good points are that the extra courses and skills could be highly beneficial to you.. pay should be more than a standard PhD, you'll likely learn stuff PhDs may not have (like I said, I've seen people go through these programs and others..) and so on. At the end of the day, a large part of it still boils down to academic research - make sure that you really want to do that :)

Good luck in whatever you decide :)

I totally understand some people completely love academic research! No problem whatsoever - I hope they're happy :) It just isn't for me.. There just aren't enough postdoc/lecture posts available, also, IMO. It's like the government's target to get 50% of the population gaining degrees - completely useless. If we all study to be managers then who will there be to do the actual work? Sorry... I almost started a rant on economics but that would go on for pages and pages...!!

Man, that's exactly why I never started a standard PhD - mine was industry-focussed. For me, personally, staying in academia was never an option for lots of reasons, one being the poor money you get. You could have left school and joined the police or became a bus driver and been on better money.

Unfortunately engineering is taking a nose-dive in the U.K. Not well-respected at all but it's damn hard work, let me tell you! I'm a bit disillusioned with it all - the pay really doesn't reflect what we do and I'm considering something else requiring less hours and less stress. Still, an engineering degree is very useful and there are usually jobs available if you're willing to relocate (which I'm not, unfortunately!)

I am (or was!!) company sponsored in engineering.. I guess it's totally fine if you do it for love of the subject - that's totally cool... but I know of far easier occupations paying way more requiring less hours.. hell I got offered a job starting on £39k when I left my degree (d'oh!!).

So today I told my boss that I want to defer to MSc and work until October.. looks like it's being set in motion; hope it goes to plan. I do't know what I'll do come October but hopefully I'll have some sort of job! The thought of getting out of this entire situation and getting on with my life is incredibly heartening. I might make that application to the police, or get a part-time job to tide me by. I almost feel the stress barrier lowering... Amazing :)

I've been getting ~£1700 pcm for my PhD but I'm quitting...
£1300 a month!? After going to uni, doing a PhD.... you'd better love what you're doing..!