I would strongly advise to stick out this crisis and not quit just yet - especially as there are still unexplored avenues in terms of alternative techniques. I would explore this other avenue first before making a huge decision like that, and maybe talk to your main supervisor again. Quitting might seem like to offer some relief in the short term, but ultimately it might be more difficult to recover in terms of your career. It might be the right thing to do - I would just urge you to explore every other possibility before making such a huge decision. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I think we chatted before - after this new development I would look for other opportunities. It does not sound like this will be a good deal for you.

I'm doing the same thing atm - working 2.5 days a week, the rest for writing up the PhD (and that includes evenings and weekends). It's hardcore, but doable - hang in there, you've come so far!

Ditto - September is my final deadline. I am working 2.5 days atm - it's hard, I try to write whenever I can, often working late into the night. We can do this...

I think you should have some counselling - a lot of Unis offer this service to their students for free, and it will help you deal with these issues.

How old is this Lady? That would probably make a big difference - it may be a generational thing, I think it was more common when the wife was expected to give up her career (if she even had one) and stay home once she got married. The social status acquired through getting married to an academic was conveyed by using the title in her name - although I would say she would have to call herself Mrs Dr. Ian Lloyd Smith in your example rather than just incorrectly taking the title...

Personally I think it's a bad thing on so many levels. I think Hugh is right and this will lead to a significant decline in the availability of research council studentships - especially in the Arts where research outcomes may not have an immediately tangible impact or usefulness beyond the personal.

Secondly, the job market for newly minted PhDs is already terrible - do we really need to see an elevated influx of people who might turn to doing a Phd as 'the next logical step' rather than out of a desire to do research? Not to mention the absolutely gargantuan mountain of personal debt this would produce on top of current student loans etc. and the fairly steep repayment conditions. Where would these debt-laden PhDs find employment in the current system of zero hours lecturing and fixed term contracts?

Having said that the amount offered really does not seem very generous - I struggle to see how anyone could survive on that alone for 3-4 years, especially in places like London. What do others think?

I think it depends so much on your discipline and expectations of finishing within a given timeframe. In science and related fields everything moves at lightning pace and you might find yourself out of touch when you return. Also, if you're part of a research group it has its own difficulties and dynamics. On the other hand, if you're in the humanities and investigating something more static that's unlikely to change massively over the course of a year, it could be easy enough to have a baby and then finish up - it might even be a smart move, as then you can go straight into a Postdoc without the pregnancy thing hanging above your head. Universities are still really terrible at providing childcare - something else to factor in.

I don't want to discourage you, but I think telling your sup about a nebulous 1-year break was not a good move. He'll figure out what you would do with that year, and I think he's unlikely to be as supportive in future as he might have been otherwise, as now the 'threat' of a pregnancy is looming, even if it doesn't happen. It's sad the world is like this - having a baby should be a joyous event - but the reality is if you look around academia you will find a lot of childless women in top positions (or they have a husband with a much lower profile job who took over the childrearing duties). Many female academics are known to me who have ended up either divorced, childless, or sidelined. To compete in this environment you need a stellar support network, 24/7 childcare available and a rock solid relationship (and preferably a partner who also earns a good salary as you do the mandatory postdocs and fixed-term fellowships).

I know I sound pessimistic, but it's better to face the realities early on so you can devise a plan that makes sense - for instance timing pregnancies to finish within the end of year summer break, etc.

For me, this is completely contextual and without that I don't think there's a good way to answer this question. Does the statement in question relate to something that is potentially 'knowable' and it is just you who doesn't know as of yet or something that is impossible to know but plausible (...there is no life on Mars, to my/our knowledge)?

I had to post on this one, because I thought exactly the same when I started. I got nothing! No paperwork, no contracts, not even a formal statement saying that I would get funding and how much I would get. I explicitly asked about it and was told that it was done this way at my Uni. I felt very uneasy, but had no choice but to accept their word. It was fine, I got the exact amount of funding I was promised, but it seems a very strange way of doing things...

Hello, I am following this discussion with great interest as I am nearing the end of my funded 3rd year. I am quite far with my work, but will need at least another 6 maybe 8 months to finish. Now a highly paid lecturing job has come up in my field and I am wondering if I should apply. The requirements lists a PhD as essential, but I wonder if it would be acceptable to them to accept me finishing in my first year of employment. Has anyone been in this position? Would I just be wasting my time?