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======= Date Modified 23 53 2008 12:53:35 =======
I am due to start a PhD in October, funded by EPSRC, but am totally confused by the funding side of things.

Uni have sent me very little info (arrived this am so can't phone until Tuesday), nothing from student finance, and have just listed the basic "offer of admission" which states the tuition fees and the estimated cost of living. I have not heard from ESPRC as the Studentship has already been awarded to uni (or atleast that is what I understand has happened).

My confusion is that I was told to expect a grant of around £12K a year over the duration of the PhD (3.5years). On the EPSRC the minimum stipends are listed for this year as £12,940 - which is about £3.5K more than uni's estimated cost of living. So do I receive this minimum stipend value or the sum the uni have stated and am I expected to pay for my tuition fees out of the stipend?

Obviously cost of living isn't cheap and so I want to start looking at my budget asap, especially as my car is due tax, insurance, full service and MOT within 3 weeks of the PhD start date!!! I have no idea whether I will have £9500 (uni "estimated cost of living" amount) or £12940 (minimum RPSRC stipend amount) to live off and it is quite a large difference!!

Help! This is scary enough as it is without worrying about money too!!

Fees should be met separately by the EPSRC, meaning that the stipend will be all yours. I also run a car and live quite comfortably on my stipend.

Hi,
I am in a similar position to yourself. My funding is coming via external sources but awarded to the University to then be allocated to a studentship. I have been sent similar information but nothing about the details of the stipend. I do know however know that my stipend will be just over the minimum which is £12,940 for 08/09. This is the minimum you should get from a research council funded studentship, +£2000 if you are based in London. The guides you have been given with regards to cost of living etc are just that I think... a guide, you should expect £12,940. I was sent details of what they expect my living expenses might be, but it is only an estimate. As for tuition fees, the registry at my University sent me details about tuition fees but I know mine are being covered by another part of the studentship. My Supervisor said that it was just standard procedure to send those details. I would guess that being funded by EPSRC that your tuition fees will be covered too. The advert for the PhD normally has those details if you still have it. Hope this helps?!