Whether or not you pay tuition fees depends on what your supervisor/department agrees on. I've known international students do both - generally, if you're just writing up in your fourth year you don't need to pay fees - there's a writing up fee of £500 or something. I was only funded for 3 years and I didn't pay anything for my 4th year.

You have to make it clear from the outset what you intend to do with your supervisors.

It probably is discipline specific - I'm in Life Sciences and you are basically in the lab all day for 3 years, so it's very hard to write up during that time as well.

Are you sure it's not all tied up in the same thing? May you have developed but just don't feel like you have when comparing yourself to others?

Oh no, I learnt so much during my PhD, I didn't mean that. It's absolutely about development. I learnt about my specific topic of course - I'd say I'm one of world experts in that now, which is the way it should be. I also learnt about publishing, higher education, IT skills... I learnt loads. Not only that, I worked damn hard for it too, and my thesis was the best I could do at the time, so it felt like an achievement.

I meant that we are all impostors in academia. I feel like I know nothing next to professors naturally, but also some students wow me with their intelligence so much that I think 'how the hell did I get here', so that's why I could also say I don't have the confidence to pursue an academic career, but here I am doing it anyway. I think most people think like this. A PhD is just one step in the process. Development is continual.

I've only known a couple of students that have finished their PhD within 3 years in the UK. I'd say 90-95% (probably 99%) take 4 years to finish, even if they only have 3 years funding, so bear that in mind.

Yeah but who's has? We are all just faking it. At least, I hope everyone else is!

It's not really a complete qualification - it's not a degree. Most jobs, if they want qualifications, ask for either a BA, MA or PhD.

Don't do this Tudor. It's a bad idea all round. Plus, your supervisors/head of department probably won't let you anyway, you've done the work for a PhD and they expect you to get one.

I also think your idea of academic freedom being lost after a PhD is wrong. If anything, you have more. You will get this academic freedom to an extend in a postdoc and if you get an academic job. Right now, I can choose to do what ever research I want to do (whether I could get funding for that is another matter...)

You can easily get a job in university administration (professional services) without any postgrad qualifications and work your way up. In fact, most seem to do this.

I would echo eng77 though - get the MSc; a PgD isn't worth the paper its printed on.

I would just write it how you want. Honestly the other person probably doesn't care as long as they don't have to do it and they get their name on the paper. They will make their corrections later.

Or it means we want you so we will tell you maybe instead of no to keep you sweet.

I would be very careful here. Start the job, do the job, assess the scene and then decide if you want to pursue a PhD there. If you do and they agree, make sure you are registered like any other student. I've seen students come unstuck in situations like this before, and they either didn't get on the PhD they hinted at, or they weren't properly registered and ended up not getting one.

I think it depends on the discipline. In Biology, a RA position is just that. You wouldn't generally get on to a PhD from it. They are usually for people who have BScs but no intention to pursue research as a career. It's more of a technical route doing routine bench work.

I would just keep going. There's always highs and lows in anything long term. You're over half way through so just ride it out. Like you said, you will likely get more freedom in a postdoc.

You need to narrow it down by field first, and look at what journals you want to publish in and what are realistic, then look at what they charge.

I agree, it's standard practice to apply for multiple grants/jobs etc.

Congrats! Knew you'd be fine :)