I started my PhD (Social Sciences) full time in September 2018 with a full scholarship. This is something I have wanted to do for years. However, due to a change in circumstances I have had to make the decision to go part time, this followed a lot of discussion with my family and I went and saw the Head of Department to discuss my options and the impact this could have on my funding (none) and the HoD was supportive of this and understood my wish to be prepared before discussing with my supervisors.

When I met with my supervisors and told them of my decision I tried to explain my reasons and explained that I would be taking my time to find the right part time role that fits alongside my PhD and that I feel this will help me to concentrate and be more productive. Unfortunately their reaction was less than supportive and since then communication has been via email, they've made clear they're not happy with my decision and took almost a month to give feedback to a document I had sent through, and only after I chased them a few times to ask for feedback, with many of my emails going unanswered and unacknowledged. This last month has made me seriously question whether I want to continue to work with them or continue this PhD but I don't think I can transfer to another institution, can I?

Before this I was already struggling a bit with one supervisor who is the expert in the field and I felt at times I wanted time to find my way myself, not have it dropped in front of me and told this is what you must do but I stuck it out. I've worked so hard since I started last year and I really don't want this time to have been wasted, I want to finish my PhD but if I can't continue where I am, what do I do? (changing supervisors at the institution isn't really an option). Advice appreciated.