Hi,

I am 4 months into my PhD and I have really not enjoyed it at all. I am on an ESRC 1+3 and after doing my MSc disseration I had a feeling research wasn't for me. But I told myself I would at least start the PhD and try it.

However, I am really unhappy. I dont like the environment and the pace and I know I dont want to stay in academia. So I applied for a job that came up that I was really interested in (as a 'lets see what happens' thing). It turns out I was offered the job after my first interview and I really am interested in it. The job starts in February.

So my question is what do I do about my PhD and the university? Do I tell them straight away that I have a job? Or do I wait until the new year when I can quit and go straight into the new job. As I said, I am funded and do have rent to pay :/ But I don't want to be selfish.

Has anyone had any experience of telling their supervisor they have been offered a job and want to leave? Im so worried about telling him.

Thanks guys

Hi DoctorJ,

I am also thinking of quitting a studentship. Can you let us know what happens? How are you going to approach telling your supervisor?

As far as I am aware you only have to pay back anything 'overpaid' to you which means paying back the remainder of a term if you quit a few weeks in and you are paid each term.

Thats really not very fair ecos0002. They shouldnt be able to ask for the funding money back. What funding is it? Are you on a studentship with a research council?

Thanks so much for your input,

I'm really scared about upsetting and annoying my current supervisor. I have a huge fear of letting people down. I had a meeting I him today and couldn't being myself to say anything

Thanks for your reply,

I chose my supervisor and proposed the topic as part of the application. So it's not tied to a particular topic or supervisor. I guess I'm just very worried about what I should say/do

Hey guys,

Im currently on the +3 of an ESRC 1+3. I started a month ago and was having reservations about my research area. I am not really very interested in it and would be far happier in a different area. I expressed my views to my supervisor and the department whilst doing my masters and it kind of just got brushed under the carpet with the whole 'pass your masters first then we will sort it out'. But now I am started on the PhD and its all got out of hand and I dont know how to bring it back up again.

I dont know what to do as my current supervisor wouldnt be able to supervise me in the new field and I just dont know how to approach telling him. Im also worried about my funding. The studentship didnt have a set topic (I had to make a proposal) so its not like the studentship was initially attached to a certain topic but Im not sure what will happen.

Has anyone had experience of this or got any suggestions?

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has left a funded PhD and how they told their supervisor? How did it go and how did you go about it? Were they understanding?

Thanks