Hi,

Do all PhD students(whether they are research assistants or not)get a room at the departments? Is this something one has to discuss before registration?

I think it's highly unlikely that you will be allocated a whole room to yourself. It's much more common for students to share office space (either with other students or with post-docs etc).

So it means that all PhD students have desks, rooms even not personal ones..

You will generally be provided with the work space required for your project (be that lab space and/or office space). However, many departments are overcrowded and space is at a premium and people have to share facilities. It's worth asking at interview about this if you are concerned.

I share a large office/comp lab with about 15 other people.

However at the beginning of last year, I met a humanities PhD student who was complaining about lack of desk even though she was about to start year 2 of her PhD. The graduate centre is very good at Sheffield though and there are a number of desks available.

I am one of four in the office.

If it is really important to you to have a desk, then yes, you need to ask about before you sign up to do the PhD. Where I am it varies from school to school. Seems to be more likely that sciences students get a desk. For the humanities, some have a desk in a shared office, some have access to a computer room reserved for PhD students, some have nothing ...

FT PhD student have a desk, but as I'm PT I get zip

Some secure shelving would have been useful

It does indeed vary, but most have a basic standard of provision such as a computer and a desk and maybe a telephone. But some unis are better at this than others.

I'm just starting the 3rd year of my PhD and I don't get a desk, never mind an office! (Although that might be cos I'm doing English.)

I'm just starting the 3rd year of my PhD and I don't get a desk, never mind an office! (Although that might be cos I'm doing English.)

I share an office with my supervisor! :o (plus a postdoc and another PhD student)