thanks for your replies.
The job is 1 day/week for the full 4 years.

i had a look at the mortgage on a phd stipend post. some good advice in there. i shall tread carefully.

yes, you're probably right. i'm worrying about something that isn't too bad really. I tihnk i was foolishly comparing my current and future financial situation to that of my friends of a similar age. Most of them now seem to earning lots and buying houses, but in 4yrs time i'll still be a poor-ish student.

p.s. my hat goes off to you for doing a phd with 3 kids to bring up as well.

hi all,
i've been offered a part-time phd together with a part-time technicians job. The tech. job is 1 day per week and the phd 4 days. Its for 4yrs.
for both I'd be receiving around £14000 (perhaps a little more) per year, and living in Kent.
I haven't accepted the position yet but am very tempted to. just a little concerned about living on such a low wage for so long, and i'd be over 30yrs old when i finished. the thought of earning so little then is quite daunting.

Would i be able to get a mortgage on this salary (with perhaps 20% deposit)?

Does anyone studying a phd find they have enough time to do part time work as well?

anyone other advice?

hi Corinne
thanks for your reply.
Yes i would be happy to relocate at short notice. I haven't had a permanent address for some time, so moving to states would not be a problem. I am well used to packing.
If given the option, i would chose the states over the UK. My reasons for wanting to study there are that the area of research i am interested in (ecological engineering, sustainable farming/pest management in the tropics) is a more widely researched topic in the US than the UK or the rest of Europe. The US university i'm applying to has good links with south and central america where i would like to work. I think I would have better job prospects in the US than the UK after completing a PhD in my subject, so feel I might as well try to get into the US now rather than later.

I'm applying to universities in the US and in the UK to start a PhD. (Sheesh its a ball ache applying in the US).
One of the universities i'm applying to in the UK is the same uni that i completed a Masters at.
The problem is that the US unis require letters of recommendation, which in my case will come from the same people I am applying to in the UK to supervise me. My thinking is that they might be a bit annoyed if i am asking them for help and supervision for a PhD with them, but also asking them to write letters of recommendation for other universities in the US.
Anyone have any thoughts or experience of this?
thanks