posted about 4 months ago
Hello,
I am facing extreme financial difficulties since having the outcome of Major corrections in October. My thesis was submitted in early July, at the time my funding ran out, with my viva in October. I've since survived on savings which are now depleted.
I originally planned to start a new, challenging position straight after my viva. This would've combined my Chemistry background and distributed computing research with Machine Learning, which is a signicant but totally new area for me. However, when I had recieved major corrections, I was not able to cope with the workload -- in particular learning a new field whilst doing my corrections at the same time. The stress was too much to do both, and also look after an ill mother. I have since done a substantial part of my corrections but I face financial ruin. I was unable to postpone the start of the position with the university until January, but only by 3 weeks which didn't fix the situation.
My university and department, despite having ample financial resources, haven't at all been understanding of the situaton, and although I requested work, for instance in marking, or programming related projects, before Christmas, nothing has turned up.
It's totally shocking to have ended up in this situation, if I had known this would happen I may have not embarked on a PhD as I am unable to get financial support from family. I emailed the Leverhulme trust, as I completed a Pharmacy degree in 2011, but they flat out refused to help me.
I have slightly more work to do on my corrections and I would like to start actively looking for work shortly.
In the meantime I am panicking because I have little money for daily living.
Does anyone have any suggestions or advice?
J