Hi Catb, well done for switching from part-time to full-time study, that's great. I am still trying to sort out whether I can start this year or next, but I was wondering: if you start part-time and make very swift progress, then switch to full-time, do you think it might still be possible to complete in 3 years?

Can anyone please advise?
Thanks

Hi Asrelius

I know how you feel... I didn't get AHRC funding for my PhD but my department said that it didn't matter because they would help me with the fees, paying either half, or all, of them - so I thought everything was fine. I passed up the chance of applying to my old uni (where I did my BA), which had alumni bursaries, and stuck to this uni where I have just completed my Masters. Now they say they are embarrassed to have to tell me that their budget has been cut and they have fallen out with the faculty head (not a good move), so I won't get any funding. My partner said perhaps do the PhD part-time, but I can't live off my partner, who has been so supportive over the past year, for 4-6 more years. We can't do it and now my partner agrees and says to leave it for a while. I am devastated, I think I will have to have a year out to work and save and then go back to uni. But I am so geared up to do it now that I am not sure whether I'll be able to switch it off and then switch back on in a year from now. I gave up a long-standing career to embark on this and I am so fed up today I can't really put it into words.

Have you considered applying for research council funding? The deadlines have passed for this year, but if you can wait it may be worthwhile for you.

Please would you mind telling me which uni your friend went to where they let him/her pay £150/month? I am not music, but humanities, and I might be able to afford £150 if I carry on working part-time or something.

Thank you so much.