Thanks guys! I've had a lot of conflicting reports about who pays what (interestingly from other prospective candidates....) but that clears it up nicely, thank you!

I'm applying for a BBSRC funded project (so I get a stipend) but there's £5000 of consumable costs listed in the project budget, does that come out of the original stipend? Or does the department cover that? If it comes out of the stipend, that, together with the tution fees, just about blows it...am I going to have to apply for outside funding? The supervisor is (unluckily) on holiday until the application deadline, so I can't ask them. Anyone got any ideas? Any advice would be much appreciaated!

Thanks guys! I've enquired about the PhD with "references available upon request" on my cv, but I've noticed they've changed the posting since then to request "references from 2 academic referees". I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet!

I've just graduated from an english uni with a 2i and my lab supervisor has applied for funding to keep me on to carry on my dissertation project work, but nothing has been agreed officially. This funding would start at the beginning of October, but I've seen a PhD I'd really like to do, and while I loved my project, I don't see it progressing much further, and isn't really in my field of interest. How can I get a reference from my supervisor to help me get this PhD without insulting him? Or should I forget a PhD for now and take this job? I know a PhD is really what I want to do and the challenges involved but is seems silly to turn down this job and lose a potentially valuable contact! Help!