Many congrats!

I always suspected Otto was Dan B in disguise!

Like aliby says, doctorates can be professional qualifications (like clinical or educational psychology) - these tend to be based around placements and essays as opposed to a thesis (there is usually a thesis as part of it, but this is much shorter in length) - it is not a PhD.

If they require a reference from the supervisor prior to making an offer on a studentship/PhD then just don't list them as a referee. Perhaps you can use an undergraduate lecturer?

For most applications (at least for jobs) you can specify that you do not want the references taken up prior to an offer.

Definately check out Dell

I spent a year reading and creating a PhD topic because I couldn't afford to start straight away. Perhaps you could try that for say six months and see if you want to take it further as a student?

If the money runs out with the MRC in Sept then surely they aren't responsible for you after that anyway?

Contact your local benefits office and ask for their advice

CONGRATS! You've made the right decision getting out now if you're not happy and I wish you all the best.

Otto - for us self-funded lot we don't even get paid (we pay to be worked to death!)

I still agree with Queen jojo LOL

If we're handing out royal titles can I be Princess SixKitten???

I have to agree with jojo again

You can never really explain to someone exactly what a PhD is like, but the one piece of advice I heard from every PhD student when I was considering starting (and the one piece of advice I would give a potential student myself now I have started) is that if you are not sure then don't do it until you are. It is too big a commitment to use it to work out what you want - three+ years in something you hate is too big a risk. So many people drop out who were sure at the start, let alone those who weren't.

I'm not trying to put you off ally.t, I just think that you have to really consider your reasons. If you're not getting all you can out your job you have to think if a PhD is going to fill that or if you need another challenege in marketing, like a promotion or a different company. I don't want to sound like I'm patronising you, but I worry that you could damage your career now if you try a PhD and it isn't for you

Jojo is ABSOLUTELY right

I would also add that you shouldn't consider a PhD because you're not feeling fulfilled in your career. I worked before my PhD and the daily 9-6 grind (plus overtime) is no where near as monotonous and exhausting as the PhD (endless days with no real deadlines are depressing). Don't underestimate how you will miss the variety of your job - focusing on one tiny research project will make your job look fascinating! The other thing, as you note, is that three years of a PhD will not mean as much as three years of good experience in marketing if you pursue that as your career instead of academia.

Which goes back to what Jojo says. If you really want to do this, these things won't matter, but you've really got to want it

What's a holiday???

My entire decision was based on location - would love to have gone elsewhere, but this is where I live and commitments keep me here

Did you ask about library access as an alumni?