As far as I know this is a genreal trend and any university can try it if they want. But I expect you still need examiners and therefore still need to pay fees to somebody in order to register to be examined. Interesting situation.

Exactly as Juno says - it's a real buzz when you hit on something or the dots suddenly join up. I think of it as an extended puzzle-game. It has to take a new twist every now and then to keep up the interest.

I need to submit by end of this year so I would not expect all papers to be published but at least 'in press'. This plan was suggested for two reasons - a) no need to write thesis and then papers and papers will help applying for posdoc funding (so more time-economical overall which is important for me) and b) my project is ideally best split into quasi-independent projectlets which are best presented seperately but do have a broad overarching theme. I'm aiming for 4 papers but I need to input the last of my data before I really know if this will fly or not. I have the kind of project where all the papers come at the end and not before.

Oh I'm in a situation like this mainly because I have extended my data collection to March, which means redoing and finishing all the analysis is delayed so then writing is delayed - especially as I'm really unsure where the final analysis will take me. I'm also still learning some of the math (SEM).

I have seen a PhD written up in 3 months - but one friend I know who did that moved back to his parents and just did nothing else. Unfortunatey I have a young child and a busy husband so I am getting very anxious about this. My funding also runs out in October and that pays my daughter's nursery fees. I'm aiming for Xmas.

I think if you start writing now that is definitely enough time - just don't procrastinate any more.

hey my husband makes this - it's great. You'll have to come and try it!

Also - I was told this is currently becoming more popular in the natural sciences rather than other fields.

I've been advised to try this so I hope it's not that bad! Not sure I will though, will see how it goes. I was advised to have at least 3 papers (preferably 4) with an overall intro and wrap up overall discussion.

Funded students certainly are very attractive to supervisors so you can afford to be picky.

Not everyone is in a position to 'figure out the cash later' - most of us need money to put food on the table and pay our fees and could not self-fund.

Well, this is my advice. When you are asked for references list your more recent employers then your undergraduate tutor. Only provide your master's supervisor if specifically asked (they will get a transcript anyway) and if so you might mention that you don't feel you did your best at that time because xyz. As long as you did well in your MSc, ie got a distinction or equivalent you should be OK.

I get fed up with people's attitude to my PhD as though I were just doing a little needlepoint now and then to keep me busy. I have 3 days childcare and 2 days I am home with my daughter. Today I met up with some other mums, some working part-time some not. The one who is part-time said soemthing about how tough it must be for me to be at home ALL THE TIME looking after my daughter. Er, NO, I am not a full-time mum - I replied that I actually work 3 days a week (and a lot more...). And she was kind of vague - oh yes - your 'studies'. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I struggle to fit the hours somehow into my week and people talk as though I am just swannng around talking the odd class here and there I GET SO MAD!!!!!

'on a FT' should be 'on a full-time PhD'...

Many university have a regulation saying grad students on a FT cannot work (apart from dept teaching) in any capacity no matter how they are funding. Check your university to see if they allow this - it really can be a big problem (I was caught out on this in the past and told to stop immediately).

Be carefuly also, unless you are part-time, it can be VERY difficult to finish if you work as well. I have been very tempted but apart from my first term I have resisted.

Note that projects which already have external funding generally already have a plan - they had to in order to be funded from outside the dept. It really depends on your field and what kind of resources you require. If you are in a field where it is possible to get funding as an individual for a project proposal of your own - you could go that route (that's what I did - but there are downsides to not being part of a larger group/project).

Hmm - thinking about this. I swing from one extreme to the other in cycles. Obsessive - every minute thinking/scribbling whatever, then apathetic, demotivated and disinterested (feeling more like that just now!).

It's common but I wouldn't say it's normal - I think you are experiencing an extremem form. You should try to find time to do something else apart from the PhD - something you can actually enjoy and engage in. I know you will feel frustrated and guilty at first but it good for you - and for your relationship.