I am doing a part time PHD and working full time at the same time. My boyfriend (we've been together for 3 years now) lives and works 1000+ kilometres away.
We've never had any major difficulties with being in a long distance relationship. It depends whether you want to continue your relationship or not. I am not saying it's an easy thing, but if you want it you cen do it

I am from Greece and I work as a teacher. When I decided to start my PhD, I applied to the ministry of education for a leave from my work (I didn't get it, but that's another issue). If I had got it, after finishing the PhD I would have to work as a teacher for 3 years for each year of leave (that is 9 years for a 3 year PhD)... otherwise I would have to pay them back all the money that they had given me (that is 18.000 euros per year)...
But that's in Greece.
Now I am doing my PhD part-time and I work full-time....

Well, I am in a similar field. I am doing my PhD part-time so if you are full-time you can change it to match your needs.
Year 1: Background research + pilot study
Year 2: Main research
Year 3: Analysis of findings
Year 4: Write up.
My schedule has changed. I am now in my second year and have already started analysing my interviews (so, I am about 6 months ahead of my initial timescale, which is fine by me (I will be more relaxed) and by my supervisors (they are happy with my progress).
Goos luck

As I have finished with my research, it's analysis time now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But, my supervisor wants me to do it using NVIVO.....
So, this week I have to figure out how to use it....It seems tricky....

The tutor I had for my second master was AWFUL!!!!!!!
He kept telling me that "Foreigners should not get British degrees"! "You are not suitable for postgraduate studies... (and after I was telling him that this was my 2nd master) Well, maybe they felt sorry for you and passed you!"
He was also telling me that he wanted drafts of my essays, but when I was sending my drafts, I was getting this response (after 4-5 months) "Now what are these? What do you want me to do with them? Why do you keep sending me all your essays?"
And last but not least, when I submitted my dissertation and  got awful feedback from him, the external examiner complimented my writing and the way I approached my subject! When I sent this feedback to my tutor, he told me "Well, he felt sorry for you, that's why he said that stuff!!!!!!"

One of my biggest mistakes was that I didn't ask for a different tutor!!!!!!!!

I guess what matters more is a good reserach proposal/idea.
At least that matterd for me (social science). I had a first degree in education with grade 7,49/10, and two masters with a pass (an MA and an MBA), but I was accepted at all unis I applied

I will agree with Bug.
I am doing a Part-Time PhD and I am working full-time in Greece.
I am in my second year now, and I have finished with my research and have 3 draft chapters ready (2 lit. review and methodology).
Now, I have to analyse my results and write the whole thing up, which I will be doing for the rest 2 years.
My supervisors believe that I will be finished in 4 years. So, it is manageable.

(I am working 5 days on my "real" job, and every afternoon on my PhD and some weekends. I also have a personal life, although not the one I wanted)

I am doing a P/T PhD in UK and I am living away from my uni (I am living in Greece, to be exact).
I meet with my supervisors every three months and we discuss my progress. Between these meetings we have email contact and I am sending them whatever I write.
I like this system, as I am in control of my research... Well, as a matter of fact, it couldn't have been different, as I am workinh full-time here as a special needs teacher and I can't leave my job to study....
But, of course it can be done. Especially if you have access to libraries and matterial that may be needed to your research

My parents understand what a PhD is and its difficulty. They are here and support me all the way.
BUT nobody else seems to understand!!!! They keep saying "Why don't you get married? You are old enough! Stop studying!" Only my grandfather once asked me what is this thing going to offer me more, since I have a permanent job and it is very difficult to get into academia in my country. Well I explained to him, but to all the rest, I just say that I will have a nice picture on my wall and a nice frame of the degree!!!!:-)
They think that I am crazy...but that's life! I am enjoying it, and that's all it matters!!!

I got a turtle which is motion activated and swears (20 different swear words!!!!)!!!!!
It is strange but I loved it!!!!!!

Good morning to everyone!!!!
Feeling really good today!!!!
Yesterday was a very productive day for me, as I managed to finish a first draft of my methodology chapter (I really dreaded it). So, now I have 3 and a half chapters in first draft form and my research completed, which I think is good.
Next week I will be in my uni to meet with my supervisors and discuss what I will be doing for the next 4 months.
I have also been accepted at an international conference, so that will be my second presentation in my 2 years of studying.
I am really happy!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, how is everyone else doing?? I hope you are all having great progress!!!!!!(up)

I'm studying part-time and I live outside UK.
I meet with my 2 supervisors every 3 months (3 hourly meetings each time), where we discuss my progress and they give me more tasks to do. Well, often during our meetings they have to remind me that I am part-time and that I don't have to do so many things, that I have to take it easy....I tend to do everything at once, and finish so quickly....

Well, I always wanted to be a doctor.
When I was at school and it was time to decide what I was going to study, my father who is a doctor told me "I love you so much and I don't want you to be a doctor" because of the difficulty of the subject and the many years of studying. My teachers, were telling me that I should be an engineer, because I was good at maths and chemistry. I always liked labs, so I decided that I wanted to be an archeologist and then specialise in restoration in order to be in a lab!!!!!
I ended up being a teacher, because I didn't have the necessary results in my exams in order to be an archeologist....
The funny thing is that when I was younger I was saying that I never, never want to be a teacher, especially in early primary education, and I never wanted to study in a particular uni because I didn't like the city.... I did both!!!
Later on, I chose a master because I liked the title (it ended up being really good), I did another master because I wanted to know what was it about (again I liked the title) and now I am doing my PhD in an area that is completely different from all the above (I knew what I wanted to study, but I had never realised it was in this area) 

:p:p

Hi!
I am in my second year of a part-time PhD and I am working full-time in special education. On top of these, my first language is not English and I am not based in the UK....
When I started I made a plan. Now I am 7 months ahead of my plan... I think that I will work as hard as I can in order to finish my research and then I will relax (kind of) while analysing my data and writing up (I believe I will have a little bit over two years for these).
It is quite hard sometimes and it gets even harder at other times, generally it needs discipline. But if you really want it you can do it. You just have to have everything programmed and stick to your working schedule.
Good luck!!!!!!

Hi hydi.
Now, after almost 2 years, I am laughing, too. But back then I was furious!!!!!!!!
I am really lucky with my supervisors....
;-)