Sorry I you were not expecting an answer from me..
PG Teaching Assistants get an average £13/hr for lab and £16 for Tutorials. This is allocated on a fair quota system for all, so getting 20hr/week seems Impossible. I was funded and I found that teaching took quite a lot of my time..so gave up. If you are Overseas then that is like a lottery for the Uni:Home fees is like £3350 which is still quite a lot when added together with living costs and other expenses.

Because: If it is a EngD then 4 years comes as Standard. You will pay for 4 years + continuation

In my university there were three consecutive PhD students who took the same topic and with the same supervisor.
I cannot understand what is the big deal here? It is same like two people walking from A to B won't take exactly the same route
if they do not work in collaboration. We have million of researchers around the world working on similar projects?

It could be one reason but I think it happens mostly because

1 Supervisor do not want him/her to be held responsible for the failure of the student. No Advice no Blame.
2 A strongly linked reason to 1 is that 'he/she lacks confidence and knowledge'.
3 Culture. He takes you as a potential competitor, backfires from their own experience/tragedies during PhD.

These are just a few advices from a Novice, There are many experts sitting here who have more badges on their shoulders.

The only difference I can see between an Academic Supervisor and an AssemblyLine Supervisor is that it is student's responsibility to construct a conveyor belt and the action needed at each phase. But the supervisor must correct this, propose an alternative methodology that should have come from their experiences otherwise they do not qualify for this job. If he/she is not doing that then it may be a 'Liability'. Such a person should not be an Academic anyway. But our bureaucratic system facilitates such culture, people tend to cover up to save their own .....

Miss! I sympathize with you that this(research studies) should not like a pack of wolves sitting in a circle and playing on the rules of 'survival of the fittest'. I went on a workshop in a automobiles factory during my A Levels. The role of the supervisor is to ensure production is timely, qualitative and with minimum resources. Same should be the role of Academic supervisor. It does not mean you catch mental illnesses, come back from 3 suicidal attempts, become isolated and despite all this survive from all the demons and go productive. Sometimes it could be too late to produce any quality work. It is the role of the supervisor to guide you from day 1. Otherwise he is not doing his job properly and is just interested in results. Benefiting from the work of other. A Selfish Attitude. You should complain to your department if this persists or ask for a research adviser.

These are some of the draw backs technology has introduced in this Information Era. Internet opens up an outside window on our screens from the comfort of our sofas. People are reluctant to visit friends, neighbors, relatives as often as they used to prior to the mobile phone culture. I remember(during teens) how happy we felt when we received a letter through post from some close relatives!
We are becoming less emotional in all aspects of our lives. We are becoming cyborgs. On top of it the UK weather is like a fuel on fire.
I am seriously thinking to leave UK.

Emaa, I think its a kind of fatigue which comes from doing repetitive tasks for longer then necessary. You should concentrate on one activity at the same time rather than becoming a multi-tasker. When I am in such a mode, I will spend whole day clearing/decorating my flat, washing car, go for long cycling or go out for dinner etc.

Caz! Sorry for loosing your lovely Foxy. I had kept a male cat name 'm8' for like 5 years. I strongly believe in nature and did not castrate. This led him to go in open, hunt and bring back own food. He became wild which I never mind. Sadly, my marriage broken down and I moved to a flat in city where I could not keep pets. He was happy there and did not need help. I put a engraved tag around his neck, electronically tagged him and left the nature to take its course. I received a call from Motorway Police 8 months after that his body had been recovered nearly 25 miles away. I do not know how it all happened. From there I felt responsible and decided never to keep animals as pets for my entertainment.

I think you should do that as well. Animals are created by nature to live in wild and they can only learn skills if they are bred in a natural environment. It is same as we could not survive in jungle except those who are trained like commandos or Jordan!

The Beast has doubled in size, grew plenty new scary teeth and is waiting for you. But, my sincere advice is 'hit where it hurts most this time' lol

People with most *s at PGF were offered to form a cabinet. Wally n Sneaks were chosen as Prime Minister & His Deputy. Wally along with Adam will shortly be on their way to Buckingham Palace to meet HM.

I had an access to a University Resource Website and all PhD thesis are available online to download. You have to agree that the Copyright belongs to the Author exclusively before you can download. Most of these are funded projects.

Danboy! Thanks for your reply. Certainly that guy is not worth it. We have here our lovely Dan. How could he? You are better off without a self centered person like him.

Sorry Pal, I can understand your position. I will request you not to give up your efforts. Do submit the thesis and you will eventually get the job of your dreams. May be you have to work in ordinary graduate/contract jobs for a while. Keep your hopes alive. Do not let other people demotivate you.

Dan sorry for a rather silly question! Are you male/Female? I assumed you were male from your name? Sorry I am new in this forum.

RK! As this forum is anonymous most of the people will sort of give advice without any bias or reward, or at least I will. I think the best strategy at the moment('putting me in sort of your pos at the moment') is to get a Chartered Engineer Status. You can easily find information from the engineering council or even from employer. Once you got that then you can go for a PhD. Leaving work without Ceng would in my view could leave you in a vulnerable territory.