Remember also that assisting with teaching/supervising or marking/invigilation is often well paid for the hours required. Income generated in this way can add significantly to your income. I guess its worth asking your prospective supervisor about the opportunities at your university.

Is anyone else fed up with people that just simply say 'I am a graduate in ... and am looking for a PhD, if anyone has one please email me on...' I find this really stupid that people think that supervisors will come looking for them and just offer them a place. These people are totally clueless about how to go about getting a project. Is there no way that the findaphd team can filter these messages out of the forum, they are annoying.

I should have said - thanks for the advice.

The particular PhD is funded by the EPRSC. I am married with 3 dependant children and am therefore having to make a terribly difficult decision re giving up well paid work and 'comfortable' life to following my passion and three years of 'not so comfortable'life. Any additional alocation above the 12.5k would make a huge amount of difference.

This money is yours to do what you want with it, even better, it is tax-free. It is your salary/wage and it is yours, so spend it all on beer

.....I'm feeling generous, here have some more

Yeah, here you go, just have some money

As it happens, I don't

I was outright and asked at the interviews I went to, when was the decision going to be made. Many of them said "we wouldn't have invited you if we weren't going to give you an offer". It appears that references and your CV seem to give the best impression. However one university, I sent an email the day after my interview, thanking them for my day, and they said that a decision had been made and the offer was being processed.

Just send an email if you don't hear anything.

I start my PhD this year and receive a EPSRC Doctoral Training grant of £12000 per year. Thing is, I know very little about this. This money is MINE to spend as I please???? I know it is to cover living expenses etc...but I can think of it just as a salary from which I can put some into savings etc.

Hope you understand what I am trying to ask.
NP.

I have an EPSRC scholarship and they pay Quarterly if that helps?

If you want to be state registered as a Biomedical Scientist you need to make sure that you take an accredited course.

Does anyone know someone who did medicine after their PhD?

Dear Alex, I hope everything works out for you! It must be difficult to be left on your own during the first weeks, but I think you're strong enough to make it. All the best!

oh grow up Alex, if you think my comments are spiteful then you had better leave academia now, especially after complaining to your supervisor that you don't have this or that. I'm sure you'll be back on this forum in 6 months time complaining "why doesn't my supervisor like me?"
Your PhD is going to get a lot harder in the next 3 years -better grow some thicker skin.