Sounds highly irregular...if that is correct your annual stipend would be more than 28k (about 8K more than a new post-doc and they’d have to pay tax on it!). It's worth checking with someone at the Uni, you don't want to spend it and then find you have to pay it back. However, if you find it's all yours then great, go out and party! [And then tell me where you are studying so I can try to get a 2nd PhD there, more profitable than post-doc-ing! ;o)]

... If you do invest it, then by law if the University ever asks for it back you are obliged to give them all interest/earnings accrued from that money too. Just a thought before you get carried away...

The leprechaun on my shoulder says keep it - get back at the system that's set-up to keep students skint! The angel on the other shoulder says that's dishonesty - over 3 years that's over £40,000 the University no longer has to spend on books and everything else! You'll also feel terrible when your colleagues complain about how skint they are!

Wow, that sounds wicked, if I was you I'd stick it in a high interest savings account and keep quiet til someone says something!

I got mine by cheque a few weeks ago, had to pick it up from student services

How about "For how long did we have the last poll?" a)20-25 years, b)26-30 years etc. ;)

Let's remember though that for many people posting in this section (and especially the International section) English is not their first language. I know I'd be prone to making spelling errors if posting in a foreign language so perhaps we shouldn't be too critical.

Hi all,

Has anybody else had this? I've just started my phd and am funded by BBSRC. They duly payed me a payment of £3528 for my first three month period on Thursday. Yet on Friday, the university itself paid me £3500 (exactly) too. I wasn't aware they were paying me anything? Is this normal and meant to happen?

A (temporarily I fear) rich PhD Student

Opps that should say ... can we have a new poll please? Thanks.

Hi Mina, I feel for you, what an awkward situation. If you don't feel the same, then firmly turn him down. If you feel the same then it's even more difficult! If so, perhaps as H said you can hold off until you are no longer his student. Not a good idea to pursue a relationship while he is supervising you, as Jenny said, the balance of power in the relationship is not equal. Take care and good luck.

I guess if you did want to start a romantic relationship you could think about transferring your supervision to somebody else? Think long and hard about this, I don't envy you, it's a very complicated situation. Just make sure you are not bullied into anything that is not 100% what you want. [I take it he's not married or anything? If he is, tell him where to go in no uncertain terms!] All the best.

Can we have new poll please? We know how old we are now!

I agree - it's really a disgrace the spelling mistakes that go on here! I suppose sometimes it's hard to double check what you've written so they are easily overlooked! As for the lack of research people do it's really is very scary!!!

hi,i would like to know how can i get a master in uk?i'm a student from Republic of Moldova,but i study in romania at the public relations faculty and after the graduating it,i would like very much to obtain a master in the great britain,please help me,thank you very much.

I agree with Jenny. Also I'm not sure if you would still be allowed to have him as your supervisor if you decided to have a relationship (professional boundaries and all that)

Be careful Mina! Don't get involved if you're not sure that you really like and trust him. To think he's "nice" isn't enough. Don't let him use his power over you to do something you might not want.

That said, I know of a supervisor-student couple who eventually married and had children. However, I think it's only wise to get involved if he's "the one". Otherwise it could lead to so much trouble.