It sounds like we have very similar supervisors, I am regularly told taking me on was a mistake and other charming comments, and she makes my life difficult in everyway possible. I am now writing my thesis but have come extremely close to leaving on several occassions. How did I get through it? Because I am too stubborn. Can you remember the time when you got your PhD place, and were so excited b/c I assume you were once passionate about your subject, hence the PhD. I know it is hard, but I managed to get that into my head and accepted that she would treat me like cr@p and I would just let her get on with it. It is so hard to do, I know, but it made me more determined to get through it and get my PhD in spite of her. Which I hope I will!

You could try your university department, they might have hardship funding, or you may be eligible, depending on your nationality/situation for funding for overseas students or welfare charities etc. I couldn't find anything that I would be eligible for however.If things get desperate, you could apply for a career development loan from the bank I suppose. Good luck!

Hi - I'm currently writing my developmental biology thesis - my funding ran out in October 2006. My PhD supervisor agreed to pay me half of the monthly rate of my BBSRC studentship if I were to do lab tech type jobs which I did and to be honest totally regret b/c the amount of work vs the amount of money just wasn't worth it. I looked around for additional sources of funding and couldn't find anything. Not a massively positive reply, but I think very many PhD students face this situation - I have never known anyone in my subject finish in 3 years - more common is 4 years. A lot of people I know have generous supervisors who agree to continue the rate of studentship until the end of the PhD. Mine wasn't one of them!