I will now have everyone here gaping and making tutting sounds. But here goes. I wear jeans and tees. I've done 19 presentations in the last 1.5 yrs clothed such.

this time, I have some money, so for the major conference coming up, best in our field, this June, (in Singapore) I'll get black trousers and a nice top.

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triple post

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double post

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Cabbie reminds me. Last week I had to catch an indecently early flight from LHR so I needed a black cab from my place to Paddington for the Heathrow Express. Cabbie went on about 'I'll drive fast for a pretty girl like you' or 'darling, I can take you all the way to Heathrow for the same price as the the heathrow express ticket'

I was feeling amused first, then irritated and eventually a little weird...

Cabbie reminds me. Last week I had to catch an indecently early flight from LHR so I needed a black cab from my place to Paddington for the Heathrow Express. Cabbie went on about 'I'll drive first for a pretty girl like you' or 'darling, I can take you all the way to Heathrow for the same price as the the heathrow express ticket'

I was feeling amused first, then irritated and eventually a little weird...

I wouldn't mind the occasional hon/sweetie when low and down. However, in principle, I dont like these! I cant say it myself, it's like my lips are jammed shut. I have a friend who intersperses every sentence with sweetie or honey and I am getting a teensy cavity tbh... but I like her otherwise.

As for calling unknown people love... Hmm. I wouldn't like hearing it, but that's just me.

I am off to Portugal for a week tomorrow, for work alas. But have tomorrow and Friday to enjoy a bit :)

Spent today walking with music in ears all over London by lanes and loved it. Weekend was away in a Kent town with a friend, by the river....ahhh...

Bug

Can do it easily on both hands..

Bs3Ds

You are asking questions for which there are specific answers for specific universities. A simple and far more useful solution is to now not ask these questions here, but write them down in a succinct email and send it to the departmental manager or similar.

A potential list of questions:

1. How many years of this PhD are full fee paying years?
2. What is the continuation fees at this university, beyond the third year?
3. What funding is available for overseas students at the university level and/or the departmental level?
4. Are there teaching and research assistantship jobs available within this department or within this unviersity?
5. Is there a place which lists the pay scales for these?

Nobody can give you answers which are specific to your university so really, the best is to ask those with whom you will spend the next few years.

To clarify what others have already said -

NO, you do not need to pay tuition fees if you take an extra year. You pay tuition fees for the 3 years. Period.

Universities will themselves push you to finish within 3 or 4, as they need to take in new students and cannot let people drag on.

Two points:

1. The first 3 years of the PhD are the full fee paying years.

2. The 4th Year needs a token amount (varies between £90 to £400 I think) which is called a continuation fee

3. Many universities give the course end date at 4 years - this does not mean you cannot submit in 3 years. This does not change the fact that the first three years are the only full tuition paying years.

Please also check with your university admin people, or the student services centre or the admissions office or the departmental manager - this should all be very easy. But do note, that after the 3rd year, you almost never pay full tuition, just a token continuation charge.

Overseas funding - sorry, but to be honest, there is little available and these are usually allocated at the first year, before one begins the programe, are university wide and very scarce. If you haven't funding, i would suggest accepting the fact that you must work for up to 20 hrs a week to stay afloat.

I am in Portugal (twice), GErmany (twice), SIngapore for conferences and projects through the summer with no day this way or that for hols.

But

2 days on a boat near Oxford (mid June)
2 days in Scotland (after a conference, with friends, end June)
am spending a week in home (July)

then 12 days at summer school in Slovenia (August)

and then prolly a few days at a friend's place in an Italian village...

Then back to Germany for a confernece, with 2 days in 'Sound of Music' Salzburg in between...

:-)

Sounds good? :-)

Not to add anything, but my sup (the master of criticism) began our last supervision, with the following

Sup: Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. PhD Bug, what have we here?

Bug: Chapter 3

Sup: Hmm. Explain to me, its role in your narrative?

Bug: blah blah.

Sup. Hmm. PhD Bug, my dear, I must confess, I struggled with this text. You throw out lovely ideas, and leave the reader stranded. Your writing, though, is beautiful.

Bug: Uhm. thanks. So, uhm

Sup: Yes, this needs work. A huge lot of work. Ok, so..

then 55 mins of criticism after which I felt I needed to lie down.

Whoa Goodboy!!

First the supportive post, then the prayer to mothers and heavens and whispers, and then the jab at this being an exploitation...

if only things could be 'dispatched' off as easily we think they can... (ahem)