3)or you go to that other funded place - if it's simply a matter of showing that you can attract funding, for job chances, then who cares how much it is exactly?
but overall, i'd ask myself: do you really want to do that PhD? if yes, you will find a way. good luck!

hi,
i started my PhD at age 30 and self-funded the first year and a half. i am funded now so what i am saying is: shouldn't you be applying for funding like mad? why are you just sitting there and waiting for things to happen?
1)either you decide to self-fund and i suppose that would make you work hard because it is your own money that's being used... having had no external funding is a bit of a problem for job chances but no insurmountable one. if you get good publications; and can work on a collaborative project which is funded, that's another way to show in your CV that you are able to attract external moneys.
2)or you devote your time to getting funding now. all is not lost. it is as much about perseverance than anything else.

what i find a nuisance in london is oftentimes not the motorists, but the people on foot. there is this nasty habit in london (i admit i've picked it up too) to just walk out on roads if there is no car coming, no matter what the traffic lights say. unfortunately, many people make their judgements by hearing only. so, beware! people will constantly be walking out on the road just in front of you!

about the helmets: i wear one - i saw a study that showed how much less serious the injuries from accidents are.
the downside of the helmet is that unfortunately, studies have shown that motorists leave less space when overtaking you when you are wearing a helmet than when you are not.

i'd say wear a helmet when you go singletrailing. surprisingly, most bicycle accidents don't actually involve cars but are simply cases of cyclists slipping, falling, crashing into something, or similar. a helmet could make all the difference. you never think you'll fall until you do...

oh yes, folding bikes are fun. provided you don't get a cheap supermarket version! which will break soon. mine is not a brompton but a mezzo. it was a tough choice - as reviews say that the mezzo is the "only real alternative" to the bromptons. i wanted a brompton because i prefer their bags to the mezzo bags (i know, a bit irrational...) but the mezzo was on sale - down £240 from its original price. and i'm very happy with it!

anyway, i've been cycling around london (on my old bike) for about half a year, from and to work was 35 minutes each way. i put safety first (before speed). that means i will sometimes take detours in order to avoid the ugly crossings and busy, narrow streets (i avoid streets with lots of traffic, and bus lines). i found that there is actually quite a good network of cycle routes in london. but a lot of cyclists are quite mad, if you ask me - they take the busiest routes just because they are the most direct ones. on my trip from southeast to central London i never once had to ride on a busy road. totally doable! if you know how to read maps...
only once did i have a situation where i was frightened. on fleet street there were cars stopped/parked on the side of the road, forcing me off the cycle lane. after passing such a car, another car from behind overtook me and turned left, cutting me off. i only just avoided an accident there and was quite in a state of shock for a while.

i just bought a new bike 2 weeks ago. it's a folding bike. i've been wanting a new bike since 5 years or so. always thought i'd get one when i finish my masters, and earn a proper wage. but when i did start earning, i also applied for my PhD and knew i'd have to save every penny to get by. so, no bike. but now since february this year, i'm funded, and i was paid a good chunk of extra money for writing a working paper on a collaborative project, so i decided it was time to finally get that bike!
and i'm loving it! i feel so "cool" when i get to the train station and pack up the bike in a few short movements. people actually approach me and start conversations about it. interestingly, several people have asked: "that's not a british make, is it?" and when i told them, in fact, yes it is - they were all surprised. why is that? do brits not believe that they could design good stuff?

well i've survived on about 9000.-/year (i am taking the fees as paid by the studentship) in London. Outside of London you would need less. the costs for two people living together are lower than twice the costs for one person. so i'd say it's -just- possible.

but no-one will believe you because no-one will accept that you REALLY intend to walk an hour each way in order to avoid paying for public transport; that you will not buy a single item of new clothing; you will cut your own hair; you will NEVER eat out; that you will not travel at all on trains nor fly "home" for holidays; that you will not need more than a bedsit for the two of you; etc.

Yevhen, have you talked to the people from www.ukcosa.org.uk? i have found them to be very helpful in the past. they might be able to answer your questions such as how much money do you need to show that you have.

as the immigration officer's concerns are about you maybe needing public resources/support, i'm wondering if there is something that you can do like you would be able in my home country: there, you can have a local person who will "guarantee" for you. they need to submit information on how much they earn/own and sign a statement that they will cover costs arising up to say, £10'000/year, if you cannot come up for it yourself. that way, the government rests assured that they will not have to pay for you. often, the guarantor in fact pays you nothing at all. but it takes a measure of trust! that you won't abuse him/her. as you are in the UK already and know people here, you might be able to find someone who would be ready to do that for you.

also, don't disregard the strength of your intuition. you had a feeling that this would be the right person for your co-supervision, and acted on it. maybe your supervisor doesn't agree but there must be space for that in your relationship - you aren't always going to agree!

well i'm not so sure it was "wrong". i thought a PhD is about being independent, so your sup should be glad that you took initiative. maybe a bit over-eager on your part but that comes with learning to be independent. my supervisor would be annoyed if i bothered her too much with such things and would much prefer me to turn up with a nearly definite solution... i understand if he's miffed. lots of things could play into that - for example if he is insecure, he might be feeling rejected or the insecurity could be amplified because you demonstrated that you don't "need" him.
BUT i totally think that if this episode has a long term negative effect on your relationship, then it can't have been a very good one to start with. if your sup won't accept mistakes, he can't be too great a supervisor, i think.

ha - we could set up a PGF-RL meet!

hey there, well i suppose you can guess and second-guess his motives for ever, getting more and more anxious and upset - or you can ask him. and believe his answer. if his actions do not match his words - for example, if he insists it's fine but stays distant - again, talk to him, tell him why you are concerned.

and well, if he IS upset - does he hold grudges? it might be a simple thing of waiting a week or two until everybody's emotions have settled...

jojo - onwards and upwards!!!

nadia, i know lots of people who self-fund. it is possible, in london too. there are certainly disadvantages compared to funded people - it will just be extra hard to squeeze time in for those "extra" things you should be doing during the PhD for your job chances, such as publications, conferences, gaining teaching experience, etc. and you will have to live with financial insecurity looming over your head. the system kind of creates a two-tier society of academics.
about jobs as a french person in english lit - couldn't you get a job in France, or any other non-english-speaking country? or is that totally out of question?

olivia, that sounds horrible!

do you know what is causing it? have you ruled out physical stuff and things like noise and light?

have you tried some of the things suggested in this thread? in my sleepless times i find it comforting to do things like make special teas, simply because it feels like i'm doing something about it...

sometimes insomnia is a reaction to being over-exhausted! maybe you just need a break?