This is a UK-based forum, so if you are aiming at US universities only, you may get more assistance elsewhere, especially on a site that is more aimed at engineering.

As with everyone else here, I support the idea that you need to get out of this situation. I have mentioned this on the forum before, but shortly after commencing my PhD I began a relationship with the Head of my Research dept. We were on and off for a year, and two and a half years later we are no longer together but still very close, and there is major tension between us, luckily he is now at another university. However, the period after we split as a couple was horrendous - having to see him round uni, just awful. And this is a guy who was not directly involved with my PhD - imagine how it would be with your supervisor!

Mmmmm, sorry Bucket, Pamplemousse is right, when people here use the word 'job' it tends to mean non-academic; although you were perhaps unaware of this. In any case, unfortunately it *is* unreasonable in an academic context to ask them to contact referees later, as people have said they use references to sift out people at the very earliest stages. Once again academia is out-of-step with 'the real world', but that is something that we all deal with on a daily basis!

He he pamplemousse! That was naughty!

Hi!

First of all, poor old Man Met, not getting a good press are they (Don't worry, I'm not there!).
Immature students; I'm a third year PhD and I am still paying off the career development loan I took out to do my Masters. Whilst I loved doing it, and it was necessary for me as I completely changed disciplines, you would be better taking the funded place where you can really focus on getting a distinction; as this is what matters when it comes to PhD funding, not the Uni.

Many universities will accept application right until the course starts as they perceived Masters courses as cash cows more than anything else. There is no set deadline, although popular well-regarded universities will fill up more quickly.
Generally anthropology is funded by the ESRC, their deadlines are the first week of May, although you will need to have a place before you apply, and your university will probably want to assist you with the application. So, you'd need to start asap.

Hey 'Bug!
Is there anyway you can give yourself a couple of days off to work through this? It sounds as though you'll be having big changes this summer - moving and having to do extra work! - so although I know that you enjoy working hard and really getting through work you do need to make sure that you give yourself a break or the fatigue will get to the point where you aren't working at the rate you are used to, or even not at all!
I know everyone is different, but I find it easier to work in blocks - two/three days of hard PhD work, then two days of other work, then back to phd. Working in short bursts means I don't fully think through some key concepts (and my supervisor loves noting this!). So try both systems, doing half-days of PhD with half-days of RA work, then try blocks and see which one you adapt to more easily!;-)

I never implied that you were unable to do a PhD, and I made no comment about the fact that you had or are doing a Masters. I simply stated that you should not say you have been 'awarded' a PhD until you actually have.
The best places to go to enhance international funding are your own government and the British Council

Hi Benm

Don't mean to be rude but you aren't 'awarded a PhD' until you pass your viva and have satisfied the examiners requirements. You have been offered a funded PhD place... semantics but a big difference!

Hi again Angie

Its horrible looking at your own work, especially if you've spent ages on it. But now being on my second supervisor I've noticed that supervisors don't like having to tell you what to do. Although they have their own clear ideas about your work it is easier for you and them if you yourself can see where you need to make changes. It also reflects better on you as a researcher. Its short-term pain (having to re-read the damn thing) for long term gain (better relationship with supervisor; easier PhD planning).

Just make sure you do have a couple of days off too!

Hi
I normally give myself a couple of days off to relax, meet friends, give the flat a decent clean and then look again at the chapter, identify what I see as weaknesses etc so when I meet my supervisor I 1) expect his criticisms and 2) demonstrate that I can think critically even about my own work and help make independent decisions about the direction of the work

Hope this helps!

I know people who do 2-3 conferences per year. I have focused on major conferences (straight in at the deep end) and have done 1 per year - 2 national conferences, and an international one in the USA. Honestly, that was enough for me!

By the way, my department has the same rules on conference funding as the Research Councils (£350), but I got extra as I promised to do some admin stuff round the dept (become the PG Rep and organise the next conference - you could try that!)

Hi all

Bobby I agree that it is standard practice to be "optimistic" about when you can submit - you are right on that score. However, what normally prevents submission are the revisions that any (decent) supervisor insists on. No-one expects their thesis to be perfect, the majority of us want a decent pass with as few revisions as possible. Dhara, to willfully go against your supervisor's advice, or to not be extremely concerned that your supervisor sees such glaring omissions in your work that he can categorically state you won't get a straight pass is total madness.
I completely agree with the previous poster - if someone submitted a thesis to me (and the majority of academics I know would agree, and they're mostly historians) that was both full of errors *and* submitted early, I would fail/MPhil them just for being so ridiculous.

I don't mean to appear rude, but 'science' is an extremely broad category that would cover a range of funding possibilities - you need to be much more specific than you have been so far. If you are that desperate for help you should be able to provide more information than 'science' - it would also help to know where you are from (your own govt may have a scheme). You should also approach the university that has offered you a place and ask if they have any institutional funding available (again for Overseas students this is rare but possible)

Unfortunately this is fairly common - International studentships often come with this caveat (living costs but not fees). Others may know of opportunities that I don't, however it is extremely unlikely that you will find additional support, although it would be beneficial to know what discipline you are in