The fee waivers don't need to be funded - it's a just a reduction in income for the university/department. This is negligible in their million £ income per year. Universities get their money from student fees, research grants and any investments they have. It's not a straightforward case of money in equals money out. Science degrees are more expensive to run than arts degrees for example, so universities move money round as they need to.

This isn't a problem at all. They will just tell you to fix it before printing the final version.

It was about 6 weeks from submission to viva for me, with about a month's notice from what I can remember. I was already doing a postdoc. If I wasn't, I would have been writing papers whilst looking for a postdoc. Or take a holiday if I was in a financial situation to do so, which I wasn't after an unfunded 4th year.

I've no idea what that means. Anyone?

You're expecting too much and overthinking it. The supervisor is just making a passing comment and you're reading too much into it, plus no one is going to be as enthusiastic about your work as you.

I think it's a bit different in the UK. Here, it would be quite easy to move from IT to business in the same organisation, if you can show that you have the capabilities. Having a MSc or professional qualification like the ones offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute or equivalent would help. As always, a lot will depend on who know and your reputation in the company. I'm speaking from a previous employment background in finance as a line manager.

Take a week off. It makes no difference if you don't meet this deadline.

ok then, I think in this case it's ok. Things take forever in academia. I would just wait for longer. Keep applying elsewhere though.

Could you try to find students online that are doing similar things to you and reach out to them? Look at departments in different unis and see who is doing what?

You should only be working at home if you are at least as productive there as you are in the office.

I am working in a lecturing position and I tend to work from home one day per week because I can work free from distractions at home. If I didn't get much done at home though, I wouldn't do it.

I understand the pressure to be at your desk, as I have this too, but I ignore it because I know I'm working more effectively my way. Right now I work 11am - 7pm and I know this is frowned upon by the 9-5ers but I don't care. It suits me better at the moment. We have no obligation in our contracts to be in at a certain time or on certain days.

What have you emailed them about? Why not just apply for the position? Even if they are still around now, they probably can't be bothered to reply.

You contacted the PI after the deadline, or before?

I would ask whether the position was still under consideration or not. Usually you hear back pretty quickly after the deadline (days/weeks).

What do your supervisors think of your progress? How does it compare with other members of your research group?