writingup - all my respect, you have already found a lectureship. I heard that it is very hard (at least in social sciences), in average 200-300 apllicants for one place in relatively good unversities. You must be doing very well then:)

oh, where are unies where PhD students can afford to buy their own homes;))?

quartely. Would wonder whether there is a place that takes the risk to pay in advance for the whole year;))

all life is about politics, academia is not exception:)

cocoa free chocholate would be even worse than sugar- free;PP The process is what matters not the result:)

I meant non-alchoholic beer;)

well, I complained but didnt have a beer, should go and get one, thank you for a great idea;)

I am shocked by the quality of this survey. Initially I wanted to complete it in my native language but under the flag of my country I found language of neighbouring contry. When I finally found the survey in my language (under the wrong country where people definitely doesnt speak it), the translations was terrible. for example, researchers have been translated as interrogators:(

Thaank you...I guess, I need little bit emphaty...

My turn to complain:) For a long time I have zero interest and motivation about my PhD. I am so bored with my topic and work. On one hand I am definitely capable to do research because paper from my Mphil dissertation has already been published in a good journal. On the other hand- I simply cant motivate myself. nothing helps. I changed topic in January, it didnt help. seems to me that problem is very serious because I had troubles with my 2nd year assessment. My supervisor still thinks that I will be allright, despite I even dont have a literature review .
Problem is that I was very motivated to start PhD after my Mphil but did not have money and took the gap year. A week before I found out that I got scholarship for PhD, I finally had decided that dont want to go for PhD. But still took the scholarship and place. Classic questions: What to do?

It might depend from the University. My asked prooof that I have money for ALL three years NOW. Read in regulations and your admissions letter.

Actually there is plenty of money around but it takes effort to get it;) From 8 conferences I have been, I have paid myself only for one of them. Sources of money: your faculty or university, your college (if you are in Oxbridge), conference organisers (some conferences give special bursaries to students), national funding bodies (dont know anything in this respect about the UK).

No idea how typical it is, it might depend from the subject. I cant imagine that in social sciences you will find in faculty more than 2 students specialising on the same topic, not to talk about "a group"of them. except if there is a large research project. I go to conferences alone and mainly because 1) to present a paper and get a feedback and show that I do exist; 2) sometimes you can develop good relationships with people met there; 3) great to have a holiday partially paid by your faculty

even having three papers ready to publish is an achievement;))
A book in the first year? Wow, must be a wunderkid...

oh, jojo well done! thre papers for humanities before PhD is great!
I guess, in sciences it is much easier to get publications before you finish PhD.
I am social sciences, 2nd year and got a publication in a good journal (from my MPhil), still wonder how I managed. No plans to publish more till the end of the PhD.