Hello all,

For info, I am UK based. I receive a stipend from a funding body separate from my university.

So, I have definitely decided I'm going to quit my PhD. I don't find the topic interesting enough, I don't want to go into academia, and I don't want to do any of the careers it's training me for in general really. I switched disciplines to come into this project and basically that was a huge mistake. I'm only at the end of my first year so it's not worth continuing at this point and I'm happy with that.

However, I'm confused about the practicalities of quitting, and the so-called "terms and conditions" that accompanied my stipend are utterly useless in helping. So I was hoping someone might be able to help me with the following:

1) Will my funding body want my stipend back?
2) I have received extra money for a training course from my funding body, will they want the money for this back regardless of if they want my stipend or not?
3) How does giving notice work in the PhD world? Will my stipend be cut the moment I say I'm quitting? This makes sense to me as obviously any work I continued doing won't amount to anything at this point but I want to check.
4) In people's experience is it a lengthy process to get out? I've already started job hunting so obviously my starting date will be affected here.

Just any tips in general for the practical side of quitting? Finance, paperwork, admin?

Hello Bombus,

I am international student in UK. I understand how you feel especially in this issue. For your questions, the best one you can ask is your sponsor. It depends on your contract with your sponsor. could you please check with them?

I used to quit from PhD before when I finished first year. My supervisor said that my language is so poor even the examiners gave me passed viva without condition. I am now studying in the other University in UK and expected to finish by the end of this year. PhD life is so tough but it is worth to engage your life with.

Cheers,

Dear Bombus,

I am also an international student in the UK, sponsored by a different body, and the first time I came here I took the wrong course. Well, I really thought it was the most isolated (and stupidest) case! I was thinking of quitting, but then different opportunity occurred and I found myself in a new project, changed my supervisor and all.

I agree with the previous poster, the best is to talk to your sponsor directly because terms of agreement differ between different sponsors. In my case, if I were to choose to quit in my previous course:

(1) The funding body made it clear that the failure to obtain a PhD would mean I had to pay back all the funding (tuition fees and personal allowances) that they have spent.
(2) The stated amount is "the sum of the total costs acquired throughout the study" which I believe includes everything that they have spent.
(3) Some stipend is given on monthly basis, some are like once in a few months. You really need to check with them regarding this.
(4) Once you have submitted the withdrawal form at the university (usually at the end of a month) then you're free to go.

However, these are all my assumption on what would happen. The best course of action is for you to talk directly to your sponsor and your school. Nonetheless, I still wish you'd consider continuing or find a new project that you might want to pursue. I have experienced helplessness and despair during my first project. I didn't know that once I changed my project I gained back my strength for academic work. However, I still respect whatever decision you want to take.

No, actually I changed my project with a different supervisor during my first year so the sponsor agrees to continue the funding and I don't have to pay back, luckily. I see that you said you've lost your passion in academia and if there's no clause to paying them back then I wish you all the best in your endeavor!

Hi, with UK research council PhD funding you don't have to pay it your stipend back if you quit. If you are paid quarterly you may have to return the rest of the quarter's payment, but that's it. I very much doubt you would have to return extra funding you got for training as well.

This is the opposite to international students, who often have to repay funding if they quit or if they fail their PhD or fail to return home after their PhD.

I don't have any personal experience of quitting to know what the paper work is like, but I expect this is sorted out by admin and your supervisor.

This is info from the RCs T&Cs found at:
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/documents/termsconditionstraininggrants-pdf/


"The Research Organisation must ensure proper financial management of TGs and
accountability for the use of public funds. Research Organisations are expected to take
reasonable steps to recover monies paid to students in advance who leave or whose
studentship is terminated"

And if you are funded by the BBSRC for example http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/documents/training-grant-faqs-pdf/:

5.4 Can we replace students who leave early?
Yes, if you have sufficient funds in the TG, or if necessary you can guarantee any funding
required beyond the period of the current TG from another source (i.e. if the period of new
studentship extends beyond the end of the TG).

So, this shows that they don't ask for the money back otherwise they wouldn't be talking about "sufficient funds".

Also consider you could leave with a Masters if you wanted to.