I need some advice to put somethings into perspective. I have been offered the chance of doing a part time Phd, good project, department supervisors everything but there are a couple of glitches.

1) I am going to have to work around the job I am currently doing which can be pretty demanding

2)I will have very little or limited access to dry space (desk computer, even somewhere to store papers)

My worry is that, I am not going to be in a great position and would maybe be better waiting for a completley full time project. Am I being silly or could these limitations cause be problems down the line when I need to start writing or when deadlines are looming and I cant get on a comp to write. Input would be good as I am going to have to register this week.

1) If you are registered for a part-time PhD then you should have adequate time to complete your research. Be realistic about how long it will take you to complete it's very common for full time students to take longer than 3 years. Would it be possible to reduce your working hours at?

2. I had little space at work for storage so I got a couple of filing cabinets (fairly cheap from Argos) for home and used them to store the bulk of my papers. Have you got (could you get?) a laptop or a home desktop?

These are legitimate concerns but it would be a shame if you have to turn down a great project. Have you discussed these fears with your prospective supervisor? Perhaps he/she will be able to reassure you and/or find solutions esp. the lack of desk space/computer issues. Good luck.

Regarding the work space, a lot of people (myself included) don't have their own work space, this will depend on how rich the dept is. I think working part -time is more of an issue, I tried and found it too difficult, but after a year I got some funding to go full-time. However it can be OK if you are good at time management and are very committed.

I thought everyone was entitled to their own workspace! It's like a rite of passage - you have your own desk, computer, filing cabinet space and bookshelf. So they can chain you to your desk!!

I think, you've got one of the most salient things required to do a PhD, good project. Others like shelves and/or PCs are only peripheral; you just can make your room a suitable office. As to time, it's all about management. Strict control over your time may be needed. Otherwise, perseverance is all what it takes to be a successful doctoral student.