Hi all. Its only my third week of the PhD and the more I read on the topic the more I feel that I am not interested in it 100% (well, much less than that actually). I am wondering whether it is possible to change area (and supervisor). I get funding from my department and I guess this makes things more difficult. Anyone having a similar experience?

How are you funded through the department i.e. was it tied to the strength/content of your proposal?

I had the same experience a year ago - basically, 2 months into my PhD, like you, I decided that my proposed topic wasn't for me (it just didnt 'grab' me).
So, I wrote a new proposal and emailed it to my supervisors and asked them for feedback. I made sure my new proposal was better (i.e. tighter, more developed) than my original one, and made sure I came across as really enthusiastic about the new idea, to the point where i didnt think they could legitimately refuse (which they didnt). It was a very different topic, although within the same discipline (psychology). It might be harder if you want different supervisors as well though.

Is it essential you change supervisor as well as topic? Is there also a problem with your current supervisor? Perhaps it would be easier to stay with your current sup and discuss other project angles or directions to make it more appealing to you.

When I started, I had very little interest in my topic too, but I persisted with it because changing just didn't occur to me. Now, I find it interesting, but if I had a choice of any project in the world, I still wouldn't choose it. It may sound a bit unemotional and harsh, but in some ways, I see my PhD as a means to an end.

Thanks for your responses. I am afraid I have to change area completely (still within the same discipline but with another supervisor. The one I have at te moment is great but I am not interest in his area). I feel "lost" as I am new in the department, I get funding and my current supervisor had helped me with everything a lot (proposal, funding, specific project, general advice etc). I feel very uncomfortable telling him that I want to leave him Do you know what the implications for him are?

scamp - maybe it's just nerves. i find that most things get a lot more interesting the more time you spend on them. my topic is like that, was great during my masters, i have had a few ups and downs since, esp when i first started. the perspective my supervisors made me take for my lit review has since changed, and i have adopted a perspective that appeals to me. so maybe you can look at it in a different way, from an angle that interests you? best of luck.