Unless I get funding from the AHRC I will be doing a PhD part-time whilst working. I'll have saved the fees for one year 06/07 but obviously will earn the subsequent years whilst working. So in essence, I can't prove that I can afford upfront the costs of my course through the entire duration. I hiope this doesn't prove a problem at registration. Has anybody had an experience of this?

I don't want to give you wrong ingformation (because I am not in the same situation) but I thought I can still reply to your question. Even when you are fully funded, you need to register/enrol to your course every year anyway, so I assume the university would be interested to find out whether or not you can pay the current year's fee only. On the other hand, I suggest not to give up and apply for other funding. Contact the University to ask for departmental funding, contact other grant-giving bodies. Good luck with the AHRC funding by the way...

Thank you. I think you sound right. It would be a bit unfair to want to see all the ££££ at once! I wrote the best funding application that I could, so can only hope for the best now: please like my idea research panel!! Anyway, I can always do it part-time for a year and then apply again for full time funding.

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.

don worry. at my uni, they're only concerned about the first installment.

Thanks everybody!

I emailed my university and they are only interested in either paying a year up front or the first installment and handing over bank details. So, yay!! A weight of my mind: I am in a very similar situation to you Mia, lol.