======= Date Modified 09 Mar 2011 16:12:32 =======
It seems apparent from a number of recent posts that I am, indeed, not alone in wishing to leave the PhD. This is not out of dislike for my topic, area of study or supervisor but rather all the external factors currently affecting my funding, department, university and sanity. The department I am in has already seen a 50% cut in staff since the beginning of this year, impending retirements will also add to the thin bank of staff, yet there is still a hiring freeze. The funding has been cut, a bursary I hold is for the first 2 years only of my PhD and not the all important 3rd and final year. My first panel was lengthy and productive though the secondary member did not turn up - the outside panel member outrightly explained that due to retirement they would not be on my panel for the full 3 years and the cuts in the university mean that my supervisor is the only staff member remotely related to my area of study.

Frequent conversations with my supervisor involve them saying they are looking at other jobs - this also fills me with dread. Realistically I'm 8 months into my PhD and the state of my department's future, supervisor's future and my own finances mean I am not sure that I want to continue at this institution.

Though my options seem rather limited - I have applied for another round of funding, the outcome of which is May, and my next panel is June for which I'm working towards a 10k submission and various other pieces.

Has anyone had a similar experience with so many important factors go astray in the first year?

Stressed.