Hi guys, new to the forum and would welcome some advice of people more in the know that me.

Currently doing a EPSRC funded PhD at a CDTs. I'm 9 months into it with the aim of starting the PhD in September. However for a few reasons I'm not enjoying the course anymore.

I recently broke things up with my long term girlfriend and had to move out of the flat we shared and go back home. The break up hasn't helped me concentrate and struggling to get anything done. Luckily for me I play cricket at a decent level which has been a good distraction.

Problem now occurs that I've been offered the chance to go play cricket in Australia for 6 months during the winter. I'd love to go as the break would do me the world of good and it has always been and ambition of mine, as has getting a PhD.

However the problem I have is my course. At the moment I'm not enjoying it but I don't want to give it up long term, yet really want to go to Australia. If I don't go this year the offer will never be on the table again.

Ideally I'd love to take a year off with University blessing, try to clear my head, come back and carry on with the PhD, however if that doesn't happen I'm stuck.

If I were to go, I know I still want to do a PhD I'm just worried that the EPSRC would say you've had one lot of funding you can't have anymore if I were to quit. I was wondering if people have dropped out of a funded PhD have been able to find another one that will offer them funding in the future or they would have difficulties getting accepted again.

I'm only 22 so would really hope this isn't the case as I love the research aspect of a PhD just struggling in general atm.

Many thanks in advance

Book your flight tickets and get yourself on the plane mate. From the looks of it, you could actually make a career out of the cricket and if I'd been able to do sport to that level then that choice would have been a no brainer for me.

This PhD opportunity will no doubt lapse (you appear to be on a 1+3 arrangement at a guess - one year Masters followed by PhD), but you don't seem in the right frame of mind with the break-up to proceed for now. If you start now and struggle because of your personal problems, you could find yourself trying to play catch-up fairly quickly or even drifting off and quitting.

You're 22 years old (no age at all) so even if you have to wait a couple of years for another chance of a funded PhD, better to have a go at your PhD with your head in the right place in a couple of years rather than start now and find yourself struggling.

I think EPSRC will be used to people calling it a day after the Masters year and probably coming back a few later when ready (though obviously on a new and different studentship). You could always phone / e-mail them and ask the pertinent questions if you wish.

With a lot of funded PhDs, the potential supervisor has the project and funding already in place. It will thus be a case of convincing the supervisor you're the right person for the position in interview.

Ian

Cheers for the reply mate I appreciate it. At the moment I'm more confused than ever having talked to a few people. Some say go for it and take the plunge in Australia and some say stick with the PhD.

For me I can't make my mind up some days I want to stay and some I just want to jack it all in. I just wish I could talk to somebody about the potential for funding in the future if I was to leave now. Right now if a gun was pressed to my head and I had to make a choice I'd go and hope to get an opportunity for a funded one later down the line.

I've got my regular 6 monthly meeting with my director on friday so wish I could make a decision by then.