======= Date Modified 07 52 2010 10:52:53 =======
Hey All,

I have recently been offered a place for a PhD in Computer Science and I am wondering whether to find accommodation or stay at home. Here is my list of pros for both:

Staying at home:
- Slightly cheaper
- More security
- More luxuries
- Less time spent on menial tasks

Staying in accommodation:
- No need to commute (1 hour 35 mins each way or 3 hours 10 mins each day)
- More independence
- Meeting people

I am thinking if I have to go in everyday it would probably be better to find accommodation, however if I only had to go in say 3 days a week (or less) it would be better if I stayed at home. Since a PhD is meant to be more independent and I probably will not need to use special equipment on a regular basis I am wondering if the latter option is more likely. So my question is how customizable is a PhD timetable?

I would be grateful for any advice.
Cheers. :-)

At the mo I only go in about once every two weeks, but I'm writing up, so don't really need to. It will also depend on whether you pick up extra teaching etc.

Have you checked the price of travelling because that could be very expensive if you're travelling peak. Maybe you could arrange a monday-friday thing?

======= Date Modified 07 Nov 2010 11:34:36 =======
Thanks for your input Sneaks.

It says in my offer "You will also be considered for a Teaching Assistant position, and if you are selected..." from the wording, it does not sound optional but I am not sure, would that be normal? I have not asked for teaching duties and would probably decline if it meant too much extra travel time.

I would probably be paying about a maximum of £20 per day in travel expenses.

It would be ideal to stay at home if I could arrange a situation similar to yours, but since you are writing up I am not sure how likely that would be for me. I have heard the first year is mostly reading and getting your knowledge up to "the edge" which I guess could mostly be done independently.

I didn't go in that often, probably 1-2 times a week throughout my whole PhD. BUT it does affect your liklihood of picking up extra work, and most importantly, getting a job afterwards - you are not 'seen' enough and therefore people don't consider you for any roles that may come up.

It depends on how you are funded if you *have* to do teaching. I'm an ESRC student, so not required, but took some for my CV. If you are funded by your university it is usual to have to teach X amount of hours, as kind of pay back for your bursary - it is not negotiable.

If it were me, I wouldn't rent anywhere yet, see what hours your expected to do (some unis/departmetns will have a culture of being at your desk 9-5) and then see what you can do.

The funding is offered by the EPSRC, which is confusingly different from the ESRC (I think), I believe that means I would not be directly funded by the university and so would not be obliged to teach, although I would probably like to help if I could fit it in. I will do as you suggest and try to find out my hours before deciding.

Thanks for your help Sneaks.

yep the EPSRC is for physical sciences I believe, whereas I'm social sciences. I would advise picking up some teaching, even if not in the first year, it will definitely add to your cv and help find a job, if you want one. I know countless people who taught through their PhD and were offered a lectureship because its easier to get someone to continue, rather than hire someone in. It is a careful balance though, to make sure your PhD work doesn't suffer.

oh and I would also consider a monday-friday room let, you could stay in a room for 3 nights,without having to commit to rent. My mother in law rents out rooms at hers on a similar basis, its basically a cheap place to crash, which isn't a hotel, so you don't have to commute.

I go in every day at the moment as I'm in my MRes year and have to attend lectures/tutorials most days. Once the lecture course is over, I'll probably still go in most days, maybe have one 'working from home' day a week.

My supervisor isn't particular about the hours we keep, there definitely isn't a 9-5 culture for us. But we are encouraged to make use of our desks, partly to justify the group having the office space, partly because as several of us are working on related projects, it's useful to be able to ask questions and have discussions as required. I probably work better and have fewer distractions in the office, though I'm lucky that we have a fairly quiet office which allows me to concentrate.

I'd discuss it with your prospective supervisor before deciding, to get a feel for what their expectations are. I shouldn't think it would be a problem either way though, assuming the project isn't lab based or anything.

I certainly agree with picking up any teaching/tutoring that's on offer, however this will probably only be one or two days a week at most and only during term time - I used to work from home most of the time and I did tutoring and arranged time with my supervisors/library visits/AOB on the same days. So you could still arrange to do some and only need to be in uni 1/2 days a week.

Similarly you'll also meet people on those days you're in if you arrange to do things for when you're about - I used to meet my friends at Uni quite regularly for coffee when I was in. People are in and out all the time anyway. I don't think it's really a problem.

When I was a computer science PhD student the expectation was that students would be there Mon-Fri 9-5. You need to ask your prospective supervisor what would be expected of you, and if it would be possible for you to work from home for some of the time. I was EPSRC funded too.

Thanks for all the advice! I was waiting to find out my hours before responding but it will probably take a little longer than I expected so I will just thank you all now and update when I do find out. It is good to know most of you have experienced some flexibility with timetables and that there are alternatives like a room let. I am hopeful I will be able to work something out.

I find commuting very hard, so definitely campus!

For some reason I can't vote on the poll. I comein 4-5 days a week though.
HAving commuted before I wouldn't really recommend it, but guess if you were disciplined it's a good time for reading.