Recently I have got offer from reputed university in PhD(Biotech) which is self-arranged ...to my surprise I have seen Time duration of course as 4 years......

Why it is as such?
Does that mean I have to pay for the fourth year also?

Please any one help me.............

I would imagine that either you have a 1+3 offer - which means you do a 1 year masters before the PhD - OR you can choose to drop the 1 and just do the +3 i.e. just do the PhD.

Or more likely, you are registered at the uni for 4 years, but the actual PhD is 3 years, you just are registered for the final year, because you have this year to write up. You usually have to pay small fees in your write up year - mine are £300 I think for the year as long as you are in the write up stage.

You should ask the uni to clarify exactly what's going on and what the fees situation would be since you're self-funding. My uni allows full-timers to take 4 years too, but charges very low fees (90 pounds for the year, for home students anyway) in the final writing-up year.

Hii
Many thanks for response. I already done MS...
I have put mail for my supervisor and he responded da same as it take for minimum 3 years and max 4 years.
Offer letter states my course nd as 2014.

I really need confirmation with regrd when there would be situation that I need to apy whole amount(21k)?
I f I finish well, Does it take 3 years as usual?
I f in offer letter written as 4 years does it relly mean 4 years full time?

Do I need to take this issue serious? or continue..to concentrate on funding oppurtunities rather than years of study|?

Am an overseas student...............................vat would be my expense for writing up thesis?

Bilbo

Thanks for your response.

So
Do you thnk no need to bodher about the time duration of course(cos if v fnsh well da lab n..thesis....it vont matter much)
instead
Concentrate on funding for this project....

Can u suggest any ..for international students in doing PhD(Biotech)?

I think most PhDs over run, even science ones. Honestly I think you'd be lucky to finish within the 3 years. But it's not impossible.

Afraid I can't give any advice on overseas funding options.

Bilbo

When there would be an arise in situation to pay the whole fees of 21k in 4th year of my PhD?

Is that when you dont fininsh thesis?
or
Any other work?

Cos
Am just thinking tooo much on course duration /tensed to pay21k all again...........

plzzzzzz giv me a suggestion....!!

Two points:

1. The first 3 years of the PhD are the full fee paying years.

2. The 4th Year needs a token amount (varies between £90 to £400 I think) which is called a continuation fee

3. Many universities give the course end date at 4 years - this does not mean you cannot submit in 3 years. This does not change the fact that the first three years are the only full tuition paying years.

Please also check with your university admin people, or the student services centre or the admissions office or the departmental manager - this should all be very easy. But do note, that after the 3rd year, you almost never pay full tuition, just a token continuation charge.

Overseas funding - sorry, but to be honest, there is little available and these are usually allocated at the first year, before one begins the programe, are university wide and very scarce. If you haven't funding, i would suggest accepting the fact that you must work for up to 20 hrs a week to stay afloat.

To clarify what others have already said -

NO, you do not need to pay tuition fees if you take an extra year. You pay tuition fees for the 3 years. Period.

Universities will themselves push you to finish within 3 or 4, as they need to take in new students and cannot let people drag on.

Because: If it is a EngD then 4 years comes as Standard. You will pay for 4 years + continuation

Dear PhD Bug

Many thanks for your confirmational response.

I am fine now and my tension is relieved to some extent. As suggested by you, I put a mail to office adminstation of that university.

Could you please be clear in suggesting me to do 20 hrs/week??

Do you think with that hours I can solve my tuition fee problem to some xtent....
At the time of interview itself , I was been asked of teaching hours and I told I hv teaching experience and so was confirmed for more teaching hours...

May I know the pay for teaching hours if possible?
Presently in my university as visiting lecturer (part-time) give me 12pounds/hr.....

Please do send me reply.
Thanks 2 all

Sorry I you were not expecting an answer from me..
PG Teaching Assistants get an average £13/hr for lab and £16 for Tutorials. This is allocated on a fair quota system for all, so getting 20hr/week seems Impossible. I was funded and I found that teaching took quite a lot of my time..so gave up. If you are Overseas then that is like a lottery for the Uni:Home fees is like £3350 which is still quite a lot when added together with living costs and other expenses.