Hi guys,

I've got a funding application underway, it's an internal uni one rather than research council. It now looks unlikely that I'll be able to start in October - to be honest because I'm not sure its for me, although I could cite more practical reasons as well.

The funding can't be deferred, and I think I'd rather not know if I would have got it or not. I'm wondering, though, whether you think it would reflect badly on me to pull out? Especially since there's a chance of coming back to it in the future. I don't want to be remembered as the one that didn't go through with it the first time, either by the department or the funding committee.

Do you think they're likely to remember stuff like this in years to come?

Sure they will remember - but if you have legitimate reasons to pull out, then they should not really hold it against you. I guess you just need to be able to fight your corner!

I agree with PhDSmug, if you have particularly unfavourable circumstances which might jeopardise you're being able to finish your PhD, then I'm sure they would much rather tell them that now, than take the funding and not finish your PhD - especially when that funding could've gone to someone else who might have finished. If you have good reasons, it shouldn't be held against you. Just avoid anything that sounds like you might not have academic aspirations for the future, or that you don't think you're suited to do a PhD (basically, anything that will make them doubt your ability and motivation should you wish to apply in future). Tell them that personal circumstances have impeded you for being able to start a PhD this year & that you need time to attend to them, but that you very much wish - once these problems have been addressed - to come back & re-apply because you are committed to a career in academia; and that you thought it in everyone's interest to tell them this as soon as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements, and are not inconvenienced by your pulling out.

I was in a position where I had to apply for 2 (internally) funded PhDs at 2 different institutions. Luckily, I heard from the first institution two weeks before the other one announced theirs; so as soon as I found out I'd won at institution A, I immediately contacted institution B to let them know, just in time for them to put forward someone else in my place (just in case I was on their list of people to recommend for the funding; although I might not have been, but just to show that I was trying to be considerate). They were very grateful I did so in a timely manner!