Hi, I start my PhD in September - I was told that the BBSRC stipend rates go up to £12000 in October - so does this mean I will get paid at the £10,500 stipend rate for September, but at the £12,000 stipend rate from October onwards??

I think that the BBSRC studentships generally start on 1st October, mine did last year as did all the others i know funded by them. You should probably check with them, but they will probably pay you 12k from when you start

Hi Rach thanks for your advice - I checked with them and they said I get the £12K from 1st October, but for the September if I start early I don't get anything..but that's fine because I just wanted to do some preparation work before I really start.