As someone who's considering the financial implications of a further 3 years of study coudl someone please tell me wheter you get paid for having an article published in a journal? and also how much tax you pay on any earnings? (i.e. is the tax lower because you're a full-time student?) cheers.

Chance would be a fine thing! No, sorry, you don't get paid for publishing journal articles - in fact, you sometimes have to pay the journal for publishing your work! Definitely something to be said for sending your work to open access journals, at least everyone gets to read it for free then...but of course when other subscription only journals have higher impact factors, you gotta try them first. Publish or perish and all that jazz

for the "tax" question:
-are you UK based?
-funded?

No, you don't get paid for publishing papers. But if you presented your work at a conference, you can claim expenses from your department, (or the conference organisers in some cases).

you were quicker than I, Ann

As a full-time student, you'll be taxed as normal on earnings i.e. wages, but you won't pay tax on a busary.

sorry, bursary!

Thanks guys, unsure of bursary as yet. I was interviewed for a part-time research assistant post and have been offerred the role, and now have the option of registering for a PhD to coincide with the research position.

Great news about the job and PhD offer. I did mine (still doing) as an RA and I found it really helpful due to the cross over in work.