I could potentially start a PhD at the university of Reading. It will be a non experimental project, with no lab work, mostly literature based. However, I have been told that I will have to pay a minimum research fee (bench fee) of around £1500.

They say research expenses cover a number of things not just lab based science, but computing, facilities, travel, loans, administration etc. I thought the use of computers was paid for as part of tuition fees and I dont understand what travel costs, loans etc that I would need.

Looks a bit of scam!:-s