Started a dream PhD in December. Am somewhat older than the average PhD student. No work in my industry at the moment.

4 weeks ago my world completely collapsed. I don't want to get into detail, but fact is that I need more money, much more, each month again and for years. Money I could not earn with demonstrating, and finding a part-time job that pays well enough is also not possible. I need to stop my PhD and find proper work. :(

My problem is that my PhD is industry funded and a company that might be a potential employer one day is expecting results, not someone running away. My supervisor might also end up in problems. I need to inform him as quickly as possible. However, as I cannot get work in my profession I need to look at transferable skills, thus finding a job that solves my problem won't be easy and I'll run into serious financial problems if I just stop without having work. Keep in mind that a normal stipend is the evivalent of about 18-20k/year.

How do you think should I solve this? I'm already talking with uni counceling as what happened has left me pretty suicidal, but I know that this is not a solution. I'm also talking to career advisors, but there's no quick solution. Will be away for my PhD until May, thus I cannot do anything until then anyway.

Is there a university hardship fund that could support you? Maybe you can apply for grants from charities as well? There's a lot of these out there. You could do this whilst looking for a job. Explain the situation to your supervisors as well and see what they can suggest. You could switch to part time or defer. Maybe your industrial sponsor could employ you now and you could work on the PhD as an employee?

Thanks a lot for your answer. I've looked into part-time. Once I do that and start to work I'll have to pay council tax and water charges, which brings my monthly costs up by about £150. My profession and transferable skills will not allow for a part-time job, hence any kind of work at minimum salary seems the only option. That would just be above £600/month, while my stipend will be halved. Taking council tax into account I would have less money than now. That's just not an option.

Also, considering my funding lots of grants are closed to me, and the time needed to apply for them is too long. I cannot get into debt just to stay in my PhD and hope I'll get small amounts of money here and there.

I certainly need to talk to my supervisor, though I'm afraid I'll be kicked out immediately, and then I'm in serious problems. I just don't know what to do at the moment. I'm at a complete loss and feel like I'm running in circles without getting anywhere.

You won't be kicked out immediately - this wouldn't be in their interest. I think they will work with you to find a solution. You get to keep the stipend for the quarter anyway I believe.

I was thinking do the PhD part time whilst working full time, if that was possible for you, rather than work part time. It's possible to finish within 5-6 years if you are really dedicated to the work, but I appreciate it's a long time to work so many hours.

Oh I see. My PhD will need lots of international travels, lots of long specialist machinery time while the jobs open to me are probably not 40h/week jobs but quite a bit more, also including travel. It would be fairly difficult.

My stipend gets paid per month, btw, and I'm a EU citizen. Worst case I might even be kicked out in two years time. I don't think it will happen but it's something I need to keep at the back of my head.

I know my thinking is not very positive at the moment. It's difficult to think straight.

I think the best thing you can do now is talk it out with your supervisor. It is apparent to me that you want to do the PhD and you are a dedicated person. But due to circumstances out of your reach you are being forced to take this decision. Hence, I think you should talk with your supervisor and discuss it with him/her and reach a solution together maybe? Because I doubt it is in his/her interest to lose you either. Two minds always work better than one, so give it a shot. There's nothing to lose by talking it with the person closest to you during this journey.

Good luck.

It is a bit hard to give advice without knowing anything about the kind of financial issue you are in. I respect that you don't want to talk about it but the responses might be more useful with a bit more information.

How much money would you need compared to the 18-20k and what are the chances to land a fulltime job after quitting your PhD that pays you the amount you need? You mentioned that it would be hard to find a proper job with your background.

If there is absolutely no way to reduce your expenses or increase your income then finding a better paid job and quit the PhD seems to be the only option. In that case I wouldn't worry too much about the company or your supervisor. PhD students quit all the time and supervisors are prepared for this possibility.

I think some good advice has already been given in the above though specific advice is difficult without more information.

Without asking you to discuss your personal situation, will the money you have to pay be a large, fixed monthly amount extending over an as yet indeterminate timescale?

To explain, I'm aware of sitiations where due to, for example, chronic long-term illness of a close family member, such payments have become necessary to cover care not covered by the state (i.e. means tested). Or someone has had to cover someone else's mortgage due to a close family member's job loss. I couldn;t imagine taking on such costs when you're only income is a PhD stipend.

I tend to think your best option if possible is to be an employee of the company sponsoring the project whilst continuing your PhD part time. You really need to talk to your supervisor at the earliest opportunity.

I hope you get sorted out in such a way you're able to continue.

Ian