Hi all,
I just started a PhD alongside my new RA post which involves non-PhD related work. Is it reasonable to assume a general 9-5 timeframe for the PhD? I want a life out of work- evenings & weekends! Also, has anyone else juggled a PhD with disparate work duties? Any advice would be great:)

Of course! A PhD can be 9-5 if you plan your work ahead and don't constantly go for a tea break. Our postdoc has two children and goes at 5 every day- she just works more efficient than some of us. Your supervisor might complain about it- but at the end it is your PhD and you are a grown up and can manage your PhD comitments. My PhD contract states thet I should work 7.5 h 5 days a week.

That sounds about right, a PhD is technically a job, so treat it like one. You will need to put in 40hrs plus a week. At the begining you will work less than you will at the start. But think how hard you worked for a bachelors degree, then double it.

you haven't even started yet stu, so how would you know?

I expect that Stu (like any sensible student) fully investigated what PhD research would involve before he decided to apply for a studentship. That way you don't get any nasty surprises...

Stu, are you serious? 40hrs a week I can cope with, but I did over ten hours a day most days a week for the final year of my BSc... How the *$£@** do I double that and still survive?!!! Te hee!..

I don't intend to double my BSc work either - I worked REALLY hard and got a first, but also got v. stressed and I'm not entirely sure it was worth it.

I worked 7 days a week for my BSc and got a First, but my PhD has not been so bad for me because I enjoy lab work and field work and no exams, so I seem to work more efficiently.

i think you should be taking advice from someone who is actually doing/has done a PhD rather than from someone who is making assumptions about the workload without any actual experience. You'll find that your workload varies throughout your PhD and it also depends on what type of research you are carrying out as well

I AM doing a PhD (didn't make that clear - I've just finished my second year). I've found that regardless of how hard I work, the main delays in my project are totally out of my control (waiting on other people).