Hello everyone. I am starting a PhD in October and was wondering whether it is feasible to work from home. Do I have to be at the Uni every day or attend any courses as a first-year student? Are you expected to be in a certain location (office)? In general, what is your routine as PhD students? I live an hour from Warwick and wonder whether I need to have accommodation in Warwick. Thank you.

Depends on your agreement with the University scamp. I have been working from home for over a year now. And it works perfect. On my first year, I was at the University, working from an office, and sometimes from home. The rules on the paper suggested that I couldn't live more than 30 mile away from the University (or something like that). I had to move back to London (takes 3 hours by train to my University), so I thought my only solution was to leave the PhD. But my supervisors arranged a way out without losing my funding. I now go to the University once a month (sometimes every 2 months). Congratulations for getting the place scamp, good luck.

Thanks 404. So, generally speaking if you get the work done, people don't mind where you are and they don't keep checks on you. I also received funding and expected to be difficult to be far from the Uni, so what you are telling me sounds great since I also prefer to work from home. Thanks a lot for your reply...

But some PhD positions require you to be at a lab (or a studio in some cases) between certain hours. What is your subject? Are you assigned to a project, or is it your own project. It is easier to convince the supervisors if it is your own project. I guess it is best to require the small print from the research office first, then approach your supervisor about your intentions.

I will do my own project in Psychology. I have already offered a room on campus but I would prefer to be at home and go in only when necessary. I just didn't want to talk to my supervisor about my intentions so early on. What also worries me is that I will have to teach a course per year as part of the PhD. Are there any other options? I really feel very insecure about it.

I think you should accept the teaching job at the Uni. You will get used to it after a while, and it will boost your self confidence. Plus it pays well (assuming you will get paid for it?). I assume you would be teaching undergraduates. Why don't you opt to teach 1st years, if you get to choose?

In Warwick, when you get funding you have to work for the Uni 110 hours per term (correcting papers, teaching, admin. work etc). I don't think you get to choose. The reason I am worried about teaching is that I ve lived in England only for 2 months and although I just finished a Masters (in Germany) tought in English, I feel very insecure about my language skills since not only can't I express myself in such a high level that is required in order to reach but I also don't get to undertsand the british accent. Not to mention my knowledge on the field

scamp, I hope you will get a bunch of very sweet and good natured 1st years, as students (which is very possible). Then your job will be easy. It's not like teaching at high-school at all. There will be lots of students who are there to hear what you have to say, not how you say it. If you are yourself, and if you are nice to them, they will be nice to you too. In no time, you will get used to the language. Sorry to lecture you at this silly hour of the night. I don't mean to. But you'll see everything is going to work out just fine. Don't worry

Thanks a lot 404. I needed to hear that! Hope everything goes well for you too...

Yes, DanB, I understand what you mean. I will try to be well prepared; I may just ask them again and again to repeat their question slowly or rephrease it. It is embarrassing but I will get used to itand they will get used to me (I hope).

If anyone has a teaching experience I would very much appriciate some tips!

Scamp, if you are concerned about not understanding questions, you could try doing what a friend of mine did. When she tutored she panicked when she couldn't understand questions (although she would have been able to answer any question on the topic), so she made slips of paper for people to write questions on at the end of each tute, and they went over the questions as a group the following class. Good for students who are afraid to ask questions for fear of looking like thickies too.

Piglet, that's a good idea. It's better than my "ok, no questions today" solution.

it probably depends on in which university you do your PhD and in which subject. I rarely go to Uni, unless I need something from library or want to see some people. Mainly working at home.