Dear Alex, I hope everything works out for you! It must be difficult to be left on your own during the first weeks, but I think you're strong enough to make it. All the best!

I have an EPSRC scholarship and they pay Quarterly if that helps?

Complaining to my superviser about this and that?? Jean - exactly what have I complained to him about?? He is in greece. Get yourself some glasses my dear. I'm worried about money - you know, you need it to buy food, pay bills yes?? Maybe you come from a background where your parents can afford to support you but I had to work for every penny, and until now, haven't fallen on hard times at all..so don't you tell me to grow thicker skin!! Thanks for the support from everyone else..it really helps.

Hi Alex, I'm funded by the BBSRC and started my PhD on 1st Sept. I also had a starting certificate that had been sent to my home address that had to be returned to them before I started. I know the BBSRC normally pay quarterly from 1st October unless a request for a student to start earlier has been approved. My supervisor did this so I receieved money last week. If your supervisor didn't say you were starting earlier you probably won't get money until 1st week october. Hope this helps, good luck

No Alex I'm not supported by my parents, they are both dead (and that is no joke)

how do they pay your first instalment? by cheque?

My first payment was paid directly into my bank account.

You'll have to be persistent and keep on asking. Sussex should pay me every 3 months but they sometimes forget to ... in june they forgot, but said that they would pay double in July. Go to the stidents accounts office (or what ever it is called at your uni) and don't take a we don't know for an answer. As the funding body won't pay you directly (or your supervisor) you to find the university office responcible for payments.

If persistence doesn't get you there ask the head of your department for some help in putting pressure on the uni to get things sorted. It might not work, but worth a try.

I would like to know if anyone has had any resolution to this. I've started a Phd, my starting certificate said to send it after i registered and i wanted to know how long i should leave it before pushing for payment.