Help. Financial worries. Not passed PhD 1st year and really worried.

yerblurt

I started a PhD last year but have just found out that I've not passed the 1st year and so cannot progress onto the 2nd year. It's a total shock as I thought I was doing OK but the supervision has been absolutely appalling with little feedback from my supervisor. In addition supervisor has been quite elusive recently and she's due to go on mat leave next month, don't really know what is going on but I'm really worried financially. My stipend will run out end of September.

I can write up what I've got as an MPhil, except there's no money for that, my other supervisor has offered to help out and supervise the writing up for that although he doesn't really have any money. I've asked if they can look into if the funding council will fund this (unlikely) and also asked if he has any jobs, due to meet with him in a couple of weeks when he's back from hols.

My partner works more or less full-time, she's obviously really stressed out. We have a 5 year old and I have a daughter with my ex-wife who stays over regularly under a shared care arrangement.

I'm panicking an applying for jobs left right and centre.

I have worked in the past but wonder if anyone knows the situation regarding benefits to apply for??? We have bills to pay, mortgage etc. Really really stressed out.

rogerblack

Without addressing the educational part.

How much were you working 2009/10, 2010/11.
These two years would set your entitlement to contributory benefits.
If the answer is 'not at all, or 'not much' - then you will not be entitled.

I assume you/your partner is claiming working tax and child tax credits, as well as child benefit.

With a partner working fulltime, you will not be entitled to any income-related benefits.
This means you do not have any access to mortgage help.

Secondly.
Get over to the debt managment side of the forums.
You need to start cutting back hard _now_, so you have some additional cushion.

Take some time, and do a detailed budget for _EVERYTHING_.
Do you have a phone package you can live without?
Can you switch energy supplier, ...

Savvy_Sue

Dealing briefly with the educational part, is there any possibility of appeal? You may need to transfer elsewhere after the appeal, because these things can get bl**dy if you challenge the level of supervision you were given.

marybelle01

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Dealing briefly with the educational part, is there any possibility of appeal? You may need to transfer elsewhere after the appeal, because these things can get bl**dy if you challenge the level of supervision you were given.

It's highly unlikely - there won't be any funding anyway. Under any circumstances the attrition rate at PhD level is scary - between 1/3rd and 1/2 fail or drop out before completing and most in the first one/two years. Funding for a PhD is now almost non-existant and cut-throat - there is no room for failure. And to be honest (a) there are two supervisors, and (b) you just don't get that much supervision at PhD level - I saw mine three, maybe four times in the first year; the second one not at all! In my experience the difference between expectations/ contact time from Masters to PhD is a huge gulf and one that not everybody is cut out for.

dizzyrascal

If your university offers PhDs then you should have some specialist Careers Advisers who should be able to help you through some of the problems you are facing.
They deal with stories like yours all the time, especially the bit about supervisor issues. (the most common reason for leaving before completion).
They might be able to point you in the direction of funding too but they should be able to help you put things in perspective. You may have more options than you think.

yerblurt

rogerblack wrote: »

Without addressing the educational part.

How much were you working 2009/10, 2010/11.
These two years would set your entitlement to contributory benefits.
If the answer is 'not at all, or 'not much' - then you will not be entitled.

I assume you/your partner is claiming working tax and child tax credits, as well as child benefit.

With a partner working fulltime, you will not be entitled to any income-related benefits.
This means you do not have any access to mortgage help.

I've worked 10+ years so should be able to claim contributions based JSA. Sept 2009-Sept 2010 I was doing an MSc, returned to work Sept 2010-Sept 2011.

I'm going to pop down the job centre to make an appointment with a claims advisor to go through it.

It's just crap that it's come to this.

I've done one of those benefit calculations online at 'directgov' which came up with the figures of;
child tax credit: £62 per week
working tax credit: £74 per week
child benefit: £20
council tax benefit: £0 per week (already claimed reduction for this)
contribution based JSA: £71 per week
total: ~ £227 per week.

... will keep our heads above water but that's all really.

partner won't be eligible for anything as she earns too much (29k).
I'm applying for loads of jobs, 1 last week, 2 next week, just all a shock really

rogerblack wrote: »

Secondly.
Get over to the debt managment side of the forums.
You need to start cutting back hard _now_, so you have some additional cushion.

Take some time, and do a detailed budget for _EVERYTHING_.
Do you have a phone package you can live without?
Can you switch energy supplier, ...

Yeah, we're used to cutting back. I've got v. little debt (couple of hundred on the credit card) due to taking voluntary resignation and have just got a cheque from HMRC for over-tax paid last year. That will clear my debt. We're quite good about not spending too much, the only big expenses are the car (needed for travel/shopping/partner for getting to work) and we don't do loads of convenience food. We're both good at cooking and usually make our own food 80% of the time.

Phone package - on basics so that's pretty OK for now.

Energy supplier - already switched this year to combined fuel tariff that is capped, house is quite small so efficient to heat.

:(:(

yerblurt

marybelle01 wrote: »

It's highly unlikely - there won't be any funding anyway. Under any circumstances the attrition rate at PhD level is scary - between 1/3rd and 1/2 fail or drop out before completing and most in the first one/two years. Funding for a PhD is now almost non-existant and cut-throat - there is no room for failure. And to be honest (a) there are two supervisors, and (b) you just don't get that much supervision at PhD level - I saw mine three, maybe four times in the first year; the second one not at all! In my experience the difference between expectations/ contact time from Masters to PhD is a huge gulf and one that not everybody is cut out for.

^^^ what she said.

I'm getting details of the appeal process but won't hold up too much promise, you need to be able to EVIDENCE a complete lack of support/supervision. We had weekly meetings - that's supposed to be enough (and the institute will cover it's back and protect it's own rather than help a student out anyway).

I'm meeting with my other supervisor, he's OK actually. My primary supervisor is going on mat leave and I feel totally abandoned. Probably a combination of poor supervisor, project that wasn't that good fit with me and quite a few bits of turmoil in personal life, I don't think I'm just cut out for a PhD actually. Ah well.

There are jobs I'm applying for in the meantime. Luckily my skills means that I should be in better position than many others.

Noctu

Sorry to hear you're having difficulties with your PhD. Hope you don't mind me asking a few questions...

Is there absolutely no way you can appeal the first year progression decision? Or even attempt to repeat the first year unfunded so that you could regain your stipend for the second and third year?

Who are you funded by?

Which university is it?

Which particular element(s) have you failed on, on the progression review? Anything you can look at in the University Regulations/postgrad handbook for the criteria?

Obviously I don't know the specific situation but I'm asking all this as I think that if there's a possibility of salvaging your PhD, that might be the best option to pursue.

Your student union may be able to help with this also.

mildred1978

yerblurt wrote: »

I've worked 10+ years so should be able to claim contributions based JSA. Sept 2009-Sept 2010 I was doing an MSc, returned to work Sept 2010-Sept 2011.


(

If you weren't working (and earning more than £125 per week) while doing your masters then you won't be entitled to JSA now.

marybelle01

yerblurt wrote: »

^^^ what she said.

I'm getting details of the appeal process but won't hold up too much promise, you need to be able to EVIDENCE a complete lack of support/supervision. We had weekly meetings - that's supposed to be enough (and the institute will cover it's back and protect it's own rather than help a student out anyway).

I'm meeting with my other supervisor, he's OK actually. My primary supervisor is going on mat leave and I feel totally abandoned. Probably a combination of poor supervisor, project that wasn't that good fit with me and quite a few bits of turmoil in personal life, I don't think I'm just cut out for a PhD actually. Ah well.

There are jobs I'm applying for in the meantime. Luckily my skills means that I should be in better position than many others.

Goodness! Weekly? I don't think anyone I know got weekly contact!

To be honest, if the area of study wasn't a good fit then I'd think that may be the major problem. It's interesting, but when I was doing mine the people who struggled most were the ones with funding! Because funding restricts - you can only study what funders are willing to fund. Those of us self -funding could study whatever we wanted, as long as it met the academic criteria. Plus, when it's your own money on the line, I guess you have to be doubly motivated!

Out of interest - what had you previously worked in and what was the point of doing the PhD? People might have better ideas if they knew more.

hazelbunny

yerblurt wrote: »

I've worked 10+ years so should be able to claim contributions based JSA. Sept 2009-Sept 2010 I was doing an MSc, returned to work Sept 2010-Sept 2011.

I'm going to pop down the job centre to make an appointment with a claims advisor to go through it.

It's just crap that it's come to this.

I've done one of those benefit calculations online at 'directgov' which came up with the figures of;
child tax credit: £62 per week
working tax credit: £74 per week
child benefit: £20
council tax benefit: £0 per week (already claimed reduction for this)
contribution based JSA: £71 per week
total: ~ £227 per week.

... will keep our heads above water but that's all really.

partner won't be eligible for anything as she earns too much (29k).
I'm applying for loads of jobs, 1 last week, 2 next week, just all a shock really



Yeah, we're used to cutting back. I've got v. little debt (couple of hundred on the credit card) due to taking voluntary resignation and have just got a cheque from HMRC for over-tax paid last year. That will clear my debt. We're quite good about not spending too much, the only big expenses are the car (needed for travel/shopping/partner for getting to work) and we don't do loads of convenience food. We're both good at cooking and usually make our own food 80% of the time.

Phone package - on basics so that's pretty OK for now.

Energy supplier - already switched this year to combined fuel tariff that is capped, house is quite small so efficient to heat.

:(:(

What was your partners income for 20011/2012?If your partner was on 29k last year you won't get any tax credits.