What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?
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What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Sorry if this is the wrong forum but I can't find a postgrad section anywhere else.
I was wondering what kind of things I will need to buy when I start later this year. There will probably be a difference between sciences, social sciences and humanities but I can't find a list anywhere. Maybe we can make one together or share ideas which may benefit new PhD students.
I'm in social sciences so my initial thoughts are:
- USB flash drive (16GB+)
- Laptop
- Cloud subscription (e.g. Dropbox)
I know there are things I'm not thinking about. I don't even know how I'll organise everything, files? folders? Ideas? -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?-Lots of colorful pens (for highlighting if you fancy highlighting points on papers)
-Transportation - subscription for bus card?
-Printing/Ink/Printer (for printing articles/ journals/ chapters from books) - cost lots of money for this one :/
-Subscription for certain online systems if your Uni doesn't provide one.
If you can, buy an e-reader. I read my papers on that device
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?stationary prob mot a given, but yes, would have thought you'd have printer access, and if not a laptop, poss a desktop. Depends on the depts resources..I know arts depts that don't even have space to give their Grad students desks.(Original post by Ghost6)
You shouldn't have to pay for any of that. Grad students at my department are provided this kind of stuff (laptop, pens, printer, ...). And the basic Dropbox is free. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?(Original post by Pryda)
Sorry if this is the wrong forum but I can't find a postgrad section anywhere else.
I was wondering what kind of things I will need to buy when I start later this year. There will probably be a difference between sciences, social sciences and humanities but I can't find a list anywhere. Maybe we can make one together or share ideas which may benefit new PhD students.
I'm in social sciences so my initial thoughts are:
- USB flash drive (16GB+)
- Laptop
- Cloud subscription (e.g. Dropbox)
I know there are things I'm not thinking about. I don't even know how I'll organise everything, files? folders? Ideas?
I don't know how it is in other disciplines, but in engineering and science we get all of that stuff for free (in addition to our own desks, desktop computers and laboratory work space).Last edited by Inkerman; 03-06-2012 at 14:34. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?I know man, it sucks to do arts. I would never do a PhD without being given a desk at the department and a stipend to cover living expenses, plus a tuition waiver.(Original post by flying plum)
stationary prob mot a given, but yes, would have thought you'd have printer access, and if not a laptop, poss a desktop. Depends on the depts resources..I know arts depts that don't even have space to give their Grad students desks. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?This is how it's done.(Original post by Inkerman)
I don't know how it is in other disciplines, but in engineering and science we get all of that stuff for free (in addition to our own desks, desktop computers and laboratory work space).
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Oh yeah, printer. One of the first on my list is a nice colour wireless laser printer so the others in my house can use it too, to replace my shoddy old canon inkjet! About £150 though, more than that including toner.(Original post by kka25)
-Lots of colorful pens (for highlighting if you fancy highlighting points on papers)
-Transportation - subscription for bus card?
-Printing/Ink/Printer (for printing articles/ journals/ chapters from books) - cost lots of money for this one :/
-Subscription for certain online systems if your Uni doesn't provide one.
If you can, buy an e-reader. I read my papers on that device
I know I'll have a desk and a PC in university, not so sure on how much printing is allowed for free. I don't know if stationary is free. Making a list to cover all bases/expenses so I can figure conservatively.(Original post by Ghost6)
You shouldn't have to pay for any of that. Grad students at my department are provided this kind of stuff (laptop, pens, printer, ...). And the basic Dropbox is free.
edit: laptop for use during fieldwork and elsewhere, which will take 6+ months for me.Last edited by Pryda; 03-06-2012 at 17:00. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Do you know...I'm not sure I've heard you express this view before. perhaps you should go and express it on a multitude of other threads to make sure we're all clear on it?(Original post by Ghost6)
I know man, it sucks to do arts. I would never do a PhD without being given a desk at the department and a stipend to cover living expenses, plus a tuition waiver. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Lots of instant Pot Noodles. They will be your best friend all through the course of your doctorate. Out of curiosity and only if you don't mind, what is your dissertation and where are you doing it?
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?(Original post by flying plum)
Do you know...I'm not sure I've heard you express this view before. perhaps you should go and express it on a multitude of other threads to make sure we're all clear on it?
(... Gotta love the internet, where undergrads think they are well qualified to give advice on PhDs....) -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?I didn't realise that it wasn't common for arts students to get everything provided by the department.(Original post by Pryda)
Sorry if this is the wrong forum but I can't find a postgrad section anywhere else.
I was wondering what kind of things I will need to buy when I start later this year. There will probably be a difference between sciences, social sciences and humanities but I can't find a list anywhere. Maybe we can make one together or share ideas which may benefit new PhD students.
I'm in social sciences so my initial thoughts are:
- USB flash drive (16GB+)
- Laptop
- Cloud subscription (e.g. Dropbox)
I know there are things I'm not thinking about. I don't even know how I'll organise everything, files? folders? Ideas?
That said - although I can imagine you would be wanting a computer if you won't get regular access to a work machine - I would hang fire on buying hard disks and cloud subscriptions until you work out whether you really need them.
As to organising everything - I have a file on my computer with all my books(I download copies of all dead tree books I have so this includes those), papers and other references filed away under subject. If I ever have something and I can't decide on which category it belongs to, I just stick copies under every sensible choice.
I then have two general files for notes: stuff that is finished and stuff in progress (of course the latter often get moved back into the former).
I also have 'working folders' where I store everything connected to my current research projects - my own notes, master project file where I type everything up and copies of all references I am consulting etc.
Then I have a folder where I keep everything related to conferences and seminars - copies of my own talks and slides, notes and things regarding seminars - travel information and so on where relevant etc. etc.
Finally, I have another folder that I keep all of my teaching stuff together in (lecture notes, tests, exams, admin etc)
As to things not on the computer - I try to keep this to a minimum. Mostly I have a lot of stuff connected with teaching. I have one of those four level in-tray things so I tend to shove a lot in there. I have two trays for teaching and research each. Essentially one for stuff to action and one for stuff to keep. I try and keep a tidy desk each day so I shove all my handwritten notes into a tray and then decide whether anything is worth keeping and if so type it up. For any archive stuff I am going to keep - I get ring binder folders and whack it all in there and put it on the shelf or in the filing cabinet.Last edited by Jake22; 04-06-2012 at 03:04. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Haha. Unless you are past fifty years old, you are going to look like a bit of a sword.(Original post by Norton1)
Liniment for making sure the leather patches on your tweed jacket have the required elasticity. (Not a joke, If I am ever offered a PhD place a tweed jacket will be an immediate purchase) -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Unless you're a) doing a subject for which you'll need to work with software that requires you to have a state-of-the-art computer or b) you were about to buy yourself a new computer anyway, I don't think it will be a necessity when you start a PhD. I've continued working with a laptop that I got six years ago, and it's still absolutely fine for my purposes. Obviously I'm not saying that you should do the same, but I think it needs to be pointed out that it's not something that you *have* to spend money on right at the start of your course.
As for the flash drives and cloud subscription thing, I agree with Jake22 that it would be better to wait until you know what the arrangements in your department are like - and the same goes for printing, actually. Even if your department charges you for printing, it may still be cheaper and more convenient to print everything out there (though that may depend on how much time you're expected to spend working at the department). -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Grad students get pens in your university? Seriously, pens?? Why??? Can they order specific pens or are they just given whatever is lying around from career fairs? Cause I have about 100 of those for free, I can contribute to your university if you want. And each student gets a free laptop and printer to take home??? What uni is that?(Original post by Ghost6)
You shouldn't have to pay for any of that. Grad students at my department are provided this kind of stuff (laptop, pens, printer, ...). And the basic Dropbox is free.
same question. Your uni gives you a free laptop?(Original post by Inkerman)
I don't know how it is in other disciplines, but in engineering and science we get all of that stuff for free (in addition to our own desks, desktop computers and laboratory work space). -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?finally it allowed me to rep you!!(Original post by sj27)
(... Gotta love the internet, where undergrads think they are well qualified to give advice on PhDs....) -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?Haha. There is nothing like utterly and brutally ransacking a freshly stocked stationary cupboard. We have it looking like a buffet table after Eamonn Holmes has rocked up. The novelty doesn't wear off. In our department, it is actually a whole room. I've had cardboard bound notebooks, an 80GB hard disk, folders, pens, staplers; you name it.(Original post by *Corinna*)
Grad students get pens in your university? Seriously, pens?? Why??? Can they order specific pens or are they just given whatever is lying around from career fairs? Cause I have about 100 of those for free, I can contribute to your university if you want. -
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Re: What expenses should a new PhD student expect to incur?seriously?? what uni is this and can I come take some stuff?(Original post by Jake22)
Haha. There is nothing like utterly and brutally ransacking a freshly stocked stationary cupboard. We have it looking like a buffet table after Eamonn Holmes has rocked up. The novelty doesn't wear off. In our department, it is actually a whole room. I've had cardboard bound notebooks, an 80GB hard disk, folders, pens, staplers; you name it.
do you have post-its??
