So how much are they paying you? ~£12.5k? (Tax free)

It's make or break for me at the moment PhD wise at Manchester. I officially finish my MPhil on the 18th and then need to write up, but there is seemingly a part funded studentship (or 2) available in the department, just means my supervisor needs to secure £22,000 from industry across 3 years, he's trying his best with a little bit of good news, but it's not been secured yet :(

Don't really do China Town apart from the odd meal. Dunno, really, Broad Street seems pretty standard from what I've seen of most other cities but it has some nice little places directly off it (Brindley Place for one). Bullring area is nice, though.

I find it difficult to comment because I don't really like any cities, but in my opinion, it seems pretty good compared to others.

Greg's right - I guess it's a mixed bag really. I go to the Bullring for shopping and Broad Street for the occasional Saturday night out.

It'll be part-funded by uni and topped up by industry, meaning it's fully funded to the standard ~£12,500/year. All fees paid like yours. So hopefully if it comes off it'll just be a standard fully funded PhD.

I'm in the lucky situation where I'm actually there at uni ready to start the PhD if the funding is secured whereas other supervisors will have to advertise the post, interview, etc since it's come up as spare cash at the last minute. Apparently the department are looking highly upon this, less paperwork for them I guess.

But £25ish/hour?! Jesus, we only get £14ish/hour I think for demonstrating, tutorials and seminars etc.

No, I'm not.

Although there is (was, didn't see her last time) a really cute lass that works in the Pizza Express. I like to flirt really badly with her :$