I cannot speak for others, but I don't have objections to my students paying their own way. The two things I'll insist on are: - subject matches my interest,

I cannot speak for others, but I don't have objections to my students paying their own way. The two things I'll insist on are: - subject matches my interest, - we seem to get along. Okay, I'll probably also insist on a few practical things (sufficient time to keep some pace, awareness of what conference attendance costs, satisfies the institution's phd programme entry requirements, etc). But other than that: sure!