If the take home was 490, it was a very bad deal and basically a bursary (which meant you had to have a part time job to support yourself) and not a stipend. Ch

If the take home was 490, it was a very bad deal and basically a bursary (which meant you had to have a part time job to support yourself) and not a stipend. Check out Ph.D. stipends (search for chemistry). https://www.phdstipends.com/results https://www.phdstipends.com/results Stipends are meant to be enough to live on (even if barely -- most of the time barely). 490 below livable (even with roommates rent is already 300-400).