Interesting to note that in the UK it is now routine for there to be a four year deadline on PhD students. Where I work, instrumentation people were routinely

Interesting to note that in the UK it is now routine for there to be a four year deadline on PhD students. Where I work, instrumentation people were routinely finishing late because they were enjoying the lifestyle a bit too much. They're trying to streamline the system a lot. We now have to jump through a lot of hoops - 9 month, 12 month, 18 month review panels. It's a pain, but it's obvious they're trying to make sure you don't spend a year in write-up mode. They absolutely want you through the system, because if you don't finish on time, the department gets a funding cut. And actually you make a good point. In the UK, PhD students are fairly well paid. I'm on a CASE program and make around £17k a year tax free (outside London). The nominal wage is £13.5k for outside London (£15.5 inside). We're treated like research staff and not cheap labour.