My funding is ending or it isn't enough to live on
Get clear on the dates and numbers, learn your options early, and talk to the people who can help.
In short
Start here, today. Write down the exact date your current funding ends and your honest estimate of how many months of work remain. If you don't know the end date, find your award letter or contract and check it today. This takes about 20 minutes.
After that, work through these steps. Choose one to jump to it.
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step for the how.
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Know your dates and numbers
Put your funding end date and your remaining milestones side by side in the Milestone Map. Work out the gap in months and roughly what you need to live on, including tuition or continuing fees, which are easy to forget.
Talk to your graduate coordinator early
Ask what exists in your department and faculty: top-ups, bridge or completion funding, assistantships, reduced fees in the final stage. These vary a great deal between universities, so ask rather than assume. Go six months before the money ends if you can, not six weeks.
Tell your supervisor
Supervisors sometimes have grant money for research assistant work, know of a project that needs help, or can help you adjust the plan so you finish sooner. They can't help with something they don't know about. You don't need to share your budget, only the end date and what you're planning to do about it.
Look for emergency and hardship funds
Many universities have emergency bursaries or hardship funds for students in a short-term crunch, usually through the financial aid office or graduate studies. Student unions and graduate associations sometimes run their own, and many campuses have a food bank. These exist for exactly this situation, and plenty of graduate students use them.
Weigh up paid work
Teaching and research assistantships can fill a gap, and RA work close to your topic can even feed your research. Check how many hours your funding terms, contract, and study permit or visa allow. Then work out what each extra hour costs the thesis, and plan your research time first rather than fitting it into what's left.
Apply for external funding
Look for scholarships, fellowships and awards you're still eligible for, including small ones from associations and foundations. In Canada, Mitacs internships pair graduate students with partner organisations on funded research projects, which some students can fit around their thesis. Decisions take months, so start now.
Ask about part-time status, leave or an extension
If the gap can't be closed, changing how you're registered may help. Part-time status, a leave or an extension can change your fees and time limits, and each option affects funding eligibility differently. Get the details in writing from the graduate office, and if you're an international student, speak to the international student office before changing anything, since it can affect your study permit or visa.
Words you can use
Is this you? Signs to look for
- You know roughly when the money stops, but not the exact date or what happens after.
- You've taken on extra paid work and your research time keeps shrinking.
- You're delaying bills, skipping meals or avoiding your bank balance.
- You haven't told your supervisor because it feels like a personal failure.
Why this happens
PhD funding is usually designed around an ideal timeline, and few projects follow one. A scholarship ends after four years, fieldwork runs six months late, rent goes up, or the stipend was never quite enough for the city you live in. Running short is common, and it rarely says anything about how well you've managed.
The harder part is often the silence. Students wait until the last month to say anything, by which time many options have passed their deadlines. Universities often have more support than students realise, from bursaries to extensions, but almost all of it needs time and paperwork.
This guide isn't financial advice. It can help you get the facts straight and reach the right people while there's still room to act.
Worth a look (1)
- MitacsCanadian research internships that place graduate students with partner organisations. Check current eligibility on the site.
When to bring someone in
Start with your graduate coordinator and supervisor. For emergency funds, bursaries and budgeting support, contact your university's financial aid office, and check whether your student union or graduate association offers help too. International students should talk to the international student office before changing enrolment or taking on extra work, because study and work permit rules differ by country. If money worries are affecting your sleep, health or ability to work, the counselling service can help with that side of it.
Find the right person, or talk to Ify