EUR1500 in Dublin doable?

Miliolid

Hi all,
I've been offered a PhD position at Trinity College. There's a 18k stipend and student fees attached to it. Great. But honestly, the more I look at this the more impossible it seems. I wonder if you could think along with me and look for options?

Cost of housing would probably take most of this away. I'm a bit older than most PhD students and thus have furniture and all. Throw it all away and live in a furnished place would probably be the normal course of action. However, due to various health conditions I'd need my own bed (not only mattress) and possibly own working chair, and would need a quiet place (not a student house) and the opportunity to store my own food and cook properly. This is probably the dealbreaker for me as this might be a problem in shared furnished accommodation.

Commuting It's unlikely I'll live anywhere near Trinity, thus I need to have money for that. Cyling 5-10km would be possible depending on weather but I still don't see anything I could rent within that distance.

Health Care Next big deal breaker? The EU health insurance card would cover me for emergencies, but I'm on quite a few medications, and seeing that it costs money to just get a repeat prescription is discouraging. I don't think monthly medication costs would go up to the amount after which medication is free (if I understood this correctly) but if you don't have money in the first place this is a problem. I'm not sure if I'd be able to get insurance anyway for the preexisting conditions, and the amount of money I'd need to pay before the insurance kicks in is again very high. My guess is that I'd need my prescriptions mainly unless I end up an emergency (EU card) or medication needs adjusting or a GP insists on me seeing a specialist after a certain number of repeat prescriptions (not sure how that works in .ie)

Food Cooking with other people is most likely a no, thus my food costs would probably be higher than of the average student. But I don't need cosmetics, don't drink and don't smoke. Thus this is something I'd have some control of, provided there's space to store food, especially bulk products and offers.

all the rest other insurances? new clothes if something fails, all other stuff. No costs for sport as running and bodyweight exercises are free.

At this moment I think it's not possible, but please do think along!

RossieMan

You'd be mad to take it on that wage.

I don't think it would be possible given your health status and the potential issues that could arise.

fungie

RossieMan wrote: »

You'd be mad to take it on that wage.

I don't think it would be possible given your health status and the potential issues that could arise.

That's better than most PhD stipends.

Miliolid

To be honest I had no idea about cost of living in Ireland, and it came as a shock to me. I could live with less pretty much everywhere in the UK north of London/Cambridge/Oxford.

So I guess most PhD students live in student housing then? Do universities offer cheaper health services to their students? I can't quite figure it out. Trinity College has a list of services for staff which seems lower, but it only lists things such as morning after pill for students

SarahMollie

Is there someone you can speak to in Trinity who could help you whit this? Like if you could qualify for campus housing and if it would be subsidized?

When my OH did his PhD, I know he was somehow both student and staff, as he was also considered a researcher and this supplemented his income somewhat.

Could you do something similar? Take on work as a lecturer/tutor to supplement the 18k?

Also, would the PhD improve your earning potential long term? If so would you consider a small student loan?

quadrifoglio verde

Is there a requirement to do tutorials etc as part of the stipend or can you do this and get extra income
If you can do it on top of the stipend then it's livable on, between tutorials, perhaps labs if it's science based and invigilating at exam periods.
My friends who are doing PhD's all work at the weekends and pick up extra income that way. The stipend isn't classed as income for income tax purposes either

Miliolid

Thanks all. I tried to find someone at Trinity to clarify a few things, but it seems this kind of advise is only available to enrolled students :blink:


I need to discuss whether it's possible to earn extra income through tutorials and such. It's on my list to ask.

Living on campus is of course a possibility, provided something is available, but I doubt it will provide me with the quiet environment I need, and it's all furnished accommodation with a shared kitchen.

cruizer101

There is a possibility you will get paid to do tutorials however I wouldn't be relying on it, you really need to talk to whoever your supervisior is and ask as I think it is dependant on the department you will be working in. I know in engineering you get paid, or at least that used to be the way, but think others not so, also it would only be during term time.

Regarding accommodation to live in in trinity isn't cheap it would likely be cheaper to live elsewhere, again this is from past experience however the recent rental increase may change this.

You could possibly get another part time job along with your Phd I know many students do, bar work or some such.

Maybe try get in touch with the SU in trinity they may be able to help advise in terms of health and that, there is a specific postgrad su officer.

Miliolid

Thanks a lot. SU is student union, right?

sillysmiles

18K is all you will get on a stipend. I know in DCU they are making it manadatory for Phd students to demonstrate labs, and they aren't getting paid extra for it so I wouldn't rely on extra income in the form of tutorials or labs. It might, or might not happen.
In the DUblin 3,5,7,9 area there is places available for 400-600 per month.

It would definitely be worth contact Trinity and seeing what else you might be able to get to help you.

You'd be mad to take it on that wage.

It's not a wage, it's a stipend. As you don't pay PRSI and you have medical issues, you should check if that has an impact on any entitlements after finishing.

The reality is many PHd student live in Dublin and survive on a stipend. It's not easy but it is doable.

Miliolid

Sillysmiles,

thanks a lot for the insight. Ok, 3,5,7,9. I suppose those are all shared, furnished places, right? Realistically, how much would I have to pay for an independent place to live, be it a studio or 1 bedroom? And are unfurnished places available at all? I'm looking online but simply cannot find anything below.. say 1200 Euro, and it's still furnished.

Protagonist

You seem a bit odd. Afraid of people?
Realistically as a student you're not going to be able to get your own place in Dublin. Move into a houseshare with other mature students/professionals and you'll live fine with 18K net a year.

SarahMollie

Furnished is the norm here. Unfurnished places are quite unusual.

Could you not sell or store your furniture?

bobmalooka

Miliolid wrote: »

Sillysmiles,

thanks a lot for the insight. Ok, 3,5,7,9. I suppose those are all shared, furnished places, right? Realistically, how much would I have to pay for an independent place to live, be it a studio or 1 bedroom? And are unfurnished places available at all? I'm looking online but simply cannot find anything below.. say 1200 Euro, and it's still furnished.

Massive housing shortage in Dublin at the moment, living on your own at that level of income is a complete non-runner.

There seems to be very few unfurnished places in Dublin, any I've seen are at the other end of the market.

Realistically you're looking at a room in a house share on the outskirts of the city centre or commuting from further out.

lawred2

RossieMan wrote: »

You'd be mad to take it on that wage.

I don't think it would be possible given your health status and the potential issues that could arise.

It's a PhD not a job. So there is no concept of a 'wage'

1500 a month is workable provided you're seriously frugal and are prepared to house share.

pilly

Protagonist wrote: »

You seem a bit odd. Afraid of people?
Realistically as a student you're not going to be able to get your own place in Dublin. Move into a houseshare with other mature students/professionals and you'll live fine with 18K net a year.

No need to insult the person, some people don't like living with others be it because of social or medical reasons.

pilly

I don't know how old your are OP but what about renting a room from an older person? Some people are doing this now because they're allowed to rent out a room tax free up to 12k a year.

It would mean the house is quiet and I'm sure you could store and cook your food separate.

conor222

A cheap-ish house-share at 450/500 a month, 1000 a month for living expenses/bills, thats a lot more than I lived on in college!

I do think the needing your own bed might be an issue, but say it early on when looking at a place, some landlords will be accommodating.

Walter H Price

Not gunna lie OP on that salary with the current rental market its doable but not easy you be looking a house/flat sharing somewhere pretty basic and not a huge amount of free cash left after food etc.

Best of luck though if you do decide to do it

Miliolid

Protagonist wrote: »

You seem a bit odd. Afraid of people?
Realistically as a student you're not going to be able to get your own place in Dublin. Move into a houseshare with other mature students/professionals and you'll live fine with 18K net a year.

Well, not quite though I've never shared a place. I just need some adjustments for heath reasons that are more difficult if you're sharing. Plus some furniture, like my own bed are just a necessity for me. I could sleep in a hotel bed for a few weeks if I really need to but there's no way I could do that for four years without my health deteriorating.

Miliolid

Walter H Price wrote: »

Not gunna lie OP on that salary with the current rental market its doable but not easy you be looking a house/flat sharing somewhere pretty basic and not a huge amount of free cash left after food etc.

Best of luck though if you do decide to do it

Yep, and I'm really glad about honest opinions.

Walter H Price

Miliolid wrote: »

Well, not quite though I've never shared a place. I just need some adjustments for heath reasons that are more difficult if you're sharing. Plus some furniture, like my own bed are just a necessity for me. I could sleep in a hotel bed for a few weeks if I really need to but there's no way I could do that for four years without my health deteriorating.

OP i 100% get this i have clinical OCD and living with people was my worst nightmare , i had to get the landlord to agree to me getting my own bed put the one that was there in storage in my aunts house as the idea of a used mattress made my skin crawl and bleached the bejesus out of the place nearly every second day for the first 2 or 3 months i lived there.

But ultimately i did it it wasn't the most pleasant experience i've had but we house shared for 2 full years with 4 different people before we could afford the rent to get the whole place to ourselves . There is no shame in not wanting to live with other people its not for everyone but it can be done.

sillysmiles

I assume if you find somewhere that you could negiotate with the landlord to move in your own bed.

I don't know anyone in the academic setting (phd or post-doc) who can afford to rent in Dublin by themselves.

Honestly I think you need to think about whether you really want to do the PhD or not as a starting point. Because if you are wishy-washy about it now, when it gets hard you will find it incredibly difficult to rationalise the compromises you had to make to to be able to do. (not sure if that makes sense)

Miliolid

Walter H Price wrote: »

Miliolid wrote: »

Well, not quite though I've never shared a place. I just need some adjustments for heath reasons that are more difficult if you're sharing. Plus some furniture, like my own bed are just a necessity for me. I could sleep in a hotel bed for a few weeks if I really need to but there's no way I could do that for four years without my health deteriorating.

OP i 100% get this i have clinical OCD and living with people was my worst nightmare , i had to get the landlord to agree to me getting my own bed put the one that was there in storage in my aunts house as the idea of a used mattress made my skin crawl and bleached the bejesus out of the place nearly every second day for the first 2 or 3 months i lived there.

But ultimately i did it it wasn't the most pleasant experience i've had but we house shared for 2 full years with 4 different people before we could afford the rent to get the whole place to ourselves . There is no shame in not wanting to live with other people its not for everyone but it can be done.

Glad to hear I had to look up what OCD is. Yikes! Sounds bad! My problem (one of my problems. I seem to accumulate medical problems) is purely anatomical. It has to do with already damaged nerves. If bed and chair are not perfect for me my condition will deteriorate - besides you can only wake up so often per night for a certain number of nights and still be able to do your work.

Mrs OBumble

OP, I wonder if the disability support people in Trinity might be able to advise you about other assistance which isn't available to most students?

I have no idea what they're called here, but I'd expect each university to have appointed staff whose job it is to ensure that students with a disability are supported. Many would be delighted to have a female PHD student on their books.

Walter H Price

Miliolid wrote: »

Glad to hear I had to look up what OCD is. Yikes! Sounds bad! My problem (one of my problems. I seem to accumulate medical problems) is purely anatomical. It has to do with already damaged nerves. If bed and chair are not perfect for me my condition will deteriorate - besides you can only wake up so often per night for a certain number of nights and still be able to do your work.

I've found most lanlords are ok with you removing funiture so long as its stored ok , and no issue with getting your own

I would much prefer if we had like what they had on the continent an aprtments just came unfurnished , because 90% of apartments here seem to be furnished with broken auld crap that was probly taken off a skip or from a recyling centre / charity shop ... literaly the thoughts of using any of it would make my skin crawl and could never sleep in a second hand bed just gross.

In the 2 years were in our place weve repaineted it and literally replaced every piece of furniture , cuttly , delph , glassware , cookware etc. My experience is most landlords dont give a **** about the furnishing because the know themselves there pure ****e

happycoach

Definitely doable

BarcaDen

1500 euros is fine. You'll get a houseshare for 300-400 bucks (on the outskirts) If you shop in Lidl/aldi and live frugally you'll be fine. People on the minimum wage make less, you're doing really well to get 18k (If I remember right, a stipend is tax free so you're talking about 18k net?)

Panrich

Could you commute op? Do you have transport? Even rents a little outside the city make this more doable.

ED E

Non national postgrad? Should be able to get a halls place if you get in early. Thats an easy commute and not a horrendous place to live. You'd be with other PGs.