Living away from university - not a parent, but need opinions please?

[JaneS]

I'm not a parent but DH and I are hoping I will be before the end of my course. I'm just starting the second year of my PhD. When I started, I agreed with my supervisor that I could do the course by commuting, since my then DP had hjust got a job in the city we lived in, and the research facilities are better there. I think it worked well, and I love the city I live in. There were downsides, and I know the department I'm attached to would have liked me to be more involved with life there - but to be honest, I'm not sure I would have been any more involved if I'd lived there.

My supervisor has now got a new job, and my new supervisor (though lovely), isn't fighting my corner so much. The head of department wants me to move much nearer to the university, which is 200 miles from DH's job (and my research). I think he's being an idiot.

Could you tell me what you think of the situation? Are there advantages to living nearer my university that I've overlooked, or would you be happy to work long distance?

I recently had a discussion with my prospective supervisor (havent started yet) and he suggested that I could commute to another university further away as one of my options, he seemed to think it was a good idea as long as I could still access the facilities in my home town university. I think you need to have a supportive supervisor. Do you have an advisor? It might be worth talking again to them and stressing the benefits of the system you have working for you at the moment, and maybe having some ideas for compromise ready.

So the research facilities are nera where you live? Is there a uni near where you live?