Hello,

I'm Shaun Isherwood, a PhD student of mathematics at The University of Aberdeen (UK). This coming academic year (2025/26) is my last of the degree - provided I don't go into additional write-up time - and I need your help, please.

Due to health reasons, I need four months' worth of tuition fees (about £1,500) to cover a retroactive leave of absence.

I have a freelance job training AI to do mathematics. It pays well, but is very temperamental; essentially: I find problems the AI can't solve (and I can!) on a predetermined topic then teach it how to solve them, step by step. I can't always do that. It's the only job I've found that meshes nicely with my time, energy, and mobility constraints.

The degree was funded for the first three years via a government doctoral loan. That was the maximum support I could get.

I used to get Adult Disability Payment (ADP) at the full amount until a move from Scotland to England required a compulsory application to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead, and that application was rejected (for some reason); I'm appealing it, a process that could last them up to 15 weeks before they make a second decision, which may well need appealing again.

This has left me with very little income all of a sudden.

I have two Master's degrees, one taught and one research, both in mathematics. There is a good chance I will do well in the PhD viva, according to my supervisor.

Please support at a level you deem appropriate.

Thank you.