Switching Schools at Ph.D. level

[PhDH2O]

Has anyone ever heard of Ph.D. students switching to an entirely different University after they've begun a program?

I've found myself in a bit of a quandry after learning that the funding I was promised has now dried up. I'm just finishing my first year, and though I have a little bit of funding to carry me through the second year, I have to make up the difference with a lot of teaching - which keeps me from getting any research done. Ditto for year three, except there is NO funding left at that point.

My current advisor has suggested that I start looking for a new dissertation advisor who may be able to fill in the gaps, but the university is fairly small and I would have to change my research topic considerably to make it work. Would it be out of the realm of possibility that I might get accepted somewhere else at this point? To me it makes more sense to transfer to an entirely different university where there is both funding and ongoing research in my field of interest than to start in a new line of research entirely, even if it sets me back year or two (I'm assuming that a lot of my credits wouldn't transfer).

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks!

Edited May 8, 2011 by PhDH2O

[aginath]

Has anyone ever heard of Ph.D. students switching to an entirely different University after they've begun a program?

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks!

I know of a number of doc students who change universities, because their advisor takes a position at a new school and they follow them. I've also known of a few who have changed, because they find out that they just don't fit with the program. It's not unheard of, but it's also not done lightly.

[PhDH2O]

I know of a number of doc students who change universities, because their advisor takes a position at a new school and they follow them. I've also known of a few who have changed, because they find out that they just don't fit with the program. It's not unheard of, but it's also not done lightly.

Thanks, I appreciate the input.