Run, run, run.

I would consider an unfunded PhD to be equivalent to not being admitted to a PhD. This professor is willing to drag you along and pay costs out of pocket. They know you don't know how the system is supposed to work and are abusing that lack of understanding. They will keep finding excuses why the money isn't there, because it never existed.

Run, run, run.

I would consider an unfunded PhD to be equivalent to not being admitted to a PhD. This professor is willing to drag you along as you pay costs out of pocket. They know you don't know how the system is supposed to work and are abusing that lack of understanding. They will keep finding excuses why the money isn't there, because it never existed.