Unfunded UK PhD offers - both deadlines imminent I have two offers for a physics PhD in the UK. Both are great choices and I don't really have a preference. However, neither is funded so far and on both sides, the PIs are actively looking for funding and I think the chances are very good that I will eventually get it.

Both universities have a deadline for acceptance by the end of the February and the funding situation certainly will not be resolved by then. What do I do? I'm essentially ready to commit to whoever has funding. Should I accept both offers now and withdraw from one later (assuming this is allowed) or should I ask for an extension from both?
I wouldn't recommend it. I started a PhD when I had my own funding for the first year. The second year some money was scraped together, but after that there was a complete failure to find funding. Things got ugly. 

If you are really intent with working with one of these two PIs, make sure they have a solid and extensive track record with funding. If these are new labs, forget it. But since you don't seem overly interested in working with them, I would say find a safer option.