You have no working or funding contract at your current university? So you're not getting paid for your current work?

@BastiaanSpanjaard Exactly. It's not very uncommon as a practice, though, in the sense that why should one be paid for getting a PhD for him-/herself.

Apparently @Maya is doing a PhD in Germany, in some kind of political science / sociology / etc type field. I'm not very familiar with that area, and maybe it's common there. Many of the people on this site are in US/UK STEM fields where a self-funded PhD would be quite unusual. (example)

I assume there are academic advisors there; what do they have to say about it?

Hirschman's "Exit, Voice, and Loyalty" might help you think this through. "Exit" itself sends a strong signal, and it does not sound like your supervisor is listening to your voice on anything else.

@Dougal How do you know that, as I believe I did not divulge the information on my profile (that's impressive)? In any case, the potential university might have funding plan (or that's what they told me).

@Maya I linked to your other question in my comment, where I found that info. (I checked your profile for the country, and the other question popped up.) If the other place has funding, that's another good thing to say as a reason as suggested by BastiaanSpanjaard.

@ShadSterling The sad thing is, there is none, as the department will be closed in a few years. I seem to have chosen a wrong place.

Hmm. The general advice and infrequent meetings may be mostly a style thing; he might think that's what students need to learn to work independently, and I don't think that idea's unfounded. If you have an offer that suits your style better I don't see a problem with saying so.

"He also prefers to meet only once every two or three months." That's way too infrequently. And what about contact in between - email and so forth?

@FaheemMitha I stopped emailing him my draft a while ago, because he became irritable (e.g. complaining because I forgot and sent the draft in pdf instead of doc or forgot to erase the highlight on a passage... little things like that, and he interrogated my "true motive" in doing that, without giving any advice on the content). I don't mean to gossip, but sometimes I wonder if it's only me, or was he really unpleasant when I tried to make him read my drafts? I'm his only PhD students and can't compare. So no, nothing in between.

@Maya Please add a tag for the relevant country as it will help people give you more targeted advice. You can do that by editing the question.

@Maya To quote popular advice on this forum. Run. Now. It's not going to get better. Did I get that right, folks? And to answer your main question, I don't understand why you are concerned what you are going to say to him. Just leave. Figure it out after the move is a done deal. It doesn't sound like it is an important thing to worry about. Also, your comment is relevant to the question, so I suggest you edit the question to add it in, and any other relevant details of your relationship.

Maya, please change your userid (unless it's already a pseudonym).

So you are on self funded PhD in Germany, in political science, about asians contries at department that will close in 3 years? Run fast and dont turn back.

@Maya I just want to tell you that if you just work on your PhD then it is okay to not get funded. But normally you also get tasks like holding classes/tutorials/exams/exercises. And then you should get money for the work. As I am german myself. I know that if it is not STEM, its quite often that even if you work for the chair, you get no money. It mostly depends on how much money the faculty can get from companies. Still if you work for the chair you don't work solely for your own gain.

@Maya Please do it straight forward tell him you are not happy with the way this thing is going on and about your carrier prospects, you don't have to rude but reasonable and if he does not takes it well, It's his problem.

@SSimon: (unless that's the veiled message really meaning: from that description I recognized your group, and they are no good.) Why shouldn't a political science dept in Germany study some foreign policies and do good science at that? Why should a group not go on doing good research right until the prof. retires? As for self-funded: I don't see anything particularly surprising if a political science department as topics and students but no money. That's rather the expected case, isn't it?

No funding? That's a no-brainer to start considering other options.

@cbeleites a lot of government (germany) effor for exploration of Asians countries and market. Germany is not self-obsessed as you imply. (as some other countries) If you are allumni of closed department, with on recommendation letter of retired professor... ohhh... wellgood bye any oportunity to fins a job in market as today