[cryptic-clues]

I am applying for a PhD in management studies to various universities (actually I don't need to count beyond three) in the UK. I was wondering what kind of facilities should I look for? My subject does not require: running an experiment, or simulations, or data entry and number - crunching, or access to secondary data. Of course, qualitative research tools will be very useful.

And would anyone know of what facilities do any of the following offer: Warwick, Lancaster and Queen Mary University of London?

Are there any specifics that you would look out for?

[Ghost6]

Ideally you would want subsidized graduate housing closed to your department, especially if you will be working as a TA to finance your studies. Other perks would include travel grants for attending conferences, and the option to teach or RA during the summer to make additional money.

[cryptic-clues]

(Original post by Ghost6)
Ideally you would want subsidized graduate housing closed to your department, especially if you will be working as a TA to finance your studies. Other perks would include travel grants for attending conferences, and the option to teach or RA during the summer to make additional money.

Thanks.

Subsidised housing: applied for a studentship (and hoping to study on a fee waiver and UK research council equivalent, some 13000 GBP studentship)

option to teach would come as a condition in exchange for a studentship.

As for conference travel support: must check out!

Any other in-house support that one could look for?

[poohat]

A fee waiver and funding are essential for doing a PhD, but everything else is just perks. As long as you have funding (which you do), I would base my choice entirely on how good the department/advisor is, combined with how much you want to live in the city.

From the little I know, Lancaster business school is good, but Warwick afaik is one of the top 5 in the UK and also has a brand name that will help you with jobs afterwards. With QMU, you have the additional problem of trying to live in London on a £13k salary (it can certainly be done, but expect to live somewhere grotty)

[cryptic-clues]

(Original post by poohat)
A fee waiver and funding are essential for doing a PhD, but everything else is just perks. As long as you have funding (which you do), I would base my choice entirely on how good the department/advisor is, combined with how much you want to live in the city.

From the little I know, Lancaster business school is good, but Warwick afaik is one of the top 5 in the UK and also has a brand name that will help you with jobs afterwards. With QMU, you have the additional problem of trying to live in London on a £13k salary (it can certainly be done, but expect to live somewhere grotty)

Thanks. I don't have a studentship yet, applied for one! Waiting for it to come through, being a young parent, and with the current exchange rates, its a lost battle already (yeah, I come from the third world)!

The guides with the closest interest are at Lancaster and QMUL. At Warwick, the potential guide wrote back he could, but it was a very good fit. And as a suggestion: guided me back to Lancaster, QMUL and Cardiff (which were already on my short list).

That leaves QMUL: is 13K really too tight? Everyone tells me that, and also that I will have to struggle a lot!

Would you know of the kind of computer, library and desk space/rooms that these universities provide to PhD students?

[poohat]

Its possible to survive as a PhD student in London on £13-15k (many do), just be aware that youll end up having to share a flat with other people, and will have a pretty small room. A (small) room in a shared flat in a non-terrible part of London will cost around £550-£650 a month, so thats almost half your stipend gone straight away (in other cities you could pay the same and get a studio or one bed flat to yourself).

[flying plum]

Are you bringing your child with you to the UK, and will you be alone, or with your partner? If the answers are yes, and you will be alone, I would really think twice about London. £13000 is not much to live on by yourself in that city, much less a child, and then you have to consider child care fees etc etc. Lancaster, while not as much going on as London, is a much cheaper part of the country to live, as would be Warwick (or more likely Coventry/Leamington Spa, where most students live).

[cryptic-clues]

(Original post by flying plum)
Are you bringing your child with you to the UK, and will you be alone, or with your partner? If the answers are yes, and you will be alone, I would really think twice about London. £13000 is not much to live on by yourself in that city, much less a child, and then you have to consider child care fees etc etc. Lancaster, while not as much going on as London, is a much cheaper part of the country to live, as would be Warwick (or more likely Coventry/Leamington Spa, where most students live).

Child and wife aren't coming for now. But my wife is an academic and she is planning to join me for a year in the 2/3 years on her sabbatical. So she will be fully paid during that time, and we can try and combine our incomes for us to spend some time together.

Does anyone know of the libraries in these universities (Lancaster, QMUL, Warwick and Manchester), particularly the management/business studies sections?

[flying plum]

(Original post by cryptic-clues)
Child and wife aren't coming for now. But my wife is an academic and she is planning to join me for a year in the 2/3 years on her sabbatical. So she will be fully paid during that time, and we can try and combine our incomes for us to spend some time together.

Does anyone know of the libraries in these universities (Lancaster, QMUL, Warwick and Manchester), particularly the management/business studies sections?

ah, that's a different kettle of fish. £13000 is still tight in london, and you'd probably find it a bit of a lifestyle change (and be begging your partner to get over here tout de suite!), but with two salaries, it would be perfectly fine. I'm afraid i'm not familiar with any of the libraries, but QMUL, being part of the University of London, means you have access to libraries of all UoL colleges, plus LSE. And there's no shortage of non-University libraries in London