Question for Current/Past PhD in English Students

Scroll to see replies

Also, does anyone happen to know how we can get a sense for which topics are in vogue, and thus more likely to get funding?

I'm wondering the same thing, because I have real interest in quite a few things, and if one of them gets more funding than the other, I would go for it.

Reply 21

Kitty Pimms

Original post by returnmigrant

For many countries in northern Europe, all University research is conduced in English and it is very widely spoken by the local population. Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium, plus obviously Ireland, are very realistic locations for British research students. Or look at Canada or Australia : lots of funding schemes are available but you need to get organised and apply well in advance.

Keep an eye on http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2551148

I think you could add Sweden to that list, too.The Scandis in general have some pretty generous funding packages for PhD students (they treat it as a job and pay a competitive wage) - the catch is that they often won't admit unfunded students. They also often require people with a British MA to do an extra year to take them up to the Bologna 120 credit stage, but they extend the funding for that fourth year, so that's hardly the end of the world.

Reply 22

madamemerle

Original post by DollyG

I'm wondering the same thing, because I have real interest in quite a few things, and if one of them gets more funding than the other, I would go for it.

I don't think it will help much (at all?) to approach it like this. The faculty in each department decide who to nominate for awards, and each person will have their own idea about both what's hot right now (which will depend massively on their own field and proclivities) and what the department should be prioritising for funding. There will also be internally agreed departmental priorities which will shift from year to year according to a whole set of things that you have no control over, and can't predict (how many students they have in each specialty, staffing issues, the quality of of your competitors in each specialism etc). And coosing a project because it's voguish might just mean that thirty other people had the same idea...I honestly think it's better to just go with the project that excites you the most and which presents you in the best light etc, rather than trying to second guess the system.

I'll also say this, Dolly: with your situation (I think I remember you commenting in another thread about switching to English at postgraduate level) you might be much better off waiting for a year before applying. If you apply in December/January, you'll have done three months of English study. That's almost nothing, in the grand scheme of things; leaving aside the question of whether or not you can even know that you are capable of high level work in English without ever having studied it at uni, you will be an almost untested student competing against people with three and a half years of training....that will likely put you at a disadvantage in funding decisions. You'll be in a hugely, hugely improved position the year after when you'll hopefully have a solid MA mark to offer.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 23

returnmigrant

Only certain groups of Unis were awarded AHRC funding this year. Some of the decisions were a bit odd and many 'top' Unis missed out.

Reply 24

apotoftea

Original post by DollyG

Sheesh! I did not know that. I thought they were in AHRC funding. Why don't they have it for two years?

They seem to brag quite a bit about research funding.

Might even be longer than two years, think it could be five. Basically under the new research consortia (doctoral training partnerships and centres for doctoral training), the consortia that included Queen Mary failed to be awarded any funding!

They've all have their own studentships but they do not have AHRC funding to offer. There are some big well known departments without AHRC funding. Warwick, LSE, Birkbeck all spring to mind too.

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/comment/opinion/the-ahrcs-doctoral-training-disasters/2009975.article

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/universities-awarded-ahrc-phd-funding/2008262.article

Reply 25

DollyG

Original post by madamemerle

Thanks. That makes sense, and it is something I'm considering. I took various English courses in my undergraduate, but obviously did not major in it so nowhere near enough compared to what English undergraduates would have done.

I have decided that I want to be prepared just in case right opportunity comes along, but also I will just see how I feel about doing my MA. I am planning to do a PhD because I want to do it, so I am not going to just do it for the sake of it. The subject has to be of interest to me, as that is the whole point.

So for now, my focus is to figure out exactly what I would like to specialise in, which is a task in itself, because I have several different interests.

Reply 26

DollyG

Original post by apotoftea

Thanks for the links. That's disappointing to hear. QMUL only had 40 studentships for 2014 to cover the whole of Humanities and Social Science, so assuming they keep that number for 2015, it's still pretty poor without AHRC.

Reply 27

DollyG

I see Royal Holloway was offered AHRC. I have been accepted by them too for MA. It was almost tempting to accept their offer, in light of this research award. Almost.

I still want to do MA at Queen Mary, but can always apply for PhD at Royal Holloway and take my chances.