PhD transfers in the UK?
Hi
I would be pleased to hear some advice from people here on 'PhD transfers in the UK'.
I am currently enrolled in a PhD Management degree at a UK uni since Jan 2014 and will be completing one year by Jan 2015. I would be completing my course works and research training by then.
I would like to move to a better uni, probably Cranfield as they have a specialist center in my research area and the faculties there are world leading experts in my research topic. Had I known about them before, I would have definitely applied to them but unfortunately I got into a okay okay uni for my PhD. I am so bothered about my present uni ranking and this is one of the main reasons I am craving for a PhD transfer. I wanted to get transfered to Cranfield and work in that world specialist research centre with world renowned experts. My current supervisor is nice to me but is not an expert on my topic. So this is another thing that forces me to take a PhD transfer.
Can any one of you please advice if a PhD transfer is possible in the UK? As I will be completing research training and compulsory course works, should I start PhD from year 1 even when it is a transfer? I dont want to lose out a year.
Also, how do I go about telling my current supervisor that I wanted to change uni? She has been good with me and I feel bad to approach her on this. Moreover I believe I need to take recommendation letters from my current supervisor if I need to take an admission else where. Will she be happy to provide me one with, if I tell her I wanted to change uni?
I am so bothered with this lately and I am going cranky with this PhD transfer thought. Glad I found this forum and would be pleased to hear from any one of you, how to deal with this. Good karma coming your way.
I would be pleased to hear some advice from people here on 'PhD transfers in the UK'.
I am currently enrolled in a PhD Management degree at a UK uni since Jan 2014 and will be completing one year by Jan 2015. I would be completing my course works and research training by then.
I would like to move to a better uni, probably Cranfield as they have a specialist center in my research area and the faculties there are world leading experts in my research topic. Had I known about them before, I would have definitely applied to them but unfortunately I got into a okay okay uni for my PhD. I am so bothered about my present uni ranking and this is one of the main reasons I am craving for a PhD transfer. I wanted to get transfered to Cranfield and work in that world specialist research centre with world renowned experts. My current supervisor is nice to me but is not an expert on my topic. So this is another thing that forces me to take a PhD transfer.
Can any one of you please advice if a PhD transfer is possible in the UK? As I will be completing research training and compulsory course works, should I start PhD from year 1 even when it is a transfer? I dont want to lose out a year.
Also, how do I go about telling my current supervisor that I wanted to change uni? She has been good with me and I feel bad to approach her on this. Moreover I believe I need to take recommendation letters from my current supervisor if I need to take an admission else where. Will she be happy to provide me one with, if I tell her I wanted to change uni?
I am so bothered with this lately and I am going cranky with this PhD transfer thought. Glad I found this forum and would be pleased to hear from any one of you, how to deal with this. Good karma coming your way.
Original post by icecandy
Hi
I would be pleased to hear some advice from people here on 'PhD transfers in the UK'.
I am currently enrolled in a PhD Management degree at a UK uni since Jan 2014 and will be completing one year by Jan 2015. I would be completing my course works and research training by then.
I would like to move to a better uni, probably Cranfield as they have a specialist center in my research area and the faculties there are world leading experts in my research topic. Had I known about them before, I would have definitely applied to them but unfortunately I got into a okay okay uni for my PhD. I am so bothered about my present uni ranking and this is one of the main reasons I am craving for a PhD transfer. I wanted to get transfered to Cranfield and work in that world specialist research centre with world renowned experts. My current supervisor is nice to me but is not an expert on my topic. So this is another thing that forces me to take a PhD transfer.
Can any one of you please advice if a PhD transfer is possible in the UK? As I will be completing research training and compulsory course works, should I start PhD from year 1 even when it is a transfer? I dont want to lose out a year.
Also, how do I go about telling my current supervisor that I wanted to change uni? She has been good with me and I feel bad to approach her on this. Moreover I believe I need to take recommendation letters from my current supervisor if I need to take an admission else where. Will she be happy to provide me one with, if I tell her I wanted to change uni?
I am so bothered with this lately and I am going cranky with this PhD transfer thought. Glad I found this forum and would be pleased to hear from any one of you, how to deal with this. Good karma coming your way.
I would be pleased to hear some advice from people here on 'PhD transfers in the UK'.
I am currently enrolled in a PhD Management degree at a UK uni since Jan 2014 and will be completing one year by Jan 2015. I would be completing my course works and research training by then.
I would like to move to a better uni, probably Cranfield as they have a specialist center in my research area and the faculties there are world leading experts in my research topic. Had I known about them before, I would have definitely applied to them but unfortunately I got into a okay okay uni for my PhD. I am so bothered about my present uni ranking and this is one of the main reasons I am craving for a PhD transfer. I wanted to get transfered to Cranfield and work in that world specialist research centre with world renowned experts. My current supervisor is nice to me but is not an expert on my topic. So this is another thing that forces me to take a PhD transfer.
Can any one of you please advice if a PhD transfer is possible in the UK? As I will be completing research training and compulsory course works, should I start PhD from year 1 even when it is a transfer? I dont want to lose out a year.
Also, how do I go about telling my current supervisor that I wanted to change uni? She has been good with me and I feel bad to approach her on this. Moreover I believe I need to take recommendation letters from my current supervisor if I need to take an admission else where. Will she be happy to provide me one with, if I tell her I wanted to change uni?
I am so bothered with this lately and I am going cranky with this PhD transfer thought. Glad I found this forum and would be pleased to hear from any one of you, how to deal with this. Good karma coming your way.
Moved this to the post graduate forum for you.
This is possible - but you need to check out the conditions of any funding you have very carefully as its likely it will be specific to one Uni/course and not transferable. Changing Unis mid-PhD is not common and usually only happens because a supervisor changes Unis and brings PhD students with them, or the PhDs are linked to funding money that the supervisor is transfering to another University.
Changing Unis because you aren't happy with current supervision/expertise is very rare (ie. you should have checked this out properly before you started there). If you are currently at a 'lower' Uni with lower expectations, its quite possible that a second Uni will not accept you - either because they are suspicious you are leaving for 'other reasons' (ie. you are a 'difficult' student) or that they aren't interested in research that has already started and they have to re-mould to fit their research priorities or 'higher standards'. Understandably Universities are not interested in 'academic tourists' who think they can get a place at a 'not very good' Uni and then trade up to something better. It suggests that the University brand-name is more important to you than your research.
Also, be aware that Cranfield is a research University only and funded by the British government to research defence and other 'government' type research projects. It is not a normal University and does not have thousands of students. It is very rare for anyone to be researching there unless they are on a specific funded studentship and most research there concentrates firmly on STEM type projects. You therefore will find it difficult, or impossible, to do a PhD in 'Management' there unless it allies with an existing project. Also, if you are an overseas student be aware that you might be subject to security restrictions.
You should email a prospective supervisor with basic details of a) your research, b) why you want to change Unis and c) details of any funding you have. Only if they want to take this any further (ie. they require a formal application with references) would you need to tell your current supervisor.
Changing Unis because you aren't happy with current supervision/expertise is very rare (ie. you should have checked this out properly before you started there). If you are currently at a 'lower' Uni with lower expectations, its quite possible that a second Uni will not accept you - either because they are suspicious you are leaving for 'other reasons' (ie. you are a 'difficult' student) or that they aren't interested in research that has already started and they have to re-mould to fit their research priorities or 'higher standards'. Understandably Universities are not interested in 'academic tourists' who think they can get a place at a 'not very good' Uni and then trade up to something better. It suggests that the University brand-name is more important to you than your research.
Also, be aware that Cranfield is a research University only and funded by the British government to research defence and other 'government' type research projects. It is not a normal University and does not have thousands of students. It is very rare for anyone to be researching there unless they are on a specific funded studentship and most research there concentrates firmly on STEM type projects. You therefore will find it difficult, or impossible, to do a PhD in 'Management' there unless it allies with an existing project. Also, if you are an overseas student be aware that you might be subject to security restrictions.
You should email a prospective supervisor with basic details of a) your research, b) why you want to change Unis and c) details of any funding you have. Only if they want to take this any further (ie. they require a formal application with references) would you need to tell your current supervisor.
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