PhD funding opportunities with merit Master degree

Hi everyone,

I am considering doing PhD in Social Policy. Currently I am MA student of Public Policy. My average grade for subjects is around 62% but I plan to write a good dissertation and hopefully get total average score around 65-66%.
Now, with such MA score, how likely it it is to get some sort of funding for my PhD? I mean, do only people with distinction grades get funding or do people with lower marks still have some chances?

Would be grateful for any opinions.

Reply 1

Ftmshk

It's important to have good results, but that is only one part of the jigsaw. You need to identify a research subject which is suitable for funding, identify suitable supervisors and a university with sufficient expertise and resources, and write an excellent application to the appropriate funding body by the deadline, also ensuring that you meet all their requirements regarding residency and any other stipulations. If you do all that you will then be in the pot but it still won't guarantee funding, as there are only a certain number of grants and it will depend on how good all the other applicants are too!

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Reply 2

Klix88

Very much depends on your field. I believe in STEM subjects PhD funding without a First or Distinction is more common.

In my field, funding with anything lower than a First/Distinction is pretty much impossible to find. A Masters colleague of mine has a First and missed a Distinction by 0.2%. They have academic references from two of the top UK experts in that specialism and they've been offered PhD places by six unis in three years, including Oxford. They've had to turn all of them down as none of them give funding to anyone without a First/Distinction - and that's just the initial selection criteria.

Reply 3

MarcinS

Thanks for your answers guys.

@Klix88 What is your field? I am aware that with just merit score getting full funding is not very probable, but at least some part funding should be available, right?
I'm not going to apply for TOP3 in my field but definitely TOP10. My top choices are Bristol and Edinburgh, they both have adequate supervision and research areas. My guess is that getting funding in such places is still highly competitive in social sciences.
After all, maybe a part-time PhD could be an option for me. Although I'm not sure if I'd like to stay in Britain for 6 years.

Reply 4

Klix88

Original post by MarcinS

@Klix88 What is your field? I am aware that with just merit score getting full funding is not very probable, but at least some part funding should be available, right?

I'm in archaeology. The PhD funding situation is pretty grim for most Humanities subjects at the moment and insanely competitive for any funding which does exist. Not saying that this is the exact position for Social Policy, but it's worth being prepared for an uphill struggle and potentially a series of rejections. There may be a jackpot to hit for you, but it's going to take some hard work.

Reply 5

Klix88

Original post by MarcinS

After all, maybe a part-time PhD could be an option for me. Although I'm not sure if I'd like to stay in Britain for 6 years.

It depends on your home country, as to whether part-time would be an option.

If you're classed as an International student, then you can only get a UK study visa for full-time study. Probably much easier for EU students though.

Reply 6

MarcinS

Luckily, I am EU student. :wink:

Reply 7

Josb

Original post by MarcinS

Luckily, I am EU student. :wink:

You won't be eligible to AHRC funding... You should aim at unis with good university funding, otherwise don't bother applying. For example, Durham has almost no funding for PhDs in the humanities...

Reply 8

MarcinS

As far as I know, social sciences students apply for funding from ESRC. How can I know which unis have good funding opportunities for PhD students?

Reply 9

Josb

Original post by MarcinS

As far as I know, social sciences students apply for funding from ESRC. How can I know which unis have good funding opportunities for PhD students?

You have to thoroughly check them one by one. Have fun. :biggrin:

Reply 10

Klix88

Original post by MarcinS

As far as I know, social sciences students apply for funding from ESRC. How can I know which unis have good funding opportunities for PhD students?

According to their FAQs, ESRC only offer fee funding for EU students. You won't get any money to live on unless you've lived in the UK for three full years before you start your PhD:
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/postgraduates/prospective-students/eligibility/

Reply 11

Ftmshk

Units usually have funding info for postgraduates so if you narrow down your options to a few units and search their websites for research or PhD funding they are likely to have a page of links for you to investigate.

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Reply 12

Ftmshk