I want to apply for a Phd
Hi guys,
I want to apply for a Phd,not for Sept 2012 but for Sept 2013.
What is the first thing that I have to do? Find a topic, uni or supervisor?
Could you please state some steps that are essential to be done?
How can I find the ONE topic? What about the proposal, I write something general?
Give me some ideas of funding. Some universities give funding some others do not. Is it better to choose a university that gives me funding or choose a brand name?
Thx
I want to apply for a Phd,not for Sept 2012 but for Sept 2013.
What is the first thing that I have to do? Find a topic, uni or supervisor?
Could you please state some steps that are essential to be done?
How can I find the ONE topic? What about the proposal, I write something general?
Give me some ideas of funding. Some universities give funding some others do not. Is it better to choose a university that gives me funding or choose a brand name?
Thx
I don't know where to start.
A. You would have missed the application deadlines for a PhD for 2012 start (or at least all the funding deadlines)
B. You need a topic then locate someone who covers it as the potential supervisor.
C. Funding is extremely competitive and chances are you wont get it, but you have to produce a very strong research proposal. (I am not trying to put you off but it is worth having a realistic view otherwise you have the pain I went through).
D. Funding is give through research councils such as the ESRC. Locate the one that covers your subject and check their website to see which institutions they give funding to for PhD students.
A. You would have missed the application deadlines for a PhD for 2012 start (or at least all the funding deadlines)
B. You need a topic then locate someone who covers it as the potential supervisor.
C. Funding is extremely competitive and chances are you wont get it, but you have to produce a very strong research proposal. (I am not trying to put you off but it is worth having a realistic view otherwise you have the pain I went through).
D. Funding is give through research councils such as the ESRC. Locate the one that covers your subject and check their website to see which institutions they give funding to for PhD students.
Original post by zziippoo
Hi guys,
I want to apply for a Phd,not for Sept 2012 but for Sept 2013.
What is the first thing that I have to do? Find a topic, uni or supervisor?
Could you please state some steps that are essential to be done?
How can I find the ONE topic? What about the proposal, I write something general?
Give me some ideas of funding. Some universities give funding some others do not. Is it better to choose a university that gives me funding or choose a brand name?
Thx
I want to apply for a Phd,not for Sept 2012 but for Sept 2013.
What is the first thing that I have to do? Find a topic, uni or supervisor?
Could you please state some steps that are essential to be done?
How can I find the ONE topic? What about the proposal, I write something general?
Give me some ideas of funding. Some universities give funding some others do not. Is it better to choose a university that gives me funding or choose a brand name?
Thx
The process varies a bit between disciplines; for example a science PhD will probably not require you to write a research proposal.
Funding- if you can afford to do a PhD without funding, you're in a very fortunate position. But find out what it will really cost before you commit to self funding.
Now is too late for 2012 starts and too early for 2013, so there probably isn't much you can do for a few months, other than some research into possible supervisors and topics. Keep an eye on http://www.findaphd.com/
Original post by Politics Student
you have the pain I went through).
Mind if I ask what happened?
Original post by Cora Lindsay
The process varies a bit between disciplines; for example a science PhD will probably not require you to write a research proposal.
I'm doing a Science one and I did need to write a proposal ; (re-update some parts as well lol)
Original post by kka25
Mind if I ask what happened?
I'm doing a Science one and I did need to write a proposal ; (re-update some parts as well lol)
I'm doing a Science one and I did need to write a proposal ; (re-update some parts as well lol)
Simply I put in a proposal and got a place on the PhD. However, when going through funding I found out from my lecturers that mine came second for the funding place and the real kick in the teeth was that they did not do a reserve place. The guy who got the funding turned it down! The money is free to be recycled by the department in anyway it chooses.
Going to take a year out and reapply with a few changes to my proposal. I mean it came second out of who knows how many. it was the most applications they had ever received. So reapplying with a strengthening of the proposal and volunteering my skills for research, such as conducting surveys for research projects, should get me funding second time round.
It is annoying but I know I should be ok in the end. I also produced my best essay for the person who would be my supervisor. I am just producing my MSc dissertation atm under the guidance of the same person. So fingers crossed I can impress her so she can fight my corner when they decide funding next time round.
Original post by Politics Student
I don't know where to start.
A. You would have missed the application deadlines for a PhD for 2012 start (or at least all the funding deadlines)
B. You need a topic then locate someone who covers it as the potential supervisor.
C. Funding is extremely competitive and chances are you wont get it, but you have to produce a very strong research proposal. (I am not trying to put you off but it is worth having a realistic view otherwise you have the pain I went through).
D. Funding is give through research councils such as the ESRC. Locate the one that covers your subject and check their website to see which institutions they give funding to for PhD students.
A. You would have missed the application deadlines for a PhD for 2012 start (or at least all the funding deadlines)
B. You need a topic then locate someone who covers it as the potential supervisor.
C. Funding is extremely competitive and chances are you wont get it, but you have to produce a very strong research proposal. (I am not trying to put you off but it is worth having a realistic view otherwise you have the pain I went through).
D. Funding is give through research councils such as the ESRC. Locate the one that covers your subject and check their website to see which institutions they give funding to for PhD students.
Just to pick up on some of these - you want to app,y for 2013, so haven't missed deadlines. However, funding deadlines are usually in the January prior to when you want to start, and you will also need to have made applications for places, so time to start thinking!
Finding a topic is down to you, unless you happen to see a pre-designed project advertising for a student. You have to decide what intersts you.
Regards finding, research councils do fund a lot, but (and forgive me if I'm wrong) I think I detect from your phrasing that you are an international student. Research council finding may not be available to you in this instance, so might be worth looking at per avenues, such as university depatmental scholarships and funding made available from your own government.
Original post by Politics Student
Simply I put in a proposal and got a place on the PhD. However, when going through funding I found out from my lecturers that mine came second for the funding place and the real kick in the teeth was that they did not do a reserve place. The guy who got the funding turned it down! The money is free to be recycled by the department in anyway it chooses.
Going to take a year out and reapply with a few changes to my proposal. I mean it came second out of who knows how many. it was the most applications they had ever received. So reapplying with a strengthening of the proposal and volunteering my skills for research, such as conducting surveys for research projects, should get me funding second time round.
It is annoying but I know I should be ok in the end. I also produced my best essay for the person who would be my supervisor. I am just producing my MSc dissertation atm under the guidance of the same person. So fingers crossed I can impress her so she can fight my corner when they decide funding next time round.
Going to take a year out and reapply with a few changes to my proposal. I mean it came second out of who knows how many. it was the most applications they had ever received. So reapplying with a strengthening of the proposal and volunteering my skills for research, such as conducting surveys for research projects, should get me funding second time round.
It is annoying but I know I should be ok in the end. I also produced my best essay for the person who would be my supervisor. I am just producing my MSc dissertation atm under the guidance of the same person. So fingers crossed I can impress her so she can fight my corner when they decide funding next time round.
Aw, that sucks.
But the good news is that your proposal is quite good
I think your plans are quite good as well.Does the supervisor fight for the funding?
Original post by kka25
Aw, that sucks.
But the good news is that your proposal is quite good I think your plans are quite good as well.
Does the supervisor fight for the funding?
But the good news is that your proposal is quite good
I think your plans are quite good as well.Does the supervisor fight for the funding?
Thanks. Just need to get through next year with job searches and trying not to get too stressed out while trying to write the dissertation.
Depends. My lecturers were the ones deciding as they could have been the supervisors but that is just my experience from the social science department in Southampton which may be alone in this method or it could be quite common. It does make sense that the lecturers would be key in deciding who gets funding.
To be fair the pain that I went through was over in the first week of finding out leaving only a numb feeling for a while, but my lecturer who would have been my supervisor is still angry about the entire event as they do not have a PhD student for that funded position now. She thinks it was nuts they did not do a reserve place for it. After I finish the dissertation she has offered to look through me application to see where I can strengthen aspects.
Still as you say the plan is quite good. I just need to make the most from next year.
Original post by hobnob
What's your subject?
Thank you for your reply!
I want to do a phd in statistics.
Original post by kka25
Mind if I ask what happened?
I'm doing a Science one and I did need to write a proposal ; (re-update some parts as well lol)
I'm doing a Science one and I did need to write a proposal ; (re-update some parts as well lol)
I wrote it too :|
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
Original post by Politics Student
I don't know where to start.
A. You would have missed the application deadlines for a PhD for 2012 start (or at least all the funding deadlines)
B. You need a topic then locate someone who covers it as the potential supervisor.
C. Funding is extremely competitive and chances are you wont get it, but you have to produce a very strong research proposal. (I am not trying to put you off but it is worth having a realistic view otherwise you have the pain I went through).
D. Funding is give through research councils such as the ESRC. Locate the one that covers your subject and check their website to see which institutions they give funding to for PhD students.
A. You would have missed the application deadlines for a PhD for 2012 start (or at least all the funding deadlines)
B. You need a topic then locate someone who covers it as the potential supervisor.
C. Funding is extremely competitive and chances are you wont get it, but you have to produce a very strong research proposal. (I am not trying to put you off but it is worth having a realistic view otherwise you have the pain I went through).
D. Funding is give through research councils such as the ESRC. Locate the one that covers your subject and check their website to see which institutions they give funding to for PhD students.
Thank you very much for your reply. I am not interested for Sept 2012. The main subject is statistics and I want to do a phd on that. Do I choose a topic and the supervisor? or Is it better to find supervisors that I like and then ask them to help me with the topic?
Is there any list with all the research councils? Or is it better to search for them in universities' websites?
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Cora Lindsay
The process varies a bit between disciplines; for example a science PhD will probably not require you to write a research proposal.
Funding- if you can afford to do a PhD without funding, you're in a very fortunate position. But find out what it will really cost before you commit to self funding.
Now is too late for 2012 starts and too early for 2013, so there probably isn't much you can do for a few months, other than some research into possible supervisors and topics. Keep an eye on http://www.findaphd.com/
Funding- if you can afford to do a PhD without funding, you're in a very fortunate position. But find out what it will really cost before you commit to self funding.
Now is too late for 2012 starts and too early for 2013, so there probably isn't much you can do for a few months, other than some research into possible supervisors and topics. Keep an eye on http://www.findaphd.com/
Thank you very much for your reply. When is the right time to apply? Oct - Nov or still too early?
Original post by flying plum
Just to pick up on some of these - you want to app,y for 2013, so haven't missed deadlines. However, funding deadlines are usually in the January prior to when you want to start, and you will also need to have made applications for places, so time to start thinking!
Finding a topic is down to you, unless you happen to see a pre-designed project advertising for a student. You have to decide what intersts you.
Regards finding, research councils do fund a lot, but (and forgive me if I'm wrong) I think I detect from your phrasing that you are an international student. Research council finding may not be available to you in this instance, so might be worth looking at per avenues, such as university depatmental scholarships and funding made available from your own government.
Finding a topic is down to you, unless you happen to see a pre-designed project advertising for a student. You have to decide what intersts you.
Regards finding, research councils do fund a lot, but (and forgive me if I'm wrong) I think I detect from your phrasing that you are an international student. Research council finding may not be available to you in this instance, so might be worth looking at per avenues, such as university depatmental scholarships and funding made available from your own government.
Yes I am an international student . Why research council finding may not be available for me? Do they prefer students from UK?
Original post by zziippoo
Yes I am an international student . Why research council finding may not be available for me? Do they prefer students from UK?
Problematic.
An example:
ESRC:
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/looking-for-funding/eligibility.aspx
I recommend you look for statistic PhD on uni websites and follow the funding links to take you to the correct RC.
Original post by zziippoo
Thank you very much for your reply. I am not interested for Sept 2012. The main subject is statistics and I want to do a phd on that. Do I choose a topic and the supervisor? or Is it better to find supervisors that I like and then ask them to help me with the topic?
Is there any list with all the research councils? Or is it better to search for them in universities' websites?
Is there any list with all the research councils? Or is it better to search for them in universities' websites?
I recommend a general topic and then work out what aspects you are interested in. Then go talk to possible supervisors.
Original post by zziippoo
Thank you very much for your reply. When is the right time to apply? Oct - Nov or still too early?
Still too early. Studentships come up all the time so it's worth keeping an eye on FindAPhD, but most recruitment is February-March-April because that's when supervisors have a good idea about the funding that might be available.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by zziippoo
I want to do a phd in statistics.
Right. Well, that's not really my field, but from talking to a friend who has just completed a MSc in statistics and is due to start a PhD next year, I've got the impression that it's one of those subjects for which you don't need to write a proposal but basically join a research group headed by your supervisor. So first you'll need to decide which broad area of statistics you think you'd like to focus on - you're very early, so you can take your time over that. Then take some more time to look up academics working on that area and try to find out more about the sort of projects they're offering at the moment through departmental websites, to give you a sense of what kind of topics there are and who supervises what (bearing in mind that next year's projects might be slightly different, so this can only be a guideline). There'll probably be some information on the actual websites (like this, for example). If there isn't, you can just send an email to the person in the department whose research appears to be closest to what you want to do and tell them you're interested in working on abc, you've read their article on xyz and you're wondering whether they will be offering any related PhD projects. Though if you decide to do that, it would be better to wait for a bit longer, because they probably don't even know yet which projects they'll be offering for 2013.
Either way, make sure you've done your homework and have identified the right people to email and had at least a brief look at their work beforehand and don't just fire out a generic email to everybody in the department regardless of their specialism (as some people do). Academics are pretty good at identifying such generic mass emails, and they hate them.
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