Funding for PhD

Have you considered applying to the US? Most of the private universities offer full tuition and a stipend of $22,000 or so per year to PhD students. You just need to get accepted to get funding.

ive not looked at the link but the esrc stipulates a minimum 2:1, or a masters + 2.2. no additional marks are given for 1st. i assume its the same for the ahrb (?). the research councils have stats for who gets funding, in what field, what uni etc, and also tells you which unis can apply for research council funding.

Have you considered applying to the US? Most of the private universities offer full tuition and a stipend of $22,000 or so per year to PhD students. You just need to get accepted to get funding.

As far as I am aware you are actually "employed" by the university and are expected to do a considerable amount of TA work. PhDs in the states are also much longer than here.

But it also means US PhD students have no loans and owe nothing when they're finished.

The only problem I have now is in paying for it all. I'm unlikely to get AHRC funding for my first year with a 2:1, but apparently I have a decent chance of getting it after my first year. I'd be interested to hear if anyone knows how true this is, what it would be likely to depend on, and how generous the AHRC are likely to be -- how often do they tend to award maintenance grants in addition to fees etc.

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So it doesn't seem like you're all funded!!! Unless I'm confused by this post. If this is not the case then I guess he should stay in the UK. However he clearly said he's not likely to get any funding for his first year.

Also a US PhD takes 4-5 years, less if you come in with a master's degree. Does a UK PhD take 2 years? That would be "half the time."

Teaching experience is easily gained after PhD and I believe that most postgrads in the UK get more than enough during their PhD anyway (it must be born in mind that reserach must be your primary motivation in taking on a PhD as that is the only criteria you are judged on).

a US PhD takes 4-5 years

PhDs in UK ussually take 3 years, sometimes 4 if the PhD student requires more time to complete the thesis.

For AHRC, according to their documentation, you must normally possess a postgraduate master's degree before applying for PhD funding. You have to have signficant relevant experience beyond first degree level to get out of that one.

Remember that these courses (both Master's and PhD) in the arts are incredibly competitive. The documentation may say a good 2:1 but the funding council and unversities are going to pick the people who they feel are most likely to do well at PhD level and that is often considered to be people with firsts.

What are you basing this last comment on? i know numerous phd students with research council funding and none of them have a 1st - which figures given the documentation. The esrc explicitly state that a 2:1 is the benchmark for the application to be considered and that no additional points are given for a 1st - the strength of the proposal and your references hold the most marks - these are very heavily weighted. Equally, having a masters can gain points, but the grade of masters doesnt matter - set points for each criteria (akin to equal ops marking). It certainly looks good having a first on your application, but its not going to give you a significant edge (if any) over somebody with a 2:1. Equally, it doesnt matter if you are an oxford or an oxford brookes graduate as long as the references and proposal are sound and fit the funding themes for that year (im pre-empting the league table arguments here...).

Approximately 25% of eligible applicants recieves AHRC funding, according to their website. That sounds pretty competitive to me. And the AHRC may be slightly different from the ESRC - while they don't demand a 1st I have been told by several lecturers that in their experience the vast majority of offers made (for Masters funding) are to those holding a 1st. For AHRC having a Masters is a requirement for PhD funding, unless you are going to start an MPhil and upgrade.