Hi everyone,

I was recently presented with the opportunity to apply for a funded studentship to do a 1+3 year course - 1 year masters, 3 year PhD. I never ever thought I would do a PhD for various reasons but the opportunity I've been given, literally couldn't be more perfect for me. It's a subject I'm passionate about and I have always intended to build my career around it...

So I'm attempting the application but I'm struggling. I think because I'm so excited by it and I really want to do it, I've made it into a huge deal in my head and now I'm struggling with the application!

The application involves my CV (which I'm happy with) and a personal statement as follows:

"Please upload a PDF your personal statement that is no longer than 500 words in length. Your personal statement should clearly communicate why you are interested in our Digital Civics research agenda and which of our research themes you are most interested in aligning your PhD topic in. A good personal statement will be one clearly articulating how your prior experience or qualifications provide a good foundation for conducting a PhD within the themes of our CDT, and state what new skills and expertise you hope to develop through our PhD training programme. We would also like you to tell us why you are motivated to conduct a PhD."

Any advice on this would be great?! My supervisor said to outline my experience and get across that I'm passionate about it - that's the easy bit for me but the rest I'm finding very difficult. I'm also quite used to filling in job applications but I feel like this needs to be different!

Is there anything that makes a good/bad personal statement for a PhD application?

Thanks in advance!

I'd be interested in this research - how do you take part?

Hi jesamine!

That does sound quite a difficult decision but one I can most definitely sympathise with. I don't have the answer for you but I think the most important thing I would say is that you have to be happy with whatever you're doing. I know a work life balance is necessary but we generally spend most of our time at work (a bit depressing) and if you're doing something you don't like, it makes life very difficult.

A couple of years ago I thought I had everything sorted. I had a job I thought I would love and decent pay but I quickly started to hate it and ended up completely stressed out and left. That's cutting a very long story short but I think the biggest thing I took away from it is that if you're not happy, the money really isn't a consolation.

Having said that, I have currently applied for a job which I think I would enjoy for a lot more money than I am currently on. Since then I've found an opportunity to do a funded PhD in the subject I love. Me and my husband were thinking about trying for a family in the next year so I'm currently in a very similar position. I've thought about it A LOT (understatement) and I'm applying for my PhD and hoping that is the one I'll get despite the low wage. I have time to have kids as I'm only mid 20s but it was still a huge decision as my husband would love kids now! When I was making the decision, I looked at so many forum posts and they said they didn't want to put their life on hold because of a PhD and decided they would have children anyway...but they all said it was incredibly difficult.

Not sure if I've helped but you're definitely not alone on this one!

Jen

Done :)

I can't speak for the university processes as I'm not sure if it depends on the university but is there no-one in student support and wellbeing you could contact? They should be able to give you advice on the process and, I'm sure you're aware, universities generally have a lot of support available for students with mental health issues.

My understanding is that you can apply for a further extension and I'm sure a friend of mine at undergraduate did that more than once but you would need to check the processes at your particular university. I think mitigating circumstances are done on a very individual basis.

I do know how you feel as I've suffered with anxiety and depression for the last year and a half. The course I did was complicated which means I'm topping up a postgraduate diploma to a masters by writing a dissertation and my mental health has really got in the way as I'm also working full time. I'm about to apply for my phd and have had the same thoughts as you about how my mental health could affect it but I feel like I'm learning how to cope and manage it all after having one-to-one cognitive behavioural therapy.

I hope you get sorted and feel like you can manage. Also hope the university have sorted this by now!

Ah I see! I've only just joined the forum while trying to decide whether to apply for this PhD opportunity - I've read endless threads about what it's like to help me make up my mind.

I'm from Sunderland - lived there all my life. My husband and family all have season tickets for their sins too...I don't know why they bother at times!

Jen

Done :) - good luck

Done :)

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. I've read through a lot of the previous posts on here, particularly about people questioning whether a PhD is right for them but haven't found anything similar to my situation.

I studied Town Planning and took quite a long route:
- BA(hons) in 2011 - I got a 2:1
- Certificate in Planning Practice - Distinction (essentially a year working with uni work too)
- Postgrad Diploma - Distinction

I'm now converting my Diploma to a Masters by writing my dissertation which you get up to 2 years to complete. I've worked since my year out and I'm due to submit my dissertation this year (2nd year). I feel like I've been out of academia for a while now and I'm trying to do the best I can in my dissertation and really want to get a distinction.

I never thought I would I would ever do a PhD but the opportunity had arisen for me to apply for a studentship for 1+3 years and the topic is what I'm most passionate about - I do it as a job and it's what all of my research has been focused on. It almost seems too good to be true!

I'm worried that I've been out of academia for a little while and won't manage it? Or that I simply won't be good enough? How do I know?! My marks at distinction level have always been low 70's so it's not like I'm comfortably acing it... I feel like I need to be sure as I'd be quitting work to do this!

Any help would be hugely appreciated!