Hello All,

I have an unconditional offer to do my PhD in a RG university with a famous supervisor and I would like to apply for ESRC funding, but I do not know whether my CV is good enough for ESRC funding so I would really appreciate your advice:

I have an equivalent to a UK 1st in my BSc, but I only got a pass in my MSc due to mitigating circumstances (my BSc is from abroad and my MSc is from a UK RG university). I then on went to do a second MSc but I decided to leave with a PGDip with Distinction rather than with an MSc with a Pass as I thought that this would severely affect my chances to get funding; however, now I regretted having exited with a PGDip as they would see from my transcripts that it is a failed MSc. I also have a PGCert with a Good Pass, 2 publications in high impact factor journals with numerous citations (over 40 and 50 citations each one), 10 years of working experience and numerous scholarships/prizes (including a Marie Curie Fellowship abroad).

Could you please advice me whether this profile/background good be good enough to get ESRC funding? Or should I do a second MSc in a non RG university and try to get a Merit/Distintion so I can increase my chances to get ESRC funding? Or should I self-fund my PhD as I do not really want to miss the opportunity to do my PhD with this particular supervisor?

Many thanks for your advice.

Best wishes,
Sabela.

Hello All,

I have an unconditional offer to do my PhD in a very good UK university with a famous supervisor, and I am trying to decide whether to do it self-funded in case I may not get any funding at all. I would like to apply for the ESRC funding but I am not sure whether I meet the eligibility requirements/criteria to be awarded with ESRC funding so I would appreciate any advice before submitting my application for ESRC funding:

I have a BSc with an equivalent to a UK First Class Honours, but I only got an MSc with a Pass from a very good UK university due to mitigating circumnstances. I also have 2 publications in high impact factor journals with a high number of citations and 10 years of working experience in my field, but I do not know whether the ESRC panel would consider that is more important my MSc grade rather than my publications and years of working experience. In other words, even if I have publications and years of working experience, would I still have any chance to get ESRC funding even if I only got an MSc with a Pass?

Another possibility that I am also considering would be to do a second MSc and try to get a Merit/Distinction so I could increase my chances to get ESRC funding the following year, but I do not know either whether that would actually increase my chances to get ESRC funding.

And then my last option would be to do a self-funded PhD, if none of the previous options would work or if I do not get any funding from other trusts/charities.

Many thanks for your advice.

Best wishes,
Sabela.