Obtaining PhD
Hello,
Apologies if this has already been covered in another thread, but I have just signed up to this site. I am currently due to start an MRes in Education at my university, and am already thinking ahead to further study. I am seriously considering undertaking a PhD, if not immediately after my MRes then certainly later down the line. However, my knowledge of PhD funding is incredibly thin. I am the first person ever in my family to complete any sort of degree, and I have talked to very few people who have studied for a PhD, so I have no idea how such things work. My concerns have only been inflamed by warnings that obtaining funding in the humanities and social sciences is nigh on impossible. Could anybody advise me at all, or point me in the direction of a contact where I could find out more?
Thanks for reading,
Becky.
Hi there Becky,
In the social sciences, you can apply for an ESRC studentship. I applied for this during my MA (in the same subject as you) for PhD funding. From my knowledge, various departments at each university have a quota of places that are ESRC funded, for mine it was just 1 place. Some departments also offer their own funding, again, a set number of places. Your university webpages may advertise what funding is available for PhD study and in what departments as well as how many funded places they have.
If you are successful in gaining funding, you have your fees paid for you, and also get a stipend for living costs (roughly 14k, but usually more in London).
Obtaining funding is not 'impossible' (living proof typing here!) but it is incredibly competitive (particularly ESRC funding).
Oh, fantastic, thank you so much for your help! So are you doing a PhD in Education now then? How is it going, if you don't mind me asking? My academic ability is another concern, as I've only really heard negative things about undertaking a PhD! I know it will be a challenge but I don't want to be another drop out statistic, should I be fortunate enough to secure funding later down the line.
You are very welcome :) Yes I am. It is going ok I think! The negative things you hear about doing a PhD are not really linked to 'ability' in my opinion, its more like issues with supervisors and people feeling a bit like they have been chucked in the deep end and other problems.
With a PhD you are expected to work independently, but this varies depending on what supervisor you get from various stories ive read on here, and also in my own and colleagues experience; the amount of assistance you get varies a lot. I have always been told by older students and those who had come out of the other side alive is that the most important quality you need is 'perseverance' which I completely agree with as there are ups, downs, crashes, bends in the journey and moments of panic. My experience has been varied, if you come across another recent post on here by me you will see why I say this lol but during the good times I wouldn't have it any other way as on the whole im enjoying it :)
That is all very reassuring, actually! The people I have talked to have instilled me with a great sense of fear, frankly, but I've remained determined to do a PhD still. I'm glad to hear ability is not necessary too much of an issue. You see, I got a 2:1 in my undergraduate (English and Education Studies) degree, and I know a lot of people who do go on to PhD level secured a First for theirs. Fortunately, from what I've looked at, most PhDs seem to accept a 2:1, so hopefully I should be okay. I think in my head I was concerned that I'd struggle more than those who were high-flyers with their top degrees, and also that I'd struggle to secure funding in comparison to them. What is your research area, if you don't mind me asking?
My area is Higher Education but I do not want to say too much to maintain my identity on here- hope you understand! Yes when I applied to my PhD, older students already half way through that I had met during my MA instilled fear in me e.g. 'oh you will regret it' 'you will lose motivation fast and be sleeping all day and struggle to get anything done' but actually, I have never had an instance where ive slept all day or long periods of drift. There has been the odd week where I have felt frustrated or a little bit disheartened over typical problems with research and make an informed decision to put my work aside for a day etc. to clear my head, but I have not encountered any of the scenarios that the older students said to me.
Frankly, I feel if people are 'trying' to put fear into you they are just projecting their own issues with motivation onto you to make themselves feel better. It is good to discuss your phd with other students but I have come across some that continue with this negative 'advice' when they see you are doing quite well and I think that is to do with their own insecurities.
A 2.1 is what is typically required when applying for a PhD along with your MA. I got a first in my undergraduate but I do not know how far that went in the decision to provide me with the funding. I think it is more to do with proposing realistic yet useful and innovative research that will make a good contribution to your field.
Also, 'high flyers' at undergrad do not always equate to 'high flyers' at PhD level. During my PhD I have certainly noticed there is a huge variation in 'ability' and really, it is your skills of initiative, organisation, focus and perseverence that will help!
I completely understand, yes! I wouldn't expect you to disclose any particulars. Funnily enough, Higher Education policy is what I am hoping to concentrate on myself, should I be fortunate enough to undertake a PhD. For my MRes thesis I am leaning towards focusing on Widening Participation strategies. I'm really glad to hear you've had a relatively positive experience - it certainly fills me with hope. It's nice to hear a constructive outlook.
That is likely, thinking about it. I should imagine a PhD can be very stressful at times, and I suppose when somebody asks you what it's like it's easier to recall the negative aspects than the highs.
That's good to hear - many thanks. I am hoping if I succeed highly in my MRes (preferably a distinction in my thesis at the very least), then the 2:1 will be overlooked if it is indeed an issue. I can see how a strong research proposal would bear stronger weight. I'll admit that during my Undergraduate I didn't work very hard (too much partying and working hard in my part time job), so fingers crossed if I focus all my efforts on my postgraduate I should achieve higher.
I am really glad that I have reassured you and have taken some of the panic away Becky! Your areas are very similar to mine.
You are completely right regarding remembering the 'worst parts'; people are often more likely to broadcast issues they are having for a vent. At the moment im having some issues with supervision which I have posted on here about, which seems to be a common issue ive heard on the forum, but that is because there is no set 'rule' for how supervision should work at PhD level, just vague guidance. But then I have heard of people passing their PhDs even when they have been less than pleased with their supervision, so again, the qualities of 'perseverence' and 'determination' can overcome such problems to an extent.
If your research is of value in the current economic and political climate, I have noticed those projects tend to get funded in the social sciences frequently; mine incorporated both of these areas. Your MRes too will provide you with a good opportunity to strengthen your writing and get to grops with more of the literature which will be very beneficial for when you have to write a proposal for your PhD. It will go very fast and it is intensive but I found I was much stronger academically by the end of it.
I worked all the way through my undergraduate and masters degree in jobs and it was exhausting. I think this is why I feel (when things are going well and im in a chipper mood) the PhD is not horrific really, because I had the experience of working so many hours and very long days with my job and university in the past- I find a PhD is much less exhausting as it is flexible e.g. you may have an unproductive few days but you can make this up on the days where you are speeding through your work :) if you did that in a real job you would have people giving you a hard time!
You certainly have! It's incredibly useful to talk to people like yourself, to get the real low down on what studying for a postgraduate is like.
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. I've heard similar things from other people. Someone I know may have to pack in his PhD, as his supevisor has refused to continue helping him, and without anybody able to help him with his very specific topic area it's left him in the lurch. I do hope you manage to get it sorted, whatever has happened. Well, that's good to hear, at least. How does the marking system work at at PhD level? Is it simply pass or fail, or more complex than that?
That's great to hear; my potential research areas would more than likely be of value, in that case. I suppose with Education, it is one of those subjects which is generally of value regardless of the topic. Ah, great, I suspected the MRes would help me a lot to strengthen my research skills. I chose it as I knew it would be more suitable for a PhD than an MA.
You're similar to me, then, in the sense that I have worked during my Undergraduate (around the time my two dissertations were in I was particularly busy at work), and during my Masters similarly I'll be working in 2 jobs. So hopefully that should prepare me for the workload, as it seemed to you. That is very true! So do you work while you're doing your PhD, or would you say that is completely off limits? I know many compare it to a 9-5 job in itself.
Take a look at my blog on what a PhD is. Question 7 covers funding and funding councils, at least in the UK.
You should be looking at suitable studentships in your subject areas where funding is already in place.
Ian
Hi Becky,
With grading systems it varies slightly from university to university.
Most have 'pass with no corrections' which means that the thesis is good how it is, and does not need any further work; 'pass with minor corrections' which means minor amendments are required, these, from what I have heard, vary depending on your institution but typically are typos, clarifying small sections etc. minor corrections is a more common result than pass with no corrections; 'pass with major corrections' which means more extensive changes are required, maybe rewriting sections of the thesis for an example; 'revise and resubmit' which means many changes need to be made and usually refer to restructuring of the thesis, adding/removing sections etc. Finally there are a few different ways it may go if your thesis is not deemed as suitable to be awarded a PhD such as being offered an MPhil award/Masters, or if not even suitable for this, then outright fail.
These do vary between institutions, so I do recommend checking on your institutions web pages e.g. 'Major corrections' at some institutions may mean more substantial changes are required than what another institution would prescribe for the same result.
Regarding employment throughout a PhD, some funding councils do not allow you to be employed in a permanent contract but encourage casual work in areas related to your PhD. Other funding sources may not have a restriction on this. Personally, I do not think I would cope well if I had to continue my old part time job whilst doing a PhD, I was ecstatic to leave it behind when I was awarded the funding!
Thanks, Zutterfly, that's all so helpful! I really appreciate your advice. The world of PhDs has always seemed like such a minefield to me, but you've done much to quell my fears.
Thank you, that's really helpful! I would say the same to you, but I doubt there is much I could help you with. It's good to 'speak' to somebody who is researching in the area I'm interested in, though, so I do appreciate the advice! I hope the PhD doesn't get too stressful, and that you resolve the issues you've been having with your supervisor.
