See our Funding and PhDs Explained sections for links and information.

Sorry Bayo, the Association of Commonwealth Universities is probably woth looking at, but funds for writing up are quite hard to find.

The reason you haven't had an answer of us earlier is that if we had to write a reply to every question we can't answer on this forum, we'd never answer the ones we can. We also don't usually answer if somebody (like Ann) has already said all that we could. Good luck

See our Funding and PhDs Explained sections for links and information. Funding for overseas students is very hard to come by. The best place to find funding is almost always your own department of education.

You can take a MPhil, PhD or DPhil in Law at any university Law School. According to the University of Cambridge web site "The LL.D (Doctor of Law) is awarded to established scholars who have given “proof of distinction by some original contribution to the advancement of the science or study of law”, almost invariably in the form of published works." It goes on to say "The level of attainment required for a higher doctorate (LLD) is very substantially higher than that required for the Ph.D. degree".

You can read more at http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/courses/view_index.php?course=6&tripos=0&subjects=0" target="_blank">www.law.cam.ac.uk

It might be possible to get research council funding, but you cannot apply to the directly yourself. You would need to find an academic supervisor who would apply to the research councils for funding for such a project. If your employer wishes to have benefit from or even have access to the intellectual property generated through your PhD research (ie your results) then they would also need to be involved and would be expected to commit financially.

There's no minimum studentship. However industrial partners for CASE or CAST awards are asked to contribute a minimum amount towards the students maintenance grant (around £2-3000 per year).

The trend in the UK has been for the value of research council studentships to rise above the rate of inflation. The value of studentships doubled in the ten years from 1990 to 2000 and will have nearly doubled again by the end of 2006. When comparing the value of a studentship to graduate starting salaries you should remember that a studentship is tax free, (making a £12000 studentship equivalent to a salary £15200). You are also left with a full tax allowance allowing you to earn a further £4700+ tax free (based on single persons tax allowance).

Impact factors are a useful guide, if you can get hold of them. Try looking for the RAE rating of the department as well.

If one of your groups has publications in one of the very big leading journals (eg Nature, PNAS, Science) then the chances are they're pretty well known and respected in their field. If the article's by a large number of research groups then don't give it so much weight.

Usually research council funded studentships are available to UK and EU students, however the EU students grant is for fees only and does not include funds for living (rent, food, travel, etc). It may be that your industrial partner's contribution is allowing you to be paid the 1000 per month.

Check with the international and/or postgraduate offices at imperial college or ask your grant awarding body for a copy of the terms and conditions of your grant.

It's genearlly considered good to move institutions. Partly because it shows you're not doing a PhD because you can't think of anything else to do and can't be bothered to look around. It will also expose you to different approaches to your subject, which will be a good thing. Having said that as long as you're working for a good supervisor on a project that fire's your imagination then you can't go too far wrong.

Glad to be of help anonymous. Once you start your PhD don't forget to keep returning to the forum to share your experiences. Better if you pick a name though, there's an awfull lot of Anons about. Good luck.

Like any big city Manchester has good and bad areas to live in. Take advice from other students when you are looking for accomodation and you shouldn't have any problems. Manchester is a great place to be and much cheaper than London. Stop worrying.

The best people to ask are the people who have offered you the position.

Yes, but what for? You should be trying to get a postdoctoral position which will allow you to move in to pharmacology.

Yes, but what for? You should be trying to get a postdoctoral position which will allow you to move in to microbiology.

Funding for a PhD in philosophy will be difficult to come by. When you speak to universities about there Masters courses ask them about the PhD opportunities that might be available to you.

The people most likely to know about any funding which may be available to you will be the departments offering PhDs in your area of research, the British Council in your home country, or your own department of education.