See our PhD's Explained section for information on relevant English Language qualifications. You will also find links there for information on equivalent qualifications.

DJ Wickid, Please send the £1,000,000 to FindAPhD so we can award the prize impartially. You can find the address on the contact us page

Contact the supervisor and ask if the studentship is still available. It is marked on FindAPhD with an EU flag which means that unless the studentship has been filled, it is available to UK and EU students. The grant to EU students may only cover course fees and not living expences - you should check this.

It depends how good you are - don't forget that both his current salary and the industrial one he is quoting include a London weighting of around £2000 or more.

If you are thinking of applying to an academic who has a studentship, but is asking for research proposals then the best thing to do is write to them breifly to ask what they want you to do in more detail.

Write to the supervisor expressing your interest in the project.

The University of Sussex in bassed on a campus in Falmer, which is just outside Brighton. Consequently it is a popular place. Many departments with the University of Sussex have a very good reputation. Which department are you going to work in?

Your supervisor was a PhD student once too and will be perfectly happy to tell you how much the stipend is. Ask them - if you discover they are a monster or that you are pathologically unable to talk to them, it's best you find out now.

Most post-docs start between 20 and 25000 pa. By age 30 you can expect to be nudging the £30000 pa mark, but it really does depend how good you are and how lucky you are. We've not allowed for inflation so it may be a bit more.

In industry you can expect a better starting salary and a more secure prospects at the start of your career.

Most people doing a PhD receive some sort of scholarship to cover fees and living expences. All PhDs envolve a high degree of 'learn by your own mistakes' training. Some however also contain some formal training, as well as 'on the job' tuition.

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

In the USA you can apply for the PhD place first and then attempt to get funding, but you may find that it is possible to secure funding before hand, which will make it easier to get a place.

Visit the Fulbright Commission web site for your home country (Nepal). If the Fulbright Commission do not have a presence in your country then contact the US embassy for guidance.

Many USA universities do offer scholarships for exceptional candidates. The Fulbright Commission in India will have information on scholarships, qualifications and application procedures.

See our PhD's Explained section for links and information on equivalent qualifications.

You should start applying for advertised PhD studentships from October onwards. New studentships come available throughout the year and are filled throughout the year. The busiest time for PhD recruitment is from December through until March. New spaces come available right until the middle of September (usually as a result of previously appointed candidates pulling out or not getting good enough grades), but competition is very strong if you apply this late and their are less projects available.

Check our Funding and PhDs Explained sections for links and information on eligibility criteria.

It depends on your area of research. Generally in the sciences and engineering academics apply to the research councils for funding for a project and then advertise for a student. Unless you have a well formed research proposal or your own funding it is better to wait for them to advertise.

In the arts, humanities and social sciences things tend to work the other way around. Students approach academics stating their research interests. If the academic is interested he or she will assist the student in applying for research funding (with varying success).