Overview of chaotic1328 on PostgraduateForum.com

Overview of chaotic1328

Signup date: 07 Oct 2017 at 8:33pm

Last login: 02 Mar 2024 at 4:12am

Post count: 112

Recent Posts

Part-time vs full-time

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From bignige:
Hi all

I have created a FB group entitled "PhD student exchanges" for anyone who fancies joining it!

N

Correction: The group is called 'PhD ideas exchange', and is at present jointly administrated by Nigel and myself. The group is for people who are studying for a PhD or interested in doing so, to exchange ideas and/or set up meetings to discuss anything under the sun. Please feel free to join. If you cannot find the group under that name, please add me (Nick Wool) on FB, and I will invite you to the group. Thanks.

Part-time vs full-time

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

the more the merrier! Is it possible to create a group here (if not, maybe we could create a FB group?), so that all who are interested can arrange meetings etc.?

How to approach a potential PhD supervisor

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

BTW, to save time as you are getting very near to the deadline, if you have a near completed proposal, have you consider doing your PhD at your present uni? You are still in contact with most of the academics on your course, and they would know your academic abilities, so references etc would be quicker. It might also be easier and better to try and find a potential supervisor there. After all, you are expected to work closely with your supervisor for the next 3-4 years, and having some knowledge of what they are like would be helpful.

Part-time vs full-time

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From Nad75:
Hey N,

I'm studying Politics at Nottingham. Self-funded, international and classified as a 'mature student'. :) Although, I think most of us first years are 35+ . I've had to make a decision to either work part-time and take all four years, or really push hard to finish in two and live off savings, and I think the latter plan is what I'm going for! Which uni are you attending? (also feel free to PM!)

What's Politics at Nottingham like? Its also my field, and I hope to start in 2018. I did think about Warwick and Birmingham, but decided against the idea as it would mean relocating. Maybe we could grab a beer/coffee and exchange some ideas when the weather is more conducive to driving (I am based in the North East).

PhD funding

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From TreeofLife:
I doubt there's a country in Europe where every single student receives a stipend. In the UK, EU people apply for PhDs that come with a stipend and if they are successful at interview, then they get the PhD and are awarded the stipend. Most non-EU students are self-funded or are paid by their employer or government, so they do not get stipends. Other students without stipends will pay from their savings or via loans, which is not recommended.

Think the way it is going, funding for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will get even more competitive, and loans might be the only way for a large part of the population to pursue a doctorate in the future.

Also, interviews are not always necessary part of the funding process. Two of my funding applications will only be judged on academic achievements, the proposal, supervisory fit, the strength of the references and the CV.

Is a PhD with a 2:2 and a pass at Masters possible?

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From bignige:
I have been speaking at length with a senior lecturer post doc of many years standing and he is of the opinion that grades are not that relevant and that applications should be considered taking into account many other factors.

That is seemingly what has happened in my case.

I have had rejections - but none based on the class of my degree - the majority have been simply that the institutions concerned have not had suitable supervisors.

N

Whilst I think that the lack of top grades need not necessary prevent anyone taking on a PhD, especially for the self-funded route, it would be over-egging the pudding to say that grades are irrelevant in the process. It is probably a fact that top grades do open more doors, and top grades from 'top' unis even more so.

The vast majority (if not all) of funded places do list top grades as prerequisites, and most RC funds do seem to be concentrated in RG unis. I don't see why RG unis outside of Oxbridge should be considered 'better', but it does seem to be case in terms of RC funding.

Hope you have some success in getting alternative funding, and looking forward to that beer/coffee when it gets warmer.

How can I get PhD offers? Please help

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote
Then I try to shift my career and have my first MSc, result in 3.16 GPA in 4.0 system, not something bright, and a year ago I finish my 2nd MSc with 67% overall score. However, I received 3 funded PhD studentship offers, and even 1 interview from Oxford.

That is indeed impressive. What field you are in, and what sort of funded place were you offered? I am hoping to start a funded PhD in 2018, and would appreciate any advice on the funding process, primarily as back-up in case in my first choice doesn't come through.

Thanks.

How to approach a potential PhD supervisor

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Think you might have left it a bit late for entry in 2018 if you are looking for funding. I take it you have not yet found a supervisor who is prepared take on your project, nor have a compete proposal. The supervisor is the key, as s/he will steer you to the right pathway, and the other nitty-gritty of the funding process. If I were you, I'll contact the potential supervisor you've identified, and try to sort something out ASAP.

My experience (I am hoping to start a funded PhD in 2018 as well) is that you can apply for funding without a confirmed offer from the uni. In other words, you can apply for both at the same time, or even apply for funding first, then apply to the uni for a place. You certainly haven't got time to wait for the offer of a place from the uni and hope to meet funding deadlines for 2018, so I'd try to put the application for funding in first, with the help of your potential supervisor, if s/he agrees to take you on and think that you have a decent chance of getting funding.

Good luck with your quest.

Thinking of starting a PhD in Education (aged 49)

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Why self-funded? Given your grades and the topic, there ought to be plenty of funding opportunities.

Funding

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

I think Law is under Arts and Humanities, so you should be under the AHRC if you are looking for RC funding. However, if you can find any non-RC funding sources, such as charities, interested organisations etc., they may be your best bet. RC funding in the form of DTPs/DTCs are highly competitive, and without top grades, are impossible to obtain (minimum requirements are a very high 2:1 + very high Merit, preferably with at least a First or Distinction to be plausable).

Is a PhD possible with Undergraduate Distinction and an upper 2:2 for Masters?

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From Tudor_Queen:
In my experience (ESRC funded) a masters definitely is not a requirement. I know people who went straight from undergrad to PhD on research council funding, and very recently too. I was advised to do this, but went for 1+3 (and am very glad I did as that masters training has been my bedrock).

You may have to be very patient and also consider alternative ways of getting funding, as grades do matter when it is so competitive. Could you turn that dissertation into a paper? Could you find a sponsorship and go for a CASE collaboration scholarship?

Maybe it's region specific? The ERSC Funding Guide in our region states that a Master's is necessary in all cases.

TYPES OF AWARDS AVAILABLE
4. A range of studentships can be applied for (in line with the host institution regulations), including:

a) +3 Year Studentships for students who have already completed, or will have completed by the
commencement of their PhD, a Masters that included 60 credits or more of core research methods training.

b) 1+3 Year Studentships for students who are yet to commence a research methods training Masters degree.

c) +3.5 Year Studentships for students who have completed, or will have completed by the commencement of
their PhD, a Masters in a relevant discipline, but who have not completed or will not successfully complete
60 credits or more of core research methods training. Students selected for these awards will also be
registered on and required to complete a 60‐credit Research Training Certificate during their first year of
study, but receive an additional six (6) months funding in support of this.

d) 2+3 Year Studentships for students needing to undertake a research training Masters and a language‐
training Masters. This type of award is only available to students funded to undertake research into the
Language‐Based Areas Studies (LBAS).

Sheffield Hallam

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From bignige:
Anyone undertaking a PhD at SHU?

N

You got an offer from Hallam? Congratulations. Certainly less travelling than Preston.

How can I get PhD offers? Please help

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Ouch indeed :-D
There are always exceptions and as I said in a previous post, I had to improve from a 2:2 myself before I could take the PhD.
In fairness, school level education is such a low barrier to clear that this probably wasn't the best example for me to give. Mind you I dont recall making any comment about devaluing the undergraduate degree. You got the high 2:1 at undergrad so clearly my comment about devaluing the PhD wasn't aimed at you.

Good luck with your application.

Take this as banter rather than anything else, as my head is aching from trying to get two proposas done to what they expect, and so am using this forum as a welcome distraction. I was making the logical deduction that if low undergrad degree grades devalue a PhD, then by the same token, non-existent A levels would devalue an undergrad degree...:)

How can I get PhD offers? Please help

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

[/quote]

No I don't think so.
Excellence is an absolute not a relative thing in my opinion.
My ability to excel at playing the guitar doesn't depend on how good you are for example.[/quote]

But surely if everyone can play the guitar like Hendrix, then that's the norm rather than anything out of the ordinary? And only people who player better would be classified as 'excellent'?

Is a PhD possible with Undergraduate Distinction and an upper 2:2 for Masters?

chaotic1328 112 posts
7 years ago

Quote From bewildered:
For the social sciences a masters has been expected for the last two decades. The ESRC made it an expectation in the late 1990s I think, when they started funding research methods MA/MSc programmes.

I am a little surprised that the ESRC do a +3.5 studentship, for those whose Masters lack the necessary research method trainings. Can't really complain, as that's the funding I am applying for, and an extra 6 months funding always comes in handy.