The reality is that it is fiercely competitive to get any funding as a non UK student. Talk to the finance office at the Uni you're applying to, they should have a standard list of possible sources of funding. Also see if in your own country there are funds to help you as well. But you are right to be thinking about it now if you want to start next year. And apply to everywhere that is possible to get funding from, not matter how obscure it may seem. But also be prepared for a lot of disappointment.

How about applying? it may sound like a crazy thing to do, but it might just work!

Talk admissions at liverpool. They may have some ideas, also on their website they may give some guidance. Funding is difficult to get, so good luck

Just started, so have been looking for these books recently so that I could make a good start.

I have a masters degree, I am about to start a PhD. Hence why I am on this site!!!

Agree with Mel - check the university sites (e.g. Imperial, UCL) for research assistant posts somtimes they even "require" you to study for a PhD!

Im sure this question has been asked a million times on this site, but I really want to do a masters at the liverpool school of tropical medicine, but would have no way without a funding source, does anyone have any idea of any trusts etc that sponsor masters courses???? Thanks!

Hey, I know I have been wondering about this too. I think this webpage should inform non native speakers about the the TOEFL, since they won't get a studentship if they won't pass it. I guess many are just not aware of that...

Thanks again for your suggestions! So Stu how long have you been a PhD student for?

I'm hoping to leave it to do a PhD but at the minute I get 18K doing the more tedious lab jobs as well as a few more advanced ones.

Another good book is 'Your PhD Companion' by Stephen Marshall and Nick Green. This is a general overview, and gives many good tips. It is also cheap. I think i paid £6 for my copy

There is not a vast range on this site, and they haven't been updated in ages. I have seen a couple of them in waterstones and they are quite expensive too. You will notice that the subject areas on this site are very limited, you will find much more in a bookshop. Also with regards to research guides, don't go overboard and buy too many, they all say the same thing in a roundabout way. I have 'Authoring a PhD Thesis' by Patrick Dunleavy, this is very good, but costs about £20.

I have just finished my BA in creative and professional writing and i am hoping to be able to go straight to phd as financially a masters and phd are off limits.

oh, according to a quick web search, brazil nuts are best (source of selenium) "Just three or four Brazil nuts a day may help stabilise mood"!!! (Dr John Briffa on Guardian website)

Freddy - there is a mismatch, but I'm afraid I'm the workaholic. I would LOVE my supervisor to be pushing me rather than being completely disinterested. I think there should be a sort of pairing up process before choosing a supervisor - maybe a little questionnaire: "how many coffee breaks do you typically take a day?" "are you here to work or socialise?" etc. Stu, not sure annoying him is such a good idea-can be quite scary. I just remembered that eating nuts is supposed to calm you down, off to buy some. Cashews I think...mmm...