Yeh, I agree. But if you target at a lecturership as a career, then probably a Dr is essential otherwise PhDs are not advantaged in the job market. Anyway, good luck with your Mphil!

LUPlanning, do you mean that consideration of PhD application is concurrent with consideration of funding, with most of the US unis? If they can offer you a place to study, does it mean the same thing re funding? Anyway, money is the key, luigi, you can say that again!

Don't you think an Mphil does not make so such difference in enhancing your employability as you are still a Mr/Ms, not a Dr. I'd pursue it to get a Dr, or I'd quit it completely. An Mphil is pretty much like an MSc in your CV although it involves lots of effort, it doesn't look impressive to people outside academia though.

Hi Ju, normally it takes at least four weeks and even eight weeks is normal. It also depends on availability of supervisor(s) and research tutor who will have a look at your proposal first and decide whom it should go to. Then probably you'll be invited for an interview especially if you expect to get funded from the department. But as yours is a part-time one, the entry process shouldn't be too long though as they know money wouldn't be an issue. Good luck

PhD Candidate

Hi Faith, try IFUW www.ifuw.org for women research students. Also try ORS as it is the most popular source for overseas research students. Being overseas is quite disadvantageous in the UK academic world. Have you thought of applying for an American University and trasnfer your PhD there?

Can also talk to head of department for departmental bursary or any teaching assistant scheme. Although in most cases this is not available, no harm in trying though.

Your research proposal must tally very well with the central themes of the funding bodies. If yours is not that close, just market it in a way which can have a bearing on them. It's all about marketing. But I have to warn you that the competition for ESRC/AHRC and the like is very very fierce. You'll have to err on the side of caution to look for alternative routes. It is also better to look for some funded/ formulated projects which are advertised for research students. In that case, you don't have to choose a topic.

Konic, is it true that a phD in the US takes 7 years on average? The UK system might be too short-- just three or four years. But in regards to funding, the US academic world is a looooot better than the UK one.

Radicalann, you sound rather depressed and misanthropic. but anyway, have you ever thought that maybe a phD or publication is not all of our life, jump out of this vicious cycle and start doing something else and you will probably find something worthwhile and enjoyable.After all, I don't believe that the essence of life lies in a few publications and academics.Best of luck.

Hi humanbeing,there is one Welcome Trust which is target at medical-related topics including demography-related ones. Try that one although competition is extremely fierce. Some sites for your reference: www.nature.com, www.newscientistjobs.com, www.sosig.ac.uk/gv/. there is also an online trust search at http://www.egas-online.org.uk/fwa/trustsearch.htm, but the monies rarely exceed 1000 quid.

Haha, thanks, Shani. Yes, you are right, the power relations and inter(intra)-university politics are quite tricky and beyond our control. Anyway, I'll go for it! Getting funded is a right, not a privilege.

Sorry everybody, do you mind answering my question: If you were offered a studentship for one year and it is renewable for another two years subject to "satisfactory" progress, what is the chance of withdrawal of money by the scholarship committee or the funding body due to whatever reasons?

no PhD without Money.

Hi Humanbeing, I assume that you are doing the PhD in a social science subject? Obviously funding for humanities/social science is very scarce and very competitive. I am struggling writing up funding proposals and eventually I might end up with nothing. Even if you get it, is it also possible that they withdraw your funding after a year or so because they think your performance is not up to standard? The PhD is so costly and the employment prospects after the PhD might not be rosy--just a word of caution. So what is the point of doing a phD? Apart from the halo of a Dr title, academics don't get paid well enough. I'm thinking of giving up if I fail every funding application.

I didn't mean the 'best' motivation, but one big motivation. I was actually writing in reponse to Shani's suggestion that I get a job and do it part-time. Hope this clarifies.