I'm not in exactly the same situation, as i'm european. but i've made a similar experience. i've been applying for phd positions in february, only to be told that there was no funding available and that i was too late for it. since i only got the idea of going to the uk for my phd at the end of january/beginning of february, i had no idea how the system in the uk works. i leartn from these negative replies though: funding for phds is decided very very early on in the year. the deadlines for scholarships/studentships are in january (at least the ones that i checked out), and the procedure for applications actually can start as early as october the year before the start of the phd!! one year ahead of time!!
i think you have two options: either you wait for a year and apply for a phd starting in october 2010, or you can find a phd position that is fully funded already, and where you don't have to apply for funding yourself :)

i can totally understand, i wanna scream too from time to time... it's hard to see your path sometimes or ways how to get through... all i can say is, take it one step at a time and take your time. don't get too stressed about the future, do what you want to do in the present. do what makes you happy, that's the only way to stay sane i guess :S

Thanks for your replies and information so far!

the pay in NL is subject to taxing, it's seen as a "normal" salary, kind of. I don't know how big the percentage is starters have to pay though... i think it's at least 20%, but don't know how much.

do you have to search for the funding yourself? i've seen some descriptions of funds and they say they don't give the money to individuals, but rather to the organisation/your supervisor. so i assume, you first should try to get a job offer and then search for funding... correct? or do the institutions usually already have the funding they need for the phds, so you don't have to go apply yourself for funding? (guess that depends on the lab ....?)
if you apply for a job, could you expect the supervisor to help you figure these things out? but again, that might depend on the character of the super... argh, such a difficult matter lol

Hello all,

i tried to find answers to my questions by searching the internet and this forum, but somehow i don't have much luck with the search engine here, so, sorry in case these questions are asked over 'n over again :S

i'm german, studying molecular life science in the netherlands, i'm in my last year (obtaining master of science degree in summer) and currently doing a research internship in melbourne. i'm planning on doing a PhD next, but i'm unsure yet where: either the netherlands, or the UK. i know how the system works in the NL (phd lasts 4 years in which you do both your research, write your thesis and publish meanwhile, and you get paid 2000E/month in the first year by the department you work with, 2500E in your 4th year), but i have no clue about the UK. i'd really like to do the phd in the UK, but i need some general information about it first. that's why i'd like to ask a couple of questions:

- so far i figured out that it lasts 3 years. does that include writing the thesis and publishing, or are the 3 years purely practical work?
- what is the pay for starters? i've been searching this point, and i'm starting to get the impression phds in the UK don't get paid by their institution but have to apply for funding themselves... if that's true, it's kinda scary :S but of course, i guess that's for native phds...? i'd like to do the phd full time, but i don't want to live of my parents anymore, i want to be independent. the dutch system offers that opportunity, and i sure hope the UK does somehow as well...
- does anyone of you know someone from non-UK EU who is doing the phd in the UK? i'd like to talk/hear about their impressions and experiences, i think that would be very very helpful...

i bet i'll come up with some more questions, but right now, these are the ones that bother me the most.
thanks in advance!

Greets,
tydra