I agree, its very variable. I'm also new, been here about a month and half and still very much in the reading phase. I tend to set myself little tasks every day that I have to get done, like reading and making notes on one paper, downloading a couple more, a bit of data coding, a bit of teaching stuff. I keep the tasks small so I don't feel overwhelmed, but over the course of a week it adds up to quite a lot. I'd also say you can't really compare yourself to other students as everyone has different topics and work at different paces. So just relax and go at your own pace :-)

I just found out I was unsuccessful in the 1+3

Not quite a disaster as my dept have already offered me a studentship equivalent to ESRC rates, but still a bit of a blow for morale. I wasn't really close anyway, my proposal etc was rated 'A' but apparently they could only fund some of the A+ proposals (I have also been quoted the 465 apps versus 85 awards).

So well done to those who have been made an award, you've done really well - and for the rest of us, never mind but the competition was very steep!!

Thanks everyone

I'm so chuffed, it hasn't quite sunk in yet. Finally I can start contributing to this forum instead of just lurking!

Frederick, finding funding is indeed a tricky business. I am going to Leeds Uni, and they have a good website identifying all the potential sources of funding students can apply for. I would say most unis will have a similar service through their research degrees office (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

I've been waiting impatiently to hear about ESRC funding (I've applied for a 1+3), but was very happy to learn today my dept have offered me a studentship! So even if I don't get anything from the ESRC, I'll definitely be starting my PhD in September.....I'm so happy :-D

Good luck to everyone else currently waiting to hear about funding! x

Hi, I am in the same boat in that I have been offered a PhD place and I am waiting to hear about funding. I have been put forward for ESRC 1+3 funding, and been told I should hear about it in the first week of August.

Hope that helps.

Congratulations!! Thats great - as far as I know, this means ESRC are going to fund your masters (the '1' bit) then your PhD. So you are sorted! I am in for the ESRC 1 +3 Open competition, meaning I am up against all the other applications...

If you can't think of a topic you want to do research in, I have to wonder why you want to do a PhD in the first place?

Why don't you have a look in some recent journals for topics that interest you and go from there.

Jojo and jouri - of course I respect your opinion and I don't know how hard writing up will be - but to say that you have to choose your PhD OR your relationship is madness. My relationship is very important to me and there is no way I would sacrifice a decade of love and happiness for a few months of stress and hard work.

I have a friend who got married just before her writing up phase, and she did say writing up was stressful, but being married helped her; her husband was there to support her, and I'm guessing if it is as stressful as you say than emotional support can only be a good thing. My fiance is very supportive of me wanting to do a PhD and fully understands it will take up a lot of my time for the next few years. Note I say 'a lot of time' and not 'all my time', however - life must be balanced

I don't think there is anything wrong with getting married whilst doing a PhD. I am getting married next year, at which point I will hopefully either be doing a MSc or in the first year of a PhD. By next year we will have been together for 10 years, and for the last 3 have been living together and both doing undergraduate degrees at the same time. We are used to working together at home, and yes, it has been hard at times. But if your relationship is strong enough, it should take more than doing a PhD to shake it apart. Good luck.

Thanks Shani, that really is helpful. I am going through the different sections of the form now, and scouring the ESRC website. My supervisor is brilliant and we are working on the form together

Thanks

It is for the Open competition. Thanks for the tips, I am going to look at the forms properly tomorrow. I know it is uber competitive, so your help is very gratefully received!

Hi all, my dept have chosen me to go forward for an ESRC 1+3 award, so now I have all the forms to fill in. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice, things I should focus on etc?? Thanks!

Hi, I'm in the pot for the 1+3 open competition at my dept so I have been given all the guidance notes to read in case they pick me to go forward. As far as I know, if you are offered and you accept a 1+3 place from the ESRC you are committed to spending the next 4 years at that institution...I don't think you could accept a 1+3, do the masters then apply for +3 somewhere else...I don't think it works like that.

Hope that helps somewhat.

Yes Hypothesis, indeed I am

You'll also have guessed my area is psychology!

Yes Hypothesis, indeed I am