Hi everyone
I would like to take part in doctoral symposium. What I’ve noticed so far is that the majority of doctoral symposiums do take place between April-July each year. Does anybody can suggest any symposium in autumn? Please share your experience if you have participated in any not just in the UK.
My area of study is business, particularly food supply chain.
Thanks.

Thanks all for the comments.
Now I understand, that according to the view of the officer, just studentship it’s not enough money. At the same time I must say, that I live in Newcastle. Believe me that my living expanses per month are around £700: accommodation – £360 (double room), food - £150, travel expanses - £20 (there is a free student bus running from the place where I live to the City centre and the Uni), other (clothes, books, going out) - £ 120. Therefore in fact it is really possible to survive for both of us.
But still one question is unanswered - how much do our parents need to add to my studentship for the satisfaction of the entry clearance officer?

Thanks for your comments Smilodon and Sheena!

Unfortunately I don’t have an opportunity to ask the officer any information about his decision. It’s just one way communication. Yes, I can show that my parents and her parents are able to support us. They have a stable income, some assets, and savings in banks. But again the question is about that minimum or is it enough to show the savings of my parents in a quantity of approximately ₤ 8000? Perhaps the answer is clear – We have to show as much as we can.
Sheena, your idea about detailed account of my leaving expanses is really good. I think I’ll do it and the officer will be able to see that this amount of money is enough.
Concerning the help of the international officer in the uni, I want to say that they are not so helpful. But anyway tomorrow I’ll visit there office and ask for the advices as well.

This is the story. As far as I understood £12,600 per annum is not enough for two people to survive. But how I or my wife can change the situation? The only answer is to use the income of our parents, but they earn not so much. I can add that according to the learning contract I can’t work, so I can’t increase my monthly income. If you have any comments how to change the situation or what are the main points, which should be mentioned in the appellation, please, you are more than welcome. As you aware the time to appeal is limited (we have just 20 days). Sure that you are more experienced than me in such kind of questions and may be you know that minimum amount of money which is required to open so wanted UK visa for my five.
Thanks.
P.S. Sorry, I’ve split the story into 3 parts because it is to long.

This is the answer: “I have refused your visa application on this occasion because I am not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that you meet all of the requirements of section 76 of the Immigration Rules. I note that your husband in receipt of a university grant of £12,600 per annum and as of 27/2/2008 has savings of £3699. Given that your husband intends to be in the UK until at least August 2010, I am not satisfied that there will be sufficient funds to maintain both himself and you for this period of time without recourse to public funds”.

About ten month ago I open the following topic: “Possibility to take a spouse during PhD studying for non-EU citizen”. Now I would like to open a new thread and share some information with you. My PhD goes OK. After 4 month from the beginning my topic was approved and now I fully involved in my research. But not everything in this life so bright and simple. Two month ago my wife (we are both Ukrainian) applied for a UK visa. She submitted all necessary documents to a UK Embassy in Ukraine. Four days ago she received an official answer from the officer.

Dear Wild Type,

thank you for the information. Just one question, did you have any problems to get a visa and work permit for your wife?

Thank you wuyeh.

I think I have some experience of being abroad. And I am not afraid of another conditions, situation etc. I’ve spent one and a half year getting my Master’s degree in the Republic of Ireland. I had some training in the UK, Germany, Denmark as well.
So for me it’s not a problem to study in the UK. The thing I wanted to ask is the possibility to take my wife with me. Of course not at the beginning of studying.

Thank you for the information, which is really helpful.
What I found about the students:
- Your husband, wife or civil partner and any of your children under 18 can come to the UK with you during your studies, as long as you can support them without needing any help from public funds
- Your husband, wife or civil partner will be allowed to work in the UK if we give you permission to stay in the country for at least six months.

Thanks I'll ask. But meanwhile does anybody know such examples?

Hi everybody!

I had been looking for PhD opportunity in the UK for last 4 months. I passed successfully several interviews and was selected for the PhD fully funded program at one of the British universities. I am really happy, but I have one question unanswered. Does anybody know here, is it possible to take my wife with me to UK during my PhD study? We are both non-EU citizens.
Cause if it is not possible, I am not sure that I like to go there without my wife.

I will appreciate if somebody can give any related information.

Thanks OZ. I’ll try to follow your advice. And the most interesting and probably important thing for me is to hear from you that you’ve found PhD over the internet. This information is a kind of support for me. So I’ll continue my searching.

Thanks Shani.
I’ll try the link you provided.

In addition I wanted to ask all participants of the forum: does anybody have successful experience in searching for PhD opportunity using the Internet. If so, could you please share some details?

Hi all!
This is my storey.
Firstly I am Ukrainian.I am looking for PhD and my attempts are not really successful. I have been trying tofind PhD approximately for 5 months (mostly internet search).
My background is agricultural. I obtained Master’s degree in Agriculture and Rural Development at UCD,Ireland(results: more than 60 %) and MBA in Ukraine.I am really interested in two research directions:1)agricultural cooperatives (development, efficiency etc); 2)GMOs (awareness of people, economic evaluation of usage).
As for me to be progressive in on of these two directions it is necessary to do such research in UK/EU, where the researches are much ahead(in a compare with Ukrainian researches).As an example there are no agricultural cooperatives in Ukraine i.e. nobody wants to explore this field. The other interesting topic is not developed either. It is very sad but true. I can’t start PhD in Ukraine because of a lack of such research themes. On the other hand I can’t start such PhD in UK because of the lack of PhD programmes for international students (funding). Of course I could be wrong, but…
The help I am looking for contains advices (where to search, whom to send proposals etc).
Thanks in advance.