Hi,
I am a second year PhD student at a UK uni. I fund my PhD by lecturing to students at the university. As you can imagine, i dont have much time to put into this and thus not much money comes out. I am rapidly running out of money which will force me to dump my research. I have made significant progress so far and do not wish to pack it in.
Do you have any advice or suggestions for me. I have tried the ESPRC route with little sucess. HELP!!!!

simon

Could you go part-time instead?

I could do that I suppose. The problem is that I really want to be done in the three years alotted. As I mentioned before I have made substantial progress so far and am well on the way. goinbg part time is not as desireable for my purposes. Maybe I have to change my priorities.......
Basically my research is not funded, I need a grant/sponsership to see me through or I will have to abandone it, which is not good. Has anyone ever tried writing begging letters to companies? if so how effective is it?

simon

Hi Simon, I thought that since you already have experience with teaching at your university, getting some more money this way would be an easier route than finding money from elsewhere. I've never tried writing a begging letter to a company myself, but I would imagine that you're not likely to get a response unless it was in a company's direct interest to give you money....

....But maybe if there were some companies out there who would be interested in your research. Maybe having the contact with industry during your PhD would help your job prospects once you've finished...I'm just guessing here though! It would also depend on whether when you have finished, you would stay on within academia or whether you would be more interested to go to work in industry I suppose. I hope I've been helpful!

Thanks Karen, it is really useful to talk possabilities over with someone who doesn't have a ultierior motive!
Do you know of any charities that fund Information systems research. Almost all of the chartities I have seen fund only medical research.

Simon

Hi, I'm afraid I know absolutely nothing about funding for your field. Have you tried looking at the Grants register (Palgrave/Macmillan publ.)? It's a big book of all registered charities and grant-awarding bodies in the UK (I think). If your university library doesn't have a copy, your local library should hold one; they're normally in the reference section. Maybe you could also approach your supervisor for advice on how to attract industrial sponsorship - maybe he/she has some contact with industry him/herself?

Karen, I have located a copy of the grants register and can't make head nor tail of it! To be honest I think this is a non possability. Thanks for your help
:)

As it turns out i have an interview for a full time position at my uni next thursday. maybe this will help. Thanks for your input Karen

You're welcome. Good luck! :)

Part-time? I started full-time on a grant, partner got sick, switched to part-time and worked. It's hell but doable.