Hi I am new to this forum. I have always wanted to do postgrad study but am out of the loop having graduated with my first degree quite some time ago! I graduated with a BA Hons in Applied Social Science back in 2002. I achieved a good 2:1 despite many odds against me and I and dearly wanted to go on to further study but, to cut a long story short, I didn't have a clue how to do this. I had no support and life was difficult (none of my peers wanted to do postgrad study; I was the first in my family to go to university; I was a single parent of a young boy with autism; I had no money). I have always bitterly regretted not studying further, it is the only reason I went to uni to be honest. My ambition and passion was to be an academic. After speaking to a university lecturer recently who handles applications he assured me that it's not too late to apply again.. however I don't have the funds to pay for a postgrad course myself. I've seen 2 funded PhD studentships at my local university which I'd like to apply for but the closing date is a week today.. don't know if I should take the plunge and apply, can anyone advise or recommend any sources of help with applications in my situation? Thanks! :)

Of course you should take the plunge and apply - otherwise you'll never get it will you? Go for it and see what happens. To be honest though, I wouldn't get your hopes up, unless you have some kind of experience..

in the area that the PhD is in? If you don't have experience or some kind of things in your favour, you could easily be muscled out by others. But try anyway and see.

Thanks for the reply. The studentships are in health inequalities and obesity in my city. This is related to my degree. I hail from the area of deprivation that will be studied. I have also been working in the NHS for nearly 10 years, this should go in my favour? I'm a clinical audit facilitator.

This is probably my favourite saying : "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb.

So go for it. What is THE worst that can happen? They turn you down. Big deal!! Obviously a week is a very short time to write an application but if the worst happens you then have the basis for another application :) The best? You're on a PhD!

This is my opinion - not fact - having a MSc improves your chances of getting a funded PhD position, maybe apply for a part-time MSc and get some funding through work? As long as it is work related and you can demonstrate to your employer how they will benefit I can't see it not being considered. Again the worst that will happen is they say 'no' and you will have demonstrated a keen ambition to improve yourself and them.. at the best? They fund your MSc, you get paid time off work to study and you are moving closer to your ambission and passion.

Plant your tree today :)

Yes if you've been working in the local NHS that'll help a lot. Not sure whether you have an MSc? As AOE said that'll help, but you can get a PhD without a masters. Give it a go, you'll need to get cracking.

When I applied for my PhD, I was just feeling disillusioned with my job one evening, so I just banged out an application to my local university for a funded course that was vaguely in my degree area, and hey presto, I got the PhD!

Apply! You have nothing to lose!

Thanks , I just started the application and it says I need to submit a research proposal and a personal statement. Not sure how to go about doing the research proposal. It doesn't state any word count required etc, but I just read that they're usually around 3000 words long?

I am going to be no help what so ever Jane360 but normally there are application guidelines set out by the university - here are the ones from Birkbeck that I am applying to. One area says 1k words, another says 1.5k words and lastly one says 3k words, so I spoke directly to one of the senior lecturers and his reply was "I have never counted the words in an application".

What I was told is they are looking to see if they think you can do a PhD i.e what quality your application is, your proposal will look nothing like what you are working on in a years time anyway!!

Go for it! My proposal was around 1200 words long, but as others have said check the uni guidelines or ring the admissions department/doctoral college. Also, is there a named supervisor or academic member of staff you could discuss your application with before submitting?

I'm doing my PhD after 10 years working in the field, and the experience really helps. I had to complete a Masters though, before applying for the PhD.