Hello,

I am applying for PhDs this year and was hoping to hear from other people with undergraduate degrees from the OU. Years ago, I started an undergraduate degree in Psychology at a brick uni but got a bit disillusioned about the whole uni experience and decided to work part-time and travel. I eventually decided to finish my degree at the OU so I could keep working. I finished with a 2:1 and went on to get a Distinction in my Masters at a brick uni which has a very good reputation for research. I am applying for PhDs this year but I'm finding it difficult to get potential supervisors to respond to emails. I have made sure my proposed research topic matches well with their interests and always attach my CV. I also have 3 years of paid research experience (albeit part-time), part of which is within a clinical setting for a NHS/NIHR research trial.

I would love to hear about experiences from other OU graduates who have successfully applied for PhDs and also received funding for their PhD, but particularly in Psychology as I know this is an especially competitive subject area. I would also appreciate any tips in contacting potential supervisors. Thanks!

Can anyone help Fififi?

Yes I'm an OU graduate who got funding for a PhD. I was previously a science student, to PhD level, but had to leave that after a progressive MS-like illness started, at just 22. And I then retrained, always studying part-time, as a historian, with an OU BA(Hons), then a local taught Masters. And then straight on to a part-time PhD.

I started self-funding that second PhD, but applied for AHRC funding in my first year. Which was optimistic, particularly because I'd had prior research council (EPSRC) funding in the science PhD. So the odds were against me. And even more so because humanities funding is extremely scarce. Out of every 5 usually excellent candidates who applied to AHRC back then, only 1 would get funding.

But I got it! I don't think PhD supervisors should ever view OU graduates unkindly. If anything OU graduates need more determination and self-study skills to complete, which is just what you need to do a PhD. Can you stress that more in your application? Or perhaps there is something else about your initial approach which may be putting potential supervisors off, and you need to rethink how you approach them a bit?

Oh and I had a 2.1 in my OU degree too. And a Distinction in my PG Masters. So we're very equivalent :)

Good luck!

I did things the opposite way round, and did my undergraduate degree with a brick university and my Masters with OU. I got a funded Psychology PhD place after completing the Masters, and the fact that it was with OU definitely wasn't a problem. I asked my local OU office for a reference for PhD applications, and the reference was great and stressed how self-motivated and independent you need to be to complete an OU qualification, so if you haven't already, I would recommend asking OU for a reference to send with your PhD applications.

I would love to hear about experiences from other OU graduates who have successfully applied for PhDs and also received funding for their PhD, but particularly in Psychology as I know this is an especially competitive subject area. I would also appreciate any tips in contacting potential supervisors. Than
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asad