Hi This is my first post. I was wondering whether anyone has ever or heard of anyone who has been offered a phd through the work that they were already doing via msc or bsc? I've kind of been offered one but I don't know if I'll still have to go through the formal application process and be up aganist everyone else, or I can just be awarded the place and funding?
For my msc I came up with a really good project, with too many ideas to look into for just my dissertation so one of my supervisors got in touch with other people in 4 different unis to turn my ideas into a project that they are trying to get research council funding and commercial sponsorship funding for. What's the likely hood that I can just pick up the project when the funding arrives, or will it be advertised and I'll have to go up against everyone else. I'm not technically the best academic person on paper, hence why I'm a bit worried that someone else will get it instead of me.
Does anyone have any experiences similar, or have an idea?
Thanks

You can just be given the PhD, but sometimes they still make you go through to whole application process even though you definitely have it anyway - including applying online and completing an interview. This happened to one of my lab mates and they told him it was all just a formality so there's no need to worry about the interview or how good the other interviewees were - he definitely still had it.

They can probably just give it to you anyway if they wanted to, even without a proper interview.

On the other hand, your supervisors may not be so moral and prefer another candidate over you in the interview and give them the PhD instead.

Bear in mind at this stage this project may not materialize because they haven't even got funding yet - and they might not get it at all.

I'm in a very similar situation. I'm halfway through a master's degree and I have been offered a PhD fully funded mainly because of how well it's going. The PhD wasn't advertised and I'm starting straight away instead of finishing my master's. I did have to go through the application process but my supervisor had most of my stuff on file so he was able to do it his end. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Hi beagles,

hope it all goes well with the funding application :)

My supervisors applied for funding for a specific project with my name included in the proposal. Once the scholarship was approved, the application process was a formality. But I almost went crazy waiting for the funding to be secured. I felt that my life was in a suspended animation for months.

Good luck.

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies, Yes everything is kind of on hold at the moment. The plan was to finnish my masters then get a job and put my husband through his as he's supporting me at the moment. He's more than happy to put his off as he's not really sure what to do any way, and has a good job just really boring. The only thing is we were supposed to move so we don't actually know what to do, do I sell my house still or do I just keep waiting. At least i know it is possible to just be given one, and I don't think either of them would double cross me. I was just worried about HR type people and department heads etc taking it out of their hands. I think I'll set a deadline then if nothing happen by then walk away as well as to keep applying for jobs anyway.