Hello all,
I am in the very lucky position of having to chose between accepting the offer of EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant or a University Research Scholarship. While the latter is seen as more 'prestigious' I wonder what things I'll lose out on compared to the DTG. I hear rumours that both my first classification and mature student status will get me extra cash - can anyone confirm this? I'm also wondering if EPSRC offers additional value through peripheral stuff like free courses (UK-GRAD for example), etc.
I think my department want me to take the URS for various reasons but I will argue the toss if it means I lose out.

Thanks for any advice you can offer,
C.

The benefit of being with funded by a research council is the increased opportunity to attend research trainings, but many uni's now fund their own training courses anyway. The EPSRC website should say whether they give you the money or the university the money to fund courses.

With respect to having a first classification or being mature student, I have never heard of getting more money for either reason. I don't think there exists an official 'mature student' classification at postgraduate level...when does the council/university consider someone 'mature'?

Hi there

this is the ESRC student funding guide which tells you all about what you will be eligible for:

http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/Images/UPDATED%20Postgraduate%20Funding%20Guide%20Aug%2007_tcm6-12067.pdf

hope it helps

The benefit of being funded directly by your university is less bureaucracy/reviews etc.

I always though getting research council funding was more prestigious than getting funded via a university scholarship/studentship. I'm funded by the latter..so I'd be quite happy if it is the other way round. :)

Thanks for the replies everyone.

With regards to prestige, I think it is just that there is more competition for the University Scholarship (i.e. there are less of them on offer).

I would take the one with most cash including extras like travel etc. But I thought you weren't technically allowed to hold two offers. I'm university funded and it's only given if you cannot get other funding having proved that you applied for it. So I'm surprised you actually have the choice - I would ahve thought your uni would insist you took council funding.

Of course, uni funding is superior