I'm new to the forum so forgive me if I am repeating a previous topic.

I have been accepted to 6 RG unis to do my PhD - thrilled. I haven't got but need funding to do my PhD, and was wait listed last year for a full studentship but didn't make it. I got some feedback this year on a unsuccessful RC funding application and the main point was that despite a well written research proposal and a Distinction at Masters (also from a RG uni), my academic profile was not as strong as my competitors. Prior to that Masters in [discipline] research, I have a vocational Masters related to my field. I can't get published in my field (arts and humanities and I've tried..) until I'm at least a PhD student and I attended conferences during my Masters. Short of undertaking a third Masters related to my PhD - what advice can anyone give to 'strengthen' my 'academic profile' for funding applications?
Thanks for reading.

Forgot to include (and can't find the edit button!): if I did undertake a third Masters, it would have to be part time..

It sounds to me like the funding streams must be extremely competitive - I can't see how a third Masters would be needed when you already have a distinction in a research-focused Masters. I'm not in arts and humanities, but sadly I think the funding opportunities are very limited in this field and you may just be up against huge numbers of applicants relative to the funded places available. Is it possible to widen your search at all? (eg scholarships offered by non-RG universities?). Maybe others can offer more specific advice about this field. The other possibility may be rather than doing a part-time third Masters, starting a part-time PhD.

Thanks Chickpea! You're right, all of the arts and humanities research council and university administered funding is fiercely competitive. I've looked more at well matched supervisors rather than RG unis for my PhD and so that element has been more of a coincidence but I was thrilled to be accepted never the less. Each of my unis belong to different DTPs so I have given myself as good odds as possible and one can only apply to one DTP member uni for DTP funding. I am just stumped..

Hi Hopeful - congrats on your acceptances. Persevere for funding! I am not in arts and humanities (though I've done some teaching in that faculty at my uni as there is some crossover with my topic). So coming from a different area but perhaps equally competitive, I have two possible suggestions. First, outside of your Masters do you have some research assistant experience? If not, it might strengthen your application if you could get some - maybe by volunteering if no paid roles are available. Second, I would ask each uni for specific feedback, i.e., how were others' profiles stronger than mine, and what would strengthen my application next time. Finally, a slightly different approach but perhaps a possibility. A friend of mine was so determined to do her PhD that she started it by self-funding. Now she is nearly a year in (part-time), and she is applying for funding. It is a risk, as she may not get it. But her supervisors think she has a good chance, as she has already demonstrated that her project is up and running and has a good chance of success. So my final suggestion is that you could find out if there are funding opportunities available for once you've already registered and embarked on your PhD. I defo agree with Chickpea that part-time PhD would be preferable to a third Masters!

Thanks so much Tudor_Queen!

I don't have research assistant experience, but I've sought it.. there are very few already funded set projects in my field and all the projects I have looked at have had PI's who hold professorships and then teams made up of academics already holding lectureships and RAs coming to the end of their PhD's. Even in my old Dept, there was a project requiring a research assistant position but it was only open to those already in PhDs, I could look at research assistant positions in other fields but I feel unqualified re methodologies.. But I will look further into this as I am willing to give anything a go - thank you!
I've asked for feedback from each funding competition - both from the DTP and uni in question but the DTP's have said that they can't provide feedback due to the volume of applicants(!) and prospective supervisors are not part of the decision making process - I have felt brilliantly supported by them throughout the various applications. One prospective supervisor said my funding application (which I asked for feedback on) was strong than some previous ones that had been successful- I still didn't get it! The feedback I reference in my original message was from one of the Departmental panels who decide which applicants get to go forward to the DTP for consideration.. I'd asked other panels but again faced the 'we don't offer feedback' response! I am so grateful for it even if it did leave me a bit stumped..
Yes, the DTP's and applicable internal funding competitions allow students to apply in the first year of study.. But to start part time and then apply for funding full time, would then only allow a partial scholarship ie two further years which would mean completing in 2.5 years.. but perhaps that is better than not at all!! And if I didn't get the funding, I would be gutted to have to leave.. I will investigate further..
Thanks so much for your advice :)