Thanks for the advice guys. I've started to put in some applications. My main problem is that while I am not to bothered about where I study I am really concerned about what I study. I know from past experience I struggle to motivate myself if im not really interested in a topic, so i see little point in starting a phd in a topic i dont know im interested in just to get funding. As such ive written a pretty detailed proposal, and im just going to apply to as many places as possible, hope theres someone interested in supervising, and then hope im succesful in winning a studentship somewhere.

In doing it this way ive also got the problem that my proposed supervisor at one of the places ive applied for is also my undergrad tutor and referree! So im not really to sure how to ask her to supply references for other uni's when ive already been accepted on a phd for her to supervise! Any advice on this, or should i just really outline that I couldnt study at all without funding?

Hi,

i was wondering if some people could explain there experience in applying for phd's, particularly in humanities/ social science subjects where they were expected to write there own proposals and find their own funding? Particularly how and at what point did you go about finding funding, did you apply to more than one uni and if so when and what made ur decision on where to study?

I am hoping to begin a phd in economics in sept, but am struggling with applying and knowing what to expect. I have written my proposal, which had been checked by a couple of tutors at my old Uni who have said it's fine. Basically I've identified a few places that I'd like to study, but require funding to study anywhere. All of these places have either Uni, department or esrc quota studentship comps, but having spoken to admissions I am aware the places for each are fairly restricted. My current plan is to submit an application to all the places I am considering and apply for all the studentships possible and see if I'm succesful with any. I would then study where I could get funding, or my preffered choice if I was offered funding by more than 1. If nowhere offered me any funding I would have to decline all offers and restart the proccess next year. I was hoping to find out if anybody else went about this a similiar way, or is it expected that if ur application is accepted at any one place u will definately study there? I don't like the idea of meeting with various potential supervisors only to decline offers come the summer either because I cannot get funding or get funding else where, however i would be grateful to know if this is any way common.

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated. This whole phd proccess appears to be incredibly complicated when not being able to self-fund and writing ur own proposal!

Thanks.

Thanks maria, Ive spoke to a cpl of other people who have said a similiar thing in make sure you will enjoy the topic. I think i will but I'm pretty unsure of how im supposed to know this untill I've spent a decent amount of time reading in to this. I did a lit review on the topic in my msc which i really enjoyed but this was only for a few weeks.
On the second part I dont see any reason why i need to really live in the city. Its about a 2 1/2 hour train away and with it being an economics phd I cant see any reason why I cant work from home and travel for seminars / meetings as necessary, however im not sure how to approach this with the supervisor without sounding uninterested. any ideas?

Hi,

I have just been offered a fully funded ESRC CASE studentship at a good uni, (top ten in RAE) and I am unsure on whether to take it or not. I have two real problems, the topic is different from one i planned on studying, micro rather than macro economics and the location is a long way from home. I want to do a phd mostly cos i just enjoyed researching in my Msc. Is it unrealistic to think i would only need to be at the uni a few days a week and could work from my home the rest of the time? Would i be foolish to turn this down in the hope my of getting funding from a nearer uni for september on my own proposal?

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Hi,

I was hoping someone who has been through the process of an economic phd application could offer some advice on my situation. I looking at applying for a phd in Macroeconomics/international finance, to start in 2010. Basically I would like some advice on how to begin the process and gaining funding? I completed a MSC Economics (expected distinction based on exam results) in sept. following a BSc economics (2:2) both from top 10 uni (top 20 economics). I am basically struggling to know where to start. as such i have the following questions:

1. I have been looking at websites for top economics uni's (lse, ucl, warwick, ox, notts) and wonder whether these would be realistic?

2. should i just submit applications or try and email lectures at each uni i plan to apply to first in order to check interest in supervision? are open days worth visiting to discuss points with people in the department?

3. at what point would i need to decide which uni i accept an offer from (assuming i get accepted in to one)? this really refers to funding, as it would clearly increase my chances of funding if i applied for studentships at every uni i got in to, however if applying for research council studentships am i right in assuming i can only submit one application from one uni? i would be unable to start without funding, so accepting a place and rejecting others, than failing to get funding would mean waiting another year.

4. am i likely to actually get any funding in the subject area / unis / my background?

5. does it matter to funding bodies / unis what i have done this year (after finishing msc, befor starting phd?) basically i am working in a job unrelated to economics just to earn some money. is there other things i could / should be doing to remain involved in economics ( i have applied for 2/3 research positions, but am reluctant to take other economics based jobs just to quit in 9 months)

i apologise if some of these questions appear obvious and for the fairly random nature of the questions, but this is a pretty daunting prospect to be starting out on as im sure some of you remember.

many thanks