Hi

I just saw on the website of findaphd.com there are a lot of phd projects which have already defined research area and future things. I just don't understand if I see something that I am interested in in those phd projects, do i still need to write a proposal? and what is the difference between such phd projects and if I write a proposal myself then apply for phd? Thanks a lot.

The PhD's on findaphd will tell you if there is funding attached etc so you can apply for a project which already has funding. You won't need to write a proposal usually, you apply like it is a job - each might be different but it should tell you what they require you to do, a CV and covering letter is the standard format, and then you interview for the post - it'll likely be quite competitive if it's a funded project. Writing a proposal yourself I would guess is a very different process, but I'm in sciences where that is very rare so I don't know much about that I'm afraid.

Funded usually means that the cost of the PhD is covered and you will get a stipend to live from. If you write your own proposal funding is not guaranteed, you will need to talk to your potential supervisors, they will know more about funding in your subject area - often applying for funding this way is very competitive too but it really depends on your subject. I'm not sure I understand your question about the degrees being the same, PhD's are the same level of degree no matter what. It's just planned projects you have a research idea from your supervisors to work on and if you format your own proposal the idea is coming from you.

Hi Chen

A PhD is a PhD, funded or not - don't worry!

A funded PhD will usually be set up by the university in question as part of an ongoing research initiative in that subject area. The department / lab / supervisor will have some funding available to support a certain number of students and will be seeking applications to find the best candidates.

Because these are set projects (the money is there to support work on a specific topic) you won't submit your own research proposal in the same way. Instead, you'll need to show that you're the right candidate for that particular project.

Funded projects are more common in some subject areas than others - Arts and Humanities students, for example, normally write their own proposals. This doesn't mean they can't be funded if the university has money available, but in these cases studentships are usually just offered to the 'best' students, not tied to specific projects.

I hope that helps a bit?

Best

Mark

Chen,

I prepared a blog for students a long time ago to explain the PhD process from a UK perspective. Hopefully it will be of help to you.

As others have said, if you see a funded PhD offered the proposal process in order to obtain that funding has already been carried out by the University concerned. You are thus applying for the PhD as you would for a job (CV plus covering letter or alternatively University application form for the position).

As funding is already in place, competition for funded PhDs can be quite intense as it would be for some sort after jobs.

You only forward a proposal when you are designing your own project to a University / and or funding body in the hope it will be accepted.

Ian