Just thought I would start a thread about positive experiences. Can't fault mine. Got turned down first time from ESRC for funding but department found funding for me. Following year got funding from a research council and now coming to the end of second year. Lovin' it. Got two very good supervisors - well defined research topic - great department and loads of training (if i want it) as well as faculty bending over backwards to offer support. training and teaching (extra pay). I know there may be hard times ahead but am I the only one with a good experience?

Hello, I'm just wondering how did you transfer onto research council funding during your second year once you had started your project? Just out of interest what uni are you at? It's great you're having a good time, I've got to look forward to starting mine soon!

I'm at Manchester Uni

You can apply for funding from research council in 1st or 2nd year but not 3rd year. I had departmental for funding in year one then got funding from the research council for the last two years. If I hadn't got research council funding the department were happy to fund me for the full three years but research council funding is more money - so I took that.

Thanks camper, that's always useful to know. I'll have to check where my funding is coming from. I think it's a uni one.

I'm so glad there are actually people out there enjoying their phds as i haven't had any of the stresses of applying other people have had (within 3 months i'd had offers from everywhere i applied to) so was still really looking forward to it then started hearing all these horror stories about terrible supervisors and and it being the most miserable experience and got really stressed about making the right choice so its nice to hear there are some good experiences out there too

My PhD is one of the best things I've ever done, I didnt have any problems getting in, I'm better off financially now than when i was working, my supervisors are a bit strange, but great/supportive, I'd recommend it to anyone. But does it differ across disciplines I wonder? I'm soc sci

Maybe you two were lucky as some people I know just fall into a PhD without really trying while others have been on a rollercoaster! It could also be related to your subject as I know science is really competitive due to the lack of funding! This is particulary true for certain areas especially for non-commerical fields!

Dear doodles - it is not a matter of falling into a PhD without trying - i funded myself through a masters - got turned down for Phd funding from more than one place (even with a masters with distinction) but I persisted and got funding in the end. I have certainly been on the 'roller coaster' of getting funding and PhD funding in the social sciences is a lot more difficult to get than in the sciences as there are a lot less funded PhD in the social sciences cont-

cont- My point is that I have enjoyed the process of doing the Phd and have not had any of the difficulties some students mention on this forum. This may be to do with luck or it may be to do with taking a different approach to study. It may also be that the process of applying for PhD funding in the social sciences seems slighlty different - I chose my own subject, defined my own proposal and nominated my own supervisors(who I already knew well. I think this helps avoid some of the problems some PhD students experience.

I have recently completed Msc from Jamia millia islamia University.
I would like to do phd in USA.
Does it make any difference for joining phd.Because American hates one community strictly.They don't want to consider them easily in phd right?