Hello there,
I'm starting an MRes in September but am really convinced I want to do a PhD after it. I have a supervisor in mind (I did my Undergraduate dissertation with him and we got on really well), and a possible topic. I'm just not sure how to proceed from here. Would they expect me to wait until after I've completed my MRes before I start applying for a PhD? (Will they think i'm being a tad overkeen?) Also, how detailed does my application need to be at this early stage. I know I want it to be in Conservation Biology, and have identified a species in a relevant area, I'm just not sure how to pluck a detailed project out of the air because surely it will require permission from all sorts of different organisations etc...

Many thanks!

..Ohhh, I've just read some of the information on this site. I was under the impression that you could easily come up with your own project, but this site seems to imply its impossible to get funding unless your in Arts and Humanities etc. Has anyone here come up with their own proposal that has got funding, or indeed know anyone that has?

So I apply to the funding councils directly? I thought they only worked with departments. Argh! I'm reading so much contradictory information I think I'm going to go into meltdown!

I would have agreed with you Mia re Arts and Humanities. Hmmmm...

If you have a potential supervisor in mind, the quickest and easiest way is probably to ask them what you need to do. Good luck!

In most cases there are two funding streams - the department may have one or two internal studentships every year and then there are the research council "blue sky" studentships as well. My experience is that you often apply to the university for both together in the hope of getting one of them.

It's getting a bit late now for an Autumn start though, many of the deadlines have passed already. Other than that, if you're prepared to compromise you can compete for sponsored PhDs which will come up over the summer.