Hi all,
Im currently studying a MSC in Criminology, and after this I very much hope to undertake a PHD.
Quite straightforward - or so I thought...
I am really confused on how one goes about finding a Funded PHD Programme in a relevant research discipline - I have looked through the most common search engines and jobsites and have become even more confused than I was previously!... Funding through ESRC, RCUK, AHRC, SSW DTP... University scholarships, Fees no Stipend, Fees with Stipend, Bursary.. Research proposal, no proposal.. Choose a supervisor based on their field of interest.. Identify the university based on their productivity.. AARRRGGGGGHH!!!!!

All I want, is to find any courses that offer funding, in an area of research relevant to myself - is that so hard?

All suggestions and contributions gratefully received..
Liz

findaphd.com and jobs.ac.uk advertise everything. They are the only sites you need.

You can filter on the first one to only show funded PhDs. You can narrow it done to research area or region of the UK on either site.

I am starting a Law PhD next October and I have been searching for weeks and found it impossible to find any funding via any of the sources you refer to Peachypie.

My proposal covers the rule of law, access to justice, legal theory and human rights.

I am going to fund myself.

N

Found this:

Hi Liz, this response is with reference to your last 2 comments regarding supervisor and university. Not being in the UK I can't comment on the various funding packages it offers, and you have already received some good suggestions from Tol and BN.

Was thinking about this the other day while reading the comments of others and thinking about my own choices...your supervisor is a really important piece of your success in the doctorate and you also want to be happy with the university you have chosen. I think though it can also depend on your preferences and projected pathway and when you know these and how you prioritise them-this can make a difference in your order of priorities.

Eg: I was fairly well aware that when I undertook my phd that it was not likely to lead to academia (given my life stage and financial commitments) and that for me, the supervisor came second to the university, proximity, being able to interact with people physically if I needed, etc. Given that I work with a range of different people in my fulltime work, not all of whom would be regarded as easy to work with and have learned to do this and shrug off issues, having a university with both an excellent reputation and one that I could access regularly (in person) was really important. More important than having a particular supervisor or being enrolled in any university or having to only visit occasionally.

However, in an earlier life, if completing the PhD in my original discipline full time, I think the supervisor would have been far more important. I was lucky and my main supervisor has been amazingly supportive and caring, but had she not been, I would have coped as I did in my Masters (with a nice but very different supervisor whose working style was very different to mine and at times the relationship had its tensions). It might be very different situation though if I had a difficult supervisor and spent more time with this person or they abused their power. Plus, if this person's reputation might help me with an academic career, then this also would be an important factor.

I think finally when it comes down to these choices (beyond funding as this is often a legitimate dealmaker or breaker-we have to eat and live), then they are very personal and they relate very much to what you are hoping your PhD will lead to in the future and what you value most.

The short answer to your question is: yes! It is hard to find funding these days, especially in the social sciences. We are talking in the region of 60K for a three year studentship, so you are expected to do some leg work to try and find that money, rather having it handed to you on a plate.

That said, I think your first port of call should be to your personal tutor and/or your director of research at your current uni. They can offer you the best advice to the funding process, and may even suggest opportunities at your present uni. You next port of call should be to contact suitable academics as potential supervisor at other unis, and talk to them about your interest, and also tell them that you are looking for funding. They should be also to tell how likely you are likely to get funding, if they are interested in supervising your topic. Here I am only talking about RC studentships, and individual funded projects are usually advertised on the websites that other posters have suggested.

Good luck with your quest.

The minimum requirements for a funded RC studentship is a strong 2:1 + a strong Merit, but its likely that you would need at least a First + Strong Merit, or preferably, a strong 2:1 + Distinction to have any realistic chance of getting funded, given the strong competition for funded places. Time to work hard in your Master's...:) BTW, you ought to hurry if you want to start in the 2018 academic year, deadline is Mid January for most RC funding applications.