Hi all

I've been lurking on here for a while, generally scaring myself silly about the whole process of applying for & then doing a PhD... but I think the occasion merits my first post, as I've just been told I've been awarded an AHRC-equivalent studentship!

Can't describe how relieved I am... I have kids, a mortgage etc. and just couldn't have done a PhD without funding. So for the past eight months or so (I finished my MA last year) I've been completely in limbo, not knowing whether I'd be a PhD student in October or scratching my head trying to work out what else to do with my life. (I've tried living in the 'real' world - the one in which you're expected to look up to people like Alan Sugar - and it was frankly rubbish.)

So hang in there, everyone who's applying for funding - in spite of everyone telling you otherwise, it IS possible for mere mortals to get their hands on some, even in arts/humanities subjects.

Many congratulations and good luck to anyone else waiting to hear!(up)

Congratulations!

I'm waiting to hear if I get an MSc studentship from my host institution. But they'll only contact successful candidates, so I don't know if the silence means I'm already unsuccessful, or that they just haven't dispatched good news yet!

That's excellent! It's really competitive in the arts and humanities as you said, so you must be really good! :-)

Well done Magictime.

I've just heard today that my the uni won't accept my application because my (Arts/Humanities) res prop doesn't match existing research strengths at the Uni.

I've been invited to "shape my research interests in such a way that they could be adequately supervised within the school."

What are the options here?
- Resubmit a completely rewritten res prop?
- Attempt to proceed without AHRC funding?
- Give up?
-Some/all of the above?

Youngsta,

If possible you should consider going elsewhere. This strongly suggests that your department isn't particularly confident with regards to your supervision, and that someone elsewhere might be alot more appropriate.
AHRC funding is, however, highly competitive and many people will fail to get it. This doesn't mean that it's a hopeless case! You might want to think about whether your grades are sufficiently exceptional for you to be able to expect funding.
My other half just got funding for his second and third years, having failed to get it for his first. I also know of several other people in this position so all is not lost!!
S

What are the options here?
- Resubmit a completely rewritten res prop?
- Attempt to proceed without AHRC funding?
- Give up?
-Some/all of the above?

Thanks Pamplemousse (in a quiet whisper, whilst trying not to hijack thread):
Just a bit gutted having got a Distinction for my MA thesis, which was recommended for publication, and rated as unprecedented by my tutors. Ah well.

What I'm struggle to understand is the irreconcilable contradiction between the notion of innovation as valued by AHRC, and the necessity for the res prop to fit within the well-established research strengths of academic depts.

Too big a problem for my little brain, I suppose.

Youngsta - something I don't quite understand is why you suggest pressing on without funding as an option. As I understand it, your dept. has turned you down for a place, not just for funding... which suggests to me that your real options are a) come up with a new proposal, or b) find a new department.

The AHRC are obviously looking for a degree of innovation, but equally obviously they're not going to throw money at people whose research is SO innovative that it's not set in any recognisable context and no-one is qualified to supervise it! (I'm not suggesting for a moment that your proposed research is like that - just pointing out that there is a balance to be struck. Very roughly, I guess what the AHRC is looking for is new approaches to clearly defined, probably familiar problems.)

It really sounds to me like what you should be doing - especially if you're playing to your strengths with a proposal that builds on the work you did for your MA thesis - is find the right institution/supervisor for you and keep pursuing funding. There's no reason to think it's your ability or qualifications holding you back; I'd take your dept. at their word when they say they just don't have the appropriate expertise.

If that's not something you're in a position to do - e.g. because you're tied down geographically (like me!) - then I think it will be a question of coming up with a new or radically revised proposal that's a better fit for your department. Maybe you could be doing that in collaboration with a potential supervisor?

It might just be worth making a couple of points in relation to my own experience in case they're relevant:

1 - I got a fairly consistent set of marks for my MA modules (mostly 74s) and got a very solid distinction overall, but didn't produce any publication-standard, 'unprecedented' work. I really don't know what sort of balance institutions tend to strike between judging applicants by their best work and looking for a consistently high standard... my guess is that an MA thesis *that* good would be taken as a very strong indicator of your ability to deliver the goods at PhD level, but it's possible (e.g. if you didn't achieve a distinction overall) that someone without that sort of 'standout' piece might still be perceived as a stronger candidate.

2 - it's probably fair to say that the dept. I applied to isn't *particularly* strong in the area I'm researching in - but they are actively looking to enhance their strengths in that area. I suspect they saw taking me on as fitting in well with that strategy. So finding the right department for you doesn't necessarily mean finding a department that's packed to the rafters with people researching in your area.

Stick with it - from what you've said I'm sure there's a department out there that would be glad to throw some funding in your direction! Maybe you should focus on getting that piece published - that might swing it.

Magictime - Like you, I have kids and a lack of geographic flexibility to factor in. Like you, solid grades, - but my final 79.4% fell short of the Distinction threshold of 80%. Logic says I should submit a radically revised proposal, in collaboration with the department. But I'm reluctant to let go of my thesis, given how it was received at the time, and its role as the pilot study for my proposal. It's frustrating to be in this situation, given the claimed support for interdisciplinarity, and the prominent role of cross-cutting strategic themes in the AHRC's 'Future Directions.' I expected to meet some resistance, as my approach involves the experimental manipulation of variables, to demonstrate behavioural issues amongst consumers of arts/culture. It's incongruous to have on one side, arts funding bodies insisting upon fiscal accountability/broader audiences, whilst the research opportunities seem to be limited to the perpetuation of introspective practices, rather than engaging with issues that affect the cultural sector here and now. Publishing is appealing, but I'd rather push on. But I can't imagine devoting 6 years to a part-time PhD if I didn't feel passionate about its framework. Thanks for your comments.

Youngsta - gosh, I've never heard of a Distinction cut-off of 80 - I always think of 70 as the standard. Feel a bit silly now as I've tended (when applying) to talk about my marks without spelling out the criteria for distinction!

Now you've mentioned your family situation I can understand much better why you're in such a frustrating position. As I say, I was lucky enough to apply to my nearest uni at a time when they were looking to enhance their strengths in my research area - but I was always very aware that I wasn't in position to do what everyone says you need to do, i.e. up sticks and go wherever your ideal supervisor happens to be.

I feel really bad for you and wish I could come up with some magic solution, but at the end of the day I guess your options are just the obvious ones: either you need to cast your net more widely - since you'll be studying part-time, maybe you could consider a uni an hour or two away from home? - or you need to come up with a new project. Maybe someone in the dept. could help you identify a different direction in which you could take your MA thesis research that would still hold your interest? Something that would let you lay the groundwork for doing the sort of research you REALLY want to be doing further down the line?

(NB: I had a 2-hour commute to the Uni where I did my part-time MA, and it was OK - but saying that, I did always feel slightly at 'arm's length', especially when I was working on my dissertation and only had to be there once a month. Being so far from the library was also a pain, but still - might be doable?)

Very best of luck whatever you decide.