How can you get funding for a PhD without a proposal though?

Hi, I wouldn't be applying directly to the research councils myself - the university has to do that, as you said. But if I go to a supervisor with a proposal and they're interested, they can then apply for me for the funding.

golfpro - the funding is EPSRC - you get 6 months funded out of the 12. but even that isn't guarenteed. I find out this month sometime if I'm one of the lucky ones.

I am committed bar some worries about funding. Initially I'd wanted to go straight to PhD work but the more I've thought about it the more I think the Mres is the best thing for me to do.

Since you know Trish Harrison I'm wondering - do you work at Lancaster?

Also, what reading would you suggest?

Wow, did you go to Lancaster or...? Intense in what way?

golfpro - yup that's the one. do u know them?

404 - thanks, good luck with your PhD

Unfortunately the deadline for research council funding was May

I do really want to do the MRes - I think it'll be great preparation for a PhD and it's taught by Alan Dix as well. My only problem is funding (it's only part funded) and also having to move - but these are more inconveniences than real problems. I'm hoping that having an MRes on my CV will mean having a better chance at getting PhD funding.

I check the job.ac.uk website pretty much every day lol - i'm that sad. If something comes up I'll definitely apply but I think realistically it will be Lancaster in September for me.

When you say final year - do you mean 3rd year of a PhD? Do you think you'll be finished by the time your funding is up?

Ah cool! I'd love to go to UCL - but I'm put off by the high cost of living in London. Have you done a PhD or are you looking? What uni did you go to?

You're probably right. Maybe I'm just too choosey

What are your interests?

I pressed return to take a new line and it added my message instead! I just wanted to add - 'thanks though!'

Yuk - engineering. Brings a tear to my eye

MRes in HCI at Lancaster

My uni had 20 studentships going recently for staff to bid for. None of the staff I knew and had taught me were able to take on supervision though so I ended up writing my own bid, contacting staff who hadn't taught me who agreed to supervise me... but it didn't get chosen. Sucks.

Yeah I've been looking since December for funded studentships that already have a project topic but I've had no luck.

I'm in between Psychology and Computing so depending on what angle I go for it would likely be the EPSRC or ESRC.

I've decided to take up an offer of an MRes course and in the meantime I am going to hopefully get some support to get a proposal together to apply for funding for a PhD. I can't just sit around waiting for the right studentship to come up - because it might never come up.

How difficult is it to get Research Council funding? What are the things they look for when allocating funding to people?