======= Date Modified 13 Aug 2008 21:21:27 =======
Congratulations to all those with funding!

Sorry to hear about the bad news stressed :-( , like others, I hope you find alternative funding as well.

Good luck to those still waiting.

P.S. This new layout is so different! At least you can edit your posts now.

Good morning everyone, may today be the day for lots of metaphorically fatty letters!

yes, I agree with stressed, you must apply again next year, because I think the system will be a bit better as well, especially if you're going to the same department/uni as your MA study or half way through your PhD, because the people making the decisions will more than likely know more about you than a 500 word proposal

the university you're going to has to fill in a bit of the form as well (is this something new for this year?), so I'll have to send it to them, and trust that they'll send it on in time...I'll be making a lot of calls next week!

Thanks everyone!

dervish-so sorry to hear about the bad news but please don't take it as an indication of your academic abilities

FYI, declined awards do go back into the pot (as it says on the decline form), so I think that's why some people don't hear back until late August/early September I think, so if you're a grade 2, they might just keep you on a waiting list. I know it's really cruel to make you wait so long without any certainty...

Oh, with regards to cutting down costs, they should have an automated system online where you can find out/accept/decline etc. Cuz now I'm stressed about my acceptance form being lost in the post...lol

It's a standard sized envelope, with a window for the address.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400105&mediaId=47500706

^^^ the "bills" envelope.

It's sent 2nd class, the letter is dated 1st August. OK I'm off to celebrate!

Good luck to everyone, it might turn up tomorrow.

Thank you guys!!!!

I'm panel 2 I think, I'm doing American Studies, not literature based though, more towards cultural/film studies, so I think panel 2.

All I've got is a letter, acceptance and decline forms, it doesn't even tell me how much I'll be getting. They've referred me to the website for the details and terms and conditions etc. I'm guessing it's to cut down costs (more money for actual awards)?

Oh I'm RPM Panel 2 (I think...) for information.

Hi everyone, The TLoD is no longer the TLoD!!!!

I came home after work just now and there was a thin letter for me from AHRC, my heart sank as I prepared for the rejection. So I've opened the letter and started to look for what grade I've received, but it was an offer of an award!!!!! I'm in shock...I can't believe it. After all that time waiting for a fat letter, it's a thin letter this time!!!! I'm so so happy!!!!

So be warned, the thin letter is not bad after all!!!!

Sorry to hear that pamplemousse, about your husband. hope yours will be successful. It must be really hard for you both to be students, funding 2 PhDs...

Yea me too...unless you're applying to a completely different university for PhD study, in which case they'll have no idea who you are!

Also, I'm thinking maybe universities which currently have their own studentships will no longer have them if they're successful in gaining these BGPs, which means less chances for us to get funding...but who knows, I'm sure there'll be plenty of time to stress over that next year. For now, I just wanna know about MA funding!!!

P.S. When is it OK to call the AHRC??? I never received my postcard back in May, but spoke to someone who assurred me my application will be entered into the competition, but I'm being paranoid and think they have lost my application!

Hi everyone, I've not had anything for the past few days either...although yesterday I was convinced that one of the thin letters I've received was the TLoD, but luckily it wasn't.

I'm thinking the RPM and PPM letters won't come out until late August since all responses so far has been for PhDs.

Found this on the AHRC website for next year's competition:

http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/apply/postgraduate.asp

It might be a bit better since the universities themselves will administrate the awards, but on a negative side, there might be more favouritism.

Yes, in short, for the money. But it's more than that, for me personally it's because I don't want a 9-5 desk job, doing some meaningless paperwork for the next 35-40 years, and hopefully will be able to contribute towards a greater understanding of (some aspect of) humanity.

I was told by someone at work the other day (an accountant), that I was just going back to university because I didn't want a proper job! How cheeky! I'll be glad in a few years time when (hopefully) I'm paid for doing something I genuinely enjoy rather than just a job that pays the bill.

I hate having to wait until 6PM to get the post…but then again, I'd probably hate it equally if I was constantly peeking outside the window, stalking the postman everyday...

I didn't have any post today :( Maybe tomorrow...even if it's the TLoD

By the way, if anyone is interested in posting at an AHRC specific forum (as everyone is quite scattered across different forums at the moment):

http://ahff.freeforums.org/index.php

fees*

why can't we edit posts