The AHRC gives the university a certain amount of studentships in a five year period. It is then up to the university to select and dish these out. The AHRC must then approve the awards, but if you read the AHRC guidelines it says that it takes no part in the selection process, but must approve nomiations, which i think is mainly to check eligibility criteria etc. I think the other poster is talking about a different research body and I'm not sure if their regulations are the same.
Obviously you want to hear the definite 'yes', but it is unlikely you will be turned down.

I went through it last year and for me and the others I know of it was just a formality. I was really worried about it, but once it had passed the department/school/university bodies I think you are pretty safe. Good luck and congratulations on getting the nomination!

That sounds awful - makes me feel rather grateful for the freedom and support I get. How awkward as well that your supervisors are married. It sounds a bit like they are treating you like a school pupil or a lowly employee. Do you have a Director of Postgraduate Studies you could approach?

Hmmm, not really sure what to advise as I think that you can sometimes feel left out on a limb if supervisors don't respond to emails/get in touch etc, but from my point of view I would choose the subject I felt most motivated, confident and enthusiastic about as it is ultimately you that will spend 3 or 4 years studying and writing it up. Is there any way you could perhaps get a second supervisor to help balance out the lacks in your main supervisor's approach? I have two and this works well as one is a lot more down to earth and the other is very good at giving academic and research advice - so if I need a bit of mollycoddling I go to one, but if I need some perceptive and 'blunt' feedback I go to the other.

I am totally with you Florence. I'm in my second year and really thinking about suspending/quitting as I just feel like academic life is not compatible with my personal family values. I'm 25 with friends settling down and having children and I do feel like I'm missing out in life and I want to prioritize - I don't want to be trying for children in my thirties to find out I can't have them.
Sorry for rant but needed that!!

Hi Rebel,
I don't suffer from depression but do struggle with anxiety from time to time and I've just gone through a bit of a rough period with it and have struggled to get any work done. My supervisors are aware of it and have been really supportive - don't feel bad about it - what we tend to forget is that everyone has their own issues and struggles with certain things, just we don't always realise it.
To try to be more productive I try to work in different places and not just at home as it gets very isolating if you're by yourself all of the time. I sometimes take some articles or reading to cafes for a couple of hours so I'm out and about, I usually go for a long walk in the middle of the day to get some fresh air and exercise, I try to spend a lot of time with non-academic people as well - other friends, family, voluntary work, a part-time job - anything like that I find really helpful and grounding. My uni counselling service also has workshops about dealing with stress and depression etc, as does the graduate school.
Also, don't worry if you go through a bad patch - you can legitimately suspend your studies if you are ill and you cannot lose your funding (that's through my funding body anyway). It might be worth telling your supervisor just so they are aware and know why you aren't producing as much as you can. They also might be able to offer other advice and support - it is surprising how many postgrad students go through bad patches. It is quite understandable, though, I think, given the pressures present in postgrad life.
Sorry for rambling, hope you feel better soon!

I would apply for anything and everything and hope something comes up. Don't worry about pulling out or not being able to take the place if you don't get funding - this is quite common as there are usually always more applicants than funding opportunities so people inevitably drop off the radar. Prospective supervisors will also generally help with proposals. Good luck!

Hi everyone! Can I join!? I'm doing my PhD in French literature and have only just discovered this forum - what another excellent means of procrastination and distraction! I'm going through a writing phase at the moment. Does anyone else find they go through fits and starts where they get loads done for a couple of weeks then hardly do anything at all in the next few? I used to get really anxious about this, but now I just go with the flow and accept that it evens itself out over time. I also have to alternate quite a bit between reading and writing as I get bored of reading very easily (not exactly a good sign!).
Hope everyone is plodding along ok!