Anyone know anything about getting funding for a phd?

[RosieH]

Any bright ideas on raising funds? A dear friend of mine has finally found the phd of his dreams, but is struggling to work out how he's going to pay for it as well as keep paying his mortgage and feed his child.

Obviously he's looked at all the usual routes, but I wondered if anyone might have any genius ideas on other avenues to explore - I've already suggested a Private Eye ad, and maybe buy a job lot of knickers off the market and set up a website called soiledpants.com

Anyone got any better ideas?

[katie1997]

RosieH - if your friend's PhD is in a subject that is of benefit to a particular industry then I'd suggest that he seeks commercial sponsorship in the first instance.

Otherwise, how about approaching the universities that have 5* ratings in that field, perhaps funding opportunities could be explored that way? The Russell Group is a grouping of the top research rated universites so might be worth a look too.

Or he could contact the relevant UK Research Council for his particular research interest.

I know how frustrating it is trying to find funding. Best of luck.

[RosieH]

Thanks Katie, I think he's tried all the usual routes - it's a really specialist course, and unfortunately the Russell group don't offer it - but I'm not sure how far he's got with the UK Research Council. He is some kind of genius, but not remotely pushy or self-serving, so I'll have a shufty at that.

I was also wondering if anyone knew of anything weirder, like batty old dames setting up legacies for deserving young men..?

[Brendan]

What is the subject?

[iaineasy]

my wife Saffron has a bursery for a Phd try sending her a PM im sure she could help you.

hugs.

[RosieH]

Brendan, is digi-geekery of the highest order (social media type rather than programming type).

I'd like to be able to tell you specifically what, but to be honest, I can't really remember - there was a lot of stuff I didn't understand, and other stuff that I did but I have promptly forgotten.

[Cassius]

Where is your friend undertaking his studies? If he's found somewhere and has been allocated a supervisor they should be very helpful as if the PhD is worth it, then the kudos of supervising it will initiate suggestions of funding. UCL were very patient with me whilst I looked into avenues of funding and were prepared to wait for me to have the funds before taking my money. In the end my project died a natural death but if the project is that good there are people out there who will be prepared to help out.

Edited to add that your friend could consider doing a part time PhD to start with - that would enable him to earn whilst he started his studies and once you are an insider it is much easier to find out about funding that it is from the outside. Every university has different rules for how long you have as a part-timer to research and to then write up your thesis so that might be another alternative route for him.

[ImpetuousVrouw]

What about helping out as a lecturer and/or tutor at the uni to help fund it. That's what lots of people in my old uni did.

[dulwichmum]

ImpetuousVrouw Wrote:

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> What about helping out as a lecturer and/or tutor

> at the uni to help fund it. That's what lots of

> people in my old uni did.

Contributing to the uni as a lecturer or tutor, in the current climate, is now often taken for granted for many Phd students. Even with full funding lovely Rosie, your friend will be looking at earning around 15K pa until he finishes his project.

[katie1997]

RosieH Wrote:

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> Brendan, is digi-geekery of the highest order

> (social media type rather than programming type).

>

>

> I'd like to be able to tell you specifically what,

> but to be honest, I can't really remember - there

> was a lot of stuff I didn't understand, and other

> stuff that I did but I have promptly forgotten.

RosieH - send him this link to the most companies using social media? Might be worth a try.

Despite what I said earlier, I think funding from UK Research Councils will have to be via his uni.

Sorry don't know any batty people out there with Trust Funds etc I wish

[RosieH]

Thanks all. The weird thing is he's not having much help from his tutor - who has told him, fairly explicitly, that he expects him to be full-time phd and not do any supplementary work. This sounds barking to me. Who the hell can afford that?

Maybe a little light gigolo work would help keep the roof over his head (though possibly the missus would be none too pleased).