Finding a PhD place

1
Finding a PhD place

• November 1st 2007

2
Issues

• European places
• USA places
• Other OS places
• Home/EU or OS student
• Funding

3
RC-funded

• Home/EU get fees paid and stipend (13k pa)
• CASE (Cooperative awards in Science and
  Engineering) have an industrial partner and
  stipend is higher
• Must be a normal resident of the UK so OS are
  eligible but fees still OS
• Good HEIs, Institutes and companies will
  advertise from NOW onwards but may not know about
  RC awards
• Start date usually October but can vary

4
University studentships

• Similar to RC-funded but (usually) no residency
  criterion
• Ideal for non-resident EU citizens
• OS can apply but funding still needed for the
  difference in fees

5
ORS awards

• Normally pay the difference between H/EU fees and
  OS fees
• Often successful students will also get a
  university-funded studentship to make a full
  scholarship
• VERY competitive
• DBB usually gets one per year

6
Research Assistant

• Apply for a technical post as a research officer
  (on a research grant)
• Some universities (like Bath) allow you to
  register for a PhD if you are independent and not
  just a technician
• Can submit a thesis after 3 years so must be 3
  years funding

7
Marie Curie funded PhD studentships

• EU studentships in MC ESTs or ITNs
• Vacancy Tool for FP6 at
• http//cordis.europa.eu/mc-opportunities/index.cfm
  ?fuseactiondataForm.doSearch
• Vacancies for FP7 will start next year
• Good salary
• All nationalities can apply but there is a cap on
  fraction of non-EU
• Will probably need to go to another country
• Very competitive

8
Working in a company

• Companies may have their own RC-funded CASE
  awards advertised as usual in the normal places
• In addition some support their own research staff
  to register for a PhD at a collaborating HEI as
  an external student
• This would need to be discussed at interview

9
Getting the money yourself

• If you have a sponsor or can fund yourself it is
  easy to get a place
• Note that some may also request bench fees! Say
  no.
• Places available similar to number of applicants
• Best places oversubscribed

10
Advertisements

• Nature, Science and New Scinetist
• Flyers
• www.findaphd.com/ is the principle source of info
  on available places in the UK
• Closing dates are from now onwards
• Read weekly
• Some places have funds now some are awaiting
  decisions

11
Applying

• Be ready now
• Get your CV ready
• Get it reviewed
• Be prepared to write lots of letters/emails
• Invitations for competitive interviews are usual
• Giving a talk is usual
• Read the small print about eligibility

12
Q A