what does self funded phd mean

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Surviving the PhD Process as a Self-Funded Student

by emgregory2020 | Nov 27, 2020 | Teaching Portal: Careers , Teaching Portal: Transitions in HE | 0 comments

In this post, Dr Eilish Gregory, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Royal Historical Society and an early career researcher, offers an account of her own personal experience of studying her PhD as a self-funded student. While there were many scholarly and personal obstacles to overcome during the process, she hopes that for those who read this post, she can help remove the stigma often attached to students who are working alongside their doctoral studies.

When I started my PhD journey back in 2013, I was already aware of the many challenges I faced as a self-funded student. I had not jumped straight into doctoral studies after completing my undergraduate and graduate degrees. For a couple of years after completing my Masters, I applied several times for different funding pots to take the next big step and start a PhD in history, a subject which I have loved passionately since I was a small child, and which has helped me through some challenging moments in my life. However, as many other scholars and students have experienced, getting funding to continue studying at a higher degree level is incredibly difficult and competitive. There were two occasions in which I managed to get shortlisted and interviewed for PhD funding, but each occasion I was unsuccessful, which at the time was absolutely devastating. I reached an ultimatum with myself that either I should give up the whole notion of doing a PhD entirely and turn my attentions and energy to something else, or, that I take the plunge and do the PhD as a self-funded student and work out the consequences of juggling between two different working worlds.

As you can naturally assume from reading this post, I chose the latter option. I embarked on my doctoral studies as a full-time student in 2013 and passed my viva voce three-and-a-half years later. The doctoral process for everyone, whether funded or self-funded, can often be a rocky one, with obstacles appearing on the horizon at various intervals. I was incredibly fortunate that I started my doctoral studies with several other students who quickly became firm friends and who are still an important part of my life as an early career researcher. This vital network, helped immensely during the tough moments of research stumbling blocks, the occasional bout of imposter syndrome, as well as life’s other obstacles. I was also lucky that my main doctoral supervisor was easy-going about my work situation and who gave me good research advice and writing support throughout my time as his student. Unlike my friends who relocated themselves to be close to the university, I lived in a different county, so I spent a lot of my time commuting to and from university to carry out my research and collect new reading materials at least twice a week, sometimes making the journey straight after an early morning shift at work.

I worked in retail as a sales assistant throughout my PhD. I was fortunate that the majority of the managers and supervisors at my workplace were flexible if I needed to change a shift because of my PhD upgrade or to attend a conference, and many of my research trips across the UK were paid for by doing the odd extra shift at work or using up my paid annual leave to travel to different places. Although I was self-funded, I was still able to apply for financial support from the various travel and research packages that are offered by universities and the Royal Historical Society , which meant that some costs were offset if I needed to travel to a certain archive or to give a paper at an important international conference based on my research topic. Although all funding pots have various terms and conditions, it is always worth giving it a shot at putting forward an application. I was not successful in the majority of my applications, but the ones I was successful in were the ones I had applied for two or three times so persistence is often vital in these cases.

While this all appears optimistic, there were times when the doctoral process was tough on an intellectual and personal front. As I was juggling work and research schedules constantly, there were periods during the PhD when I was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted by the process. I knew this would be the case before I started my doctoral degree, and I wasn’t oblivious that there would be moments when it would be too much. When you are exhausted and having to maintain the energy and motivation to keep going, it can be hard, especially when people don’t quite understand what you are going through. At one point, I was working in my job, writing up my PhD chapters, doing a few hours of teaching a week, as my university offered me the opportunity to teach for experience, and I was also dealing with the death of a close family member. To me, that was the one of the toughest couple of months of my entire doctoral process, and I was thankful that course convenors and my friends were there for me at my lowest point, to encourage me in my writing and to act as a supportive network.

As a self-funded doctoral student, I also had to deal with a lot of stigma because of my financial situation. Despite the fact that relatively few doctoral degrees completed in the UK are fully-funded, many people in my position have had to put up with what can be quite patronising and derogatory comments about our self-funded status as research students. This had happened to me even before I registered to start my doctoral degree. One vivid example that I can recall is when one mature female PhD student said to me: “Why don’t you wait until you get married and have children first before you decide to do your PhD?” Nearly a decade later, this comment still astounds me.

“Why don’t you wait until you get married and have children first before you decide to do your PhD?”

The fact that I was a self-funded student also meant that I frequently had to deal with “the silent pause” by a few established academics if I was presenting at academic conferences before the conversation would turn immediately to my peers beside me who were funded. At one conference dinner, a female academic made a derogatory remark about my living situation, as I was working and living at home with my mother so that I could pay my tuition fees in full. I was so hurt by her comments that shortly afterwards I had to leave the conference dinner to sort myself out in the restaurant bathroom as I was close to tears.

I do not write this to upset or alarm any current or perspective doctoral students who read this, but rather to warn that these types of comments are not unusual. As a young doctoral student embarking on a new working chapter in my life, these comments stung and were often quite upsetting, considering the sacrifices I was making to study and research for something that I was passionate about. However, I have now reached a point in my life where I can challenge those types of comments. My advice to those who are in the same position that I was doing my PhD: do not give up and ignore the minority who choose to pull the ladder up from under your feet rather than help you climb up it.

“…do not give up and ignore the minority who choose to pull the ladder up from under your feet rather than help you climb up it…”

If I hadn’t done my PhD, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have become a well-rounded early career researcher. Since finishing my doctoral studies, I have been lucky to receive library and research fellowships across the UK, the USA and in the Republic of Ireland. Doing my PhD has enabled me to meet new people, live and visit new countries, and I have been able to disseminate my research to wide international audiences. I have absolutely no regrets in studying for my PhD as a self-funded student and in all, I think it has made me a better scholar and worker because of my ability to balance these two worlds effectively.

Dr Eilish Gregory is Postdoctoral Research Associate of the Royal Historical Society. She completed her PhD in 2017 and her forthcoming monograph  Catholics during the English Revolution, 1642-1660: Politics, Sequestration and Loyalty will be published in 2021 with Boydell and Brewer Press. Since finishing her PhD, she has been awarded research fellowships at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC, Durham University, Marsh’s Library, Dublin, and she has taught at the University College London, University of Reading and Anglia Ruskin University. She can be followed on Twitter @EilishGregory

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Should you self fund your phd pros & cons explained.

Should You Self Fund Your PhD? Pros & Cons Explained

Studying PhD is a thrilling and awfully gratifying endeavor. Whether it’s for personal or professional growth, a PhD can have a life-changing impact, but with its own challenges. However, thinking of ways to find the financial source, shouldn’t be one of them. So, make sure to do your research in the best way for your productive career.

There is a quote saying “If you want something badly enough, you make arrangements. If you don’t want it badly enough, you make excuses”.

So, if you have a burning wish to be called a “doctor”, then self-funding is like arranging. To follow your own path and self-fund your doctoral studies- It’s a thought pondering over by thousands of ambitious postgraduate students every year. But, it can make PhD a more daring task with an expensive price tag. However, for some, this is less of an issue, if they have a wealthy family or have their own source to extend the support for PhD.

So, let’s go through some points to bear in mind that gives you some ideas whether or not you want to launch this journey. Let’s find the Answer to the question – Should You Self Fund Your Ph.D.?

To begin with, we will start looking into the benefits of self-funded PhD

Table of Contents

Pros of Self Funding Your PhD

Pro #1- You will Be your own on Boss

Pro #2- You Get to be the Decision Maker

If you receive funding from an agency, under any circumstances if you want to drop out you may have to satisfy and convince the funding body. You likely had to repay may be a part or sometimes the entire money you have received which sounds unkind and unattractive. However, if you drop out while self-funded this is not a big deal as you are the decision maker.

Pro #3 – You are Eligible for “Additional” rights

Reminding the institution that you are a self-funded PhD candidate will benefit you in lot many ways. It may help you to receive conference bursaries and even get considerations for fee waivers as well.

Pro #4. You are the finance manager

When you signed up to pursue a career in life science you may not have to worry about budget management, but it turns out as an important responsibility in your daily life. Self-funding your PhD helps you to get a grip on yourself with the financial management and budgeting process associated with your research work. And so, you will be fully geared up to enter the competitive outside world with this experience.

Pro #5. You develop outstanding networking and communicating skills

Pro #6. You are the critical evaluator of your work

It is a procedure of evaluating and refining yourself. The process allows a critical thinking and evaluation of your work in a multifactorial perspective. This process tends to clear out the bad from the good, and so hopefully through this elimination process, your ideas, your work and your focus improves with time making you more productive and innovative.

Pro #7. It Motivates you

It is a brave decision, but one learns to turn fears into opportunities and overlook irrelevant events and relationships that don’t donate to your wider narrative. Not being liable to any external funding body is a blessing in disguise. It will give you an immense sense of being self-responsibility for, and ownership of your work, enabling you to avoid complacency and step out of your comfort zone. It will stimulate you to look for opportunities and brand yourself stand out from the crowd. Moreover, facing the hardships you encounter in the journey will make you more resilient, enhance your self- confidence and prepares you to flow against the harsh realities. More time equals more money -it is a powerful push to finish your PhD in time, to prove yourself and others that you are capable of.

Pro #8. No harm to your employability

Funding your research yourself will most likely have no impact or hinder your employability. In fact, it might boost it, as it signifies resilience, resourcefulness and determination. It is the experience and quality of your PhD that accounts for your future career.

Now let us discuss the other side of the coin, the negative aspects of a self- funded PhD.

Cons of Self Funding Your PhD

Con # 1: What is it going to cost

Con # 2: Need to find a source

Students from rich backgrounds may be privileged and receive support from their family; others having no financial buffer might be forced to accept several part-time jobs, or even find full-time employment to pay for their PhD. Working while doing a PhD, the situation cannot be taken lightly. This can become the hardest time in life not because the PhD workload is too much, if you can balance your employment with your PhD. If you are constantly working for hours, it does impact your PhD and can delay it as it takes out your time and can also add to your stress level.

Con #3 Missing out chances

There are certain chances that a self -funded PhD student will miss out, like attending training programmes or conferences offered by the institution but only be available to funded PhDs. The chance to meet experts in your field, attend international conferences or to update your technical experience, funded PhDs can gain a wealth of career opportunities besides the financial benefits which a self -funded PhD will miss.

Con #4: Running out on university life.

Con #5: Missing out a social life

You may not socialize as much as you would have liked due to financial constraints. You can’t join the gym or any societies or cultural centers as it is all extra time and money that cannot be affordable.

To or Not to Do a self-funded PhD

When you are engaged in the construction of your first grant proposal, you’ll spend hours and days on it, honing your ideas and critically evaluating word by word and line by line. Once it is done, you’ll submit it to an external funding agency with great pride and hope and will anxiously await the outcome. After waiting for months and when the result has been announced, your heart bounds as the decision email finally bounce into your inbox. You can barely hold your enthusiasm as you read “the proposal was very interesting”.

Now comes the important part…as you scroll down …stop… here it is! – “due to the huge volume of applications”. “regret to inform you”. Oh… you never expected that those four little words could make things upside down. The fact is that though you will write a numerous grant proposal, only around 10-15% of them will get approved and funded.

So, if you really want to secure your dream of getting a PhD degree and stubbornly decide that you are going to work on your passion, then raise your own fund is the defining feature of your PhD journey. But keep in mind that if you choose to go for it, save some amount before you start your PhD. This will dismiss some of the financial limitations.

Likewise, consider the place where you want to pursue your PhD. After a year of PhD, the biggest obstacle in self- funded PhD will be in terms of finance ie. the living expenditure. The tuition fees for PhD in the institutes are actually relatively cheap when compared to undergraduate or postgraduate study but they aren’t all you have to pay. So, don’t just factor in the host institute, but take a moment to consider the living cost as well.

Last but not the least don’t compare yourself to others. At some point during the journey, you may feel like equating yourself to fully-funded students or feel that they might be looking down on you. Avoid this as there are a multitude of factors make you to take the decision to self-fund your PhD, and none of these questions your research potential or efficiency.

Ultimately no supervisor will take on a PhD student who cannot do productive and innovative research. So, if they offer you a chance then you are equally good as any other PhD candidate.

Then go ahead to work hard and produce something exceptional out of it.

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Thanku mam.my name is Prithvi K. I am in 1st year of the course BSc Biotechnology.mam I want to fund myself for integrated PhD .what should be my path?? How can I prepare for it at this level .

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Self-Funding Your PhD: Is it an Option?

21st February 2024

Speak right now to our live team of English staff

Embarking on the journey towards a PhD is a significant academic endeavour, symbolising a commitment to scholarly exploration and intellectual growth. However, when considering pursuing doctoral studies, a common question emerges: Can I self-fund my PhD? This article covers all aspects of self-funding your PhD studies, exploring its feasibility alongside other funding options and approaches to managing living expenses.

Can I Self-Fund my PhD?

Self-funding a PhD is indeed an option for those who have the financial means and are committed to pursuing advanced research independently. While it may seem daunting to shoulder the financial burden of tuition fees, living expenses, and research costs, self-funding offers flexibility and autonomy in shaping one’s doctoral journey.

However, before opting for self-funding, prospective PhD students should carefully evaluate their financial resources, long-term commitments, and career aspirations. Conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis is essential to determine whether self-funding aligns with personal and professional goals.

Living Costs for PhD Students

One of the primary considerations for self-funded PhD candidates is managing living expenses. Pursuing a PhD often requires a significant time commitment, leaving limited opportunities for full-time employment. As such, individuals must budget meticulously to cover essential expenses such as accommodation, utilities, food, transportation, and healthcare.

Moreover, the cost of living varies significantly depending on the location and institution. Urban areas and metropolitan cities tend to have higher living expenses compared to rural or suburban settings. Prospective students should research and assess living costs in their chosen study destination to make informed financial decisions.

Working While Studying for a PhD

For those considering self-funding or seeking additional financial support, working while studying for a PhD can help alleviate financial strain and enhance professional development. Part-time employment, freelance opportunities, and consultancy work are common avenues for PhD students to supplement their income and gain valuable industry experience.

However, balancing work commitments with academic responsibilities requires careful time management and prioritisation. It is essential to establish clear boundaries, set realistic goals, and maintain open communication with academic supervisors to ensure academic progress remains a priority.

Other Funding Options for PhD Programmes

While self-funding is a viable option for some, many PhD programmes offer various funding opportunities to support students’ academic pursuits. Funded PhD programmes, often sponsored by universities, research councils, or external organisations, provide financial support in the form of scholarships, grants, or stipends.

Additionally, pre-defined PhD projects, also known as structured PhD programmes, offer funded research opportunities with predefined research topics and methodologies. These programmes typically provide financial assistance and academic supervision, streamlining the research process for students.

Also Read: 10 Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for PhD Research

The Pathways of PhD Funding: Insights and Considerations

Self-funding a PhD requires thorough planning, financial insight, and a strong dedication to academic achievement. While it provides independence and freedom in your research endeavours, it’s essential to evaluate your financial readiness and explore other funding avenues. Ultimately, whether you choose to self-fund, secure funding through PhD programmes, or blend both approaches, pursuing a PhD signifies a transformative path of intellectual development, scholarly exploration, and contributions to your field’s advancement. 

Are you considering pursuing a PhD? Crafting a compelling personal statement is crucial for standing out in your application. Let us help you articulate your academic journey, research interests, and aspirations effectively. Our expert guidance ensures your personal statement reflects your unique strengths and aligns seamlessly with your PhD programme of choice. 

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The Ins and Outs of Self-Funding Your PhD

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“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” — G.K. Chesterton

J.R.R. Tolkien’s,  The Hobbit,  is about a hobbit named Bilbo who is thrown into an adventure. When Gandalf first approaches him and gives the first hint that an adventure is lurking, Bilbo responds, “Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not Today. Good morning! But please come to tea – any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Goodbye!” If this is your attitude toward adventure, then the self-funded Ph.D. is not for you.

Self-funding your Ph.D. has a strong connotation of not being good enough to get into a program. A superficial search on the world wide web would discourage one who is looking for good reasons to self-fund their Ph.D. A typical comment like this one on Academia StackExchange is: “Unless you’re independently wealthy I think it is always unwise to do an unfunded Ph.D. program. With the current academic market the way that it is, there’s just no guarantee that you will get a good job with the Ph.D. that will allow you to quickly pay off your debt.”

However, in the humanities, which has the lowest field salary for Ph.D.s, 20% of students used their own resources to complete their Ph.D. Some Ph.D.’s describe the experience as something like an adventure. The definition of adventure is An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. Some adjectives associated with adventure are Brave; Courageous; Bold; Daredevil. If you have gotten to the place of applying for a Ph.D., some of these adjectives likely apply to you. As with all good adventures, some preparation is necessary, unless you’re planning to join a company of dwarves who have done all the planning for you. Here are some ways to get ready for the adventure!

WHY, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW

To help sort out the important questions, we will change the order of the commonly known “Five Ws” (sometimes referred to as Five Ws and How). These questions, according to Wikipedia, “whose answers are considered basic in information gathering or problem-solving” will help to do just that in exploring the ins and outs of self-funding a Ph.D. The order has been changed because self-funding a Ph.D. requires a person to know why they want to pursue the degree and whether they are able to withstand the pressures before they decide on the what, when, where and how.

Determine why you want to do a Ph.D. People jump into this endeavor for a variety of reasons. Giving up years of your life, a regular income and set hours is an adventure in itself, let alone self-funding a large amount of money in order to do so. Make sure that you narrow down your reasons and do some careful self-analysis. Some good reasons might be:

• You are ambitious , not about making money, but about challenging yourself to learn new things and complete difficult tasks. You are an achiever. This attitude will be an asset to self-funders.
• You wish to better yourself.  Perhaps you have always been curious and love learning new things. You want to learn as much as you can about a topic in order to be the best person that you can be. Those types of people make excellent researchers.
• You are suited to it.  Perhaps your whole life, you have known that you wanted a terminal degree. You are fascinated with detail and have always been a tremendous reader. Maybe you are good at honing in on certain issues or subjects and learning everything you can about them. You may even have a life-long interest in a particular subject.

Some bad reasons could be:

• You want to keep your visa.  According to The Ph.D. Application Handbook by Peter Bentley,  “You must not use a Ph.D. as a method to stay close to your friends or family, any more than you should commit a crime and have yourself locked up in jail. It is not worth it. And jail is the cheapest and easiest option by far.”
• You have an inferiority complex.  Peter Bentley calls something similar to this a misplaced genius complex. If you feel a need to prove yourself but don’t have the talent, be honest with yourself. Listen to the advice of the professionals around you. Especially that of your master’s thesis director or professors that you have worked with. Earn respect in other ways.
• “I’ve worked in this field, it will be easy!”  Working in a field is nothing like doing a Ph. D. in that field. Just like working in astronautics won’t prepare you for going to the moon, doing a Ph.D. is a unique experience. Take the advice of people who have done it; getting a Ph.D. is challenging, grueling and life-changing.
• People will be disappointed.  If you are feeling pressure from parents, friends or a partner to do your Ph.D. but you aren’t sure, take time away to determine what you want. As you will be the one going through the program and not them, doing a Ph.D. to please others will not keep you going when it gets hard. It will also be a temptation to blame them if things don’t go well. Unless they are willing to fund it!

Knowing why you want to do your Ph.D. is the very important first step to deciding to self-fund it. Before you wake up in your 30s having moved half a dozen places with little money and over-qualified for the jobs available, you need to know exactly why you are choosing to do your Ph.D. Loving your subject and having accomplished something that puts you with only 3.27% of U.S. population should leave you feeling very satisfied.

Already having identified some adjectives that could describe a person that is cut out for self-funding: Brave, Bold, Courageous and Daredevil, some others could be added to the list: Foolhardy, Rash and Reckless. Any Ph.D. student will feel himself or herself to be foolhardy at least sometimes. Do a self-analysis to make sure that these last three adjectives are not your defining characteristics. You will need all the confidence you can get when things get tough. According to a Times Higher Education article,  blog posts show that Ph.D. students are embarrassed to be self-funded. Determine whether you are courageous enough to survive the stigma. Ways to survive the perceived or real criticisms that will come your way will differ according to whether you are more introverted or extroverted. Here are some ways that being introverted or extroverted will help or hurt you as a self-funded Ph.D. student.

• Being Alone – Since introverts prefer being alone, a self-funded introvert Ph.D. student will need to work hard to network and put his/her ideas where colleagues and professors can see them. An introvert will likely have a deep love of the subject they are studying and that will create a brilliance that comes through in their work.
• Concentration – Most introverts can make a long list of their weaknesses. This makes them perfectionists since they can always find what needs fixing. However, in order to stay confident, a self-funded Ph.D. introvert should concentrate on their strengths and use their perfectionism to improve their study where they will find it to be truly useful!
• Fear of Failure – Everyone fears failure, but introverts seem to be especially good at it. Beginning a self-funded Ph.D. program leaves no room for a fear of failure. According to the blog IntrovertSpring, introverts “need to use fear as a fuel, because it will not only pump the necessary adrenaline for you to focus but also prove that what you’re doing matters.”
• Fear of Public Speaking  – The fear of public speaking is another common fear. In fact, 97% of people have a slight fear of public speaking (those lucky 3%!).  Most people, though, associate introverts with being quiet and keeping to themselves. Less known is that introverts love speaking about what they are interested in. Use your love for the subject you know about to engage others in the department (or those who may fund you!).

• Energized by Socializing – This quality is an obvious asset to an extroverted Ph.D. Student, especially one who is self-funded. Networking with colleagues and professors as well as marketing one’s skills in the funding arena are both made easier by the desire to socialize. Extroverts must make sure not to neglect their studies because of too much desire to socialize.
• Open and Willing to Share – Though introverts like to share what they know, extroverts like to share everything! Sharing their insights and discoveries will help extroverted Ph.D.’s to excel in their learning department. Keep back, however, the feelings of insecurity about self-funding. It’s important to have a confident front on that issue. Instead, find a close friend for emotional support.
• Solve Problems Through Discussion – This trait of extroverts is what boosts their creativity, just as being alone boosts introverts’ creativity. Brainstorming is a vital part of the creative process, though extroverts may need to work on spending some time alone to sort through ideas that they eventually bring to the group.
• Often Described as Friendly and Approachable – Extroverts will do well at departmental parties or in group discussions. However, since a large part of the world are introverts, therefore a large part of the department will be as well. Extroverts can use their friendly, approachable nature to listen to others and gain the trust of those around them. Gaining the trust of colleagues will help a self-funded Ph.D. student to rid himself or herself of the nagging worries of not being qualified.
• Love to Talk – Nab the quality of the introvert in talking about the things you know. Don’t overexpose yourself to other students and professors who may, rightly or wrongly, already be suspicious of your qualifications.

The verywellmind will help potential students to explore these extroverted signs. Determining your strengths and weaknesses will prepare you more adequately for the challenges of self-funding a Ph.D.

According to Collins Dictionary the whatness of a thing is “what something is; the essence of something.” Merriam Webster includes the word whatness as one of the top ten words that need to be revived. Let’s oblige Merriam Webster and explore the whatness of a Ph.D. and also the whatness of self-funding it.

According to the website, FindAPhd, “A Ph.D. is a postgraduate doctoral degree, awarded to students who complete an original thesis offering a significant new contribution to knowledge in their subject. Ph.D. qualifications are available in all subjects and are normally the highest level of academic degree a person can achieve.”

To self-fund a Ph.D., a student uses “funds awarded by charities, working whilst studying, or using funds provided by family means.” The definition of self-funding will get us started on the “how” down below.

Along with sheer whatness, knowing what to expect is also a vital part of preparing for the adventure. Many of the basics: long days; extra hours working; not much money etc. have already been mentioned and will likely come up again. But, look at the statistics of the field you will be studying in. To make sure that the Ph.D. is for you, make sure you know what to expect as far as your future income. Especially in Humanities, there will be more people who have Ph.D.’s than there are positions to fill. In some fields, if you love your work, and unless you want the particular challenge of finishing a Ph.D., you may be just as well off financially if you stick with your master’s degree. From the U.S. Census Bureau , here are some statistics with the percent difference in doctorate to master’s earnings:

• Biological Science – 27%
• Business – 9%
• Communications – 30%
• Computers and Math – 10%
• Education – 24%
• Engineering – 7%
• Liberal Arts – 10%
• Literature – 13%
• Physical Science – 20%
• Psychology – 33%
• Science and Engineering Related – 30%
• Social Science – 17%
• Visual Arts – 14%

With the average being 6%, here is a look from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the job outlook in the same fields:

• Teaching Biological Science – 15%
• Business – 14%
• Communications – 10%
• Software Development – 24%
• Computer Systems Analyst – 9%
• Mathematics and Statisticians – 33%
• Postsecondary Teachers – 33%
• Managers – 6%
• Surveyors – 11%
• Historians – 6%
• English/Postsecondary Teachers – 15
• Postsecondary teachers – 15%
• Physical Science – 15%
• Psychology – 14%
• Social Sciences – 15%
• Visual Arts – 6%

To find your exact field, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Ultimately, when to start your Ph.D. is up to you. To take the advice of those who have successfully completed their degrees, however, is a smart way of adequately preparing yourself. Ph.D.’s are happy to give advice. Listening to the advice of someone who has been there, especially when self-funding, is one of the best ways to get ready.

According to Dr. Stephen McGlinchey, writing for E-International Relations, self-funding Ph.D. students should only consider self-funding when they have worked hard for a couple of years and saved up. McGlinchey says,

“The amount of money will depend on your own situation. I would recommend it should be enough to pay all of your bills for at least 1 year if all else fails. This ‘scholarship slush fund’ will save you from money-stress when you need to scale back on paid work to write up…or to handle a personal issue…or if you need to go on an unplanned data gathering trip to rescue your research…or if a part-time job that you are relying on folds for whatever reason (and so on…). It will insulate you while you readjust and realign.”

Wait at Least a Year.

Andy Greenspon, a Ph.D. student in Applied Physics in the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, advises all potential Ph.D. students to take a break before they dive in. Greenspon says that the kinds of things that they should carefully consider are whether they are certain about the type of research that they want to do, where they want to live for the next 5 years and whether they are prepared to stay in an academic environment for nine years straight.

“Many people burn out or end up trudging through their Ph.D. program without a thought about what lies outside of or beyond it. A break of a year or two or even more may be necessary to gain perspective. If all you know is an academic environment, how can you compare it to anything else? Many people take a job for five or more years before going back to get their Ph.D.”

This advice particularly applies to those who are self-funding their Ph.D.’s. Taking some time to save up and seriously consider whether the sacrifice is worth it is time well spent.

Don’t Wait Too Long.

However, Greenspon also points out that waiting too long may not be a good thing either. If you are out of the academic environment it may be a difficult transition to come back into it. However, doing a research job for a year two would be ideal. It can help you to focus your interests and give you an advantage over the competition when you apply. It can also help you to decide whether you will enjoy full-time research or an alternate career path that could be still in your general field. There are four main employment options for a doctoral researcher:

• Academic – working within higher education
• Alternative Academic – working within higher education, but branching out into non-academic areas such as careers advice or fundraising
• Research, Publishing, and Consultancy – researching in your area but working for an outside group like the government or a private company
• Professional – working in a sector where you use your skills but not your area of expertise

Taking time, but not too much time, to consider which employment option best suits you will help you to develop a focus area.

Location, location, location is the real estate agent’s mantra. Because choosing a home means that you will live there and where you live is even more important than whether the bathroom in a home needs renovating. How does a real estate slogan apply to choosing where to do a Ph.D.? Don’t forget, you  will  be living there.

Contrary to what you may imagine, Ph.D. students don’t sit at a desk or in a classroom 24/7. There are many things to consider when choosing the location of where you want to do your self-funded Ph.D.

Your Interests

According to Andy Greenspon, the first thing to consider when choosing where to do a Ph.D. program is, “Is there research at this university that I am passionate about?” One of the main reasons that people self-fund a Ph.D. is because universities will only fund certain topics. In order to keep a department well-rounded, not every marine biology student can the effects of harmful plankton on farmed fish health.

Stephen McGlinchey, who self-funded his Ph.D ., soon realized that he would have to bend his original topic to “suit the categorizations in effect for the major funding bodies in the application processes.” When he considered why he would go through all the work of completing a Ph.D. and end up studying something that didn’t interest him, he decided to self-fund.

“In the end, I decided that to spend nearly 4 years of my life on something, it needed to be something that I fully owned. Being self-funded gave me the freedom to mold my topic/question over the first 6 months of the Ph.D. – and not be locked into something that I was being paid to produce on spec by a funding body.”

Department –  Because of the possibility of limited moral support or a lack of in-depth feedback from the faculty or department, if a supportive department and supervisor are available, this should be a big factor in deciding where to do the Ph.D. According to FindAPhD.com, “It helps a lot during a Ph.D. if you like, or at least respect, your supervisor and other colleagues, so bear this in mind when getting to know them and making your choice.”

Surroundings –  Other support you may need is from family, friends, your religious group and even nature. Do you love city life, or do you relax better in nature? Are you a homebody? Try to imagine living in the area of the university and see if it appeals to you. Think about the activities you like to do outside of your studies, are there opportunities for these? No matter how exciting the programs look, if you are not in a place you feel comfortable, there may not be the opportunity to mitigate the inevitable stress that accompanies pursuing your Ph.D.

Finances –  A third support you will need is financial. Where you live can grant you even financial support. Unless you are independently wealthy, funding a Ph.D. program will make for an awfully thin pocketbook. Looking at the cost of living at the universities you are considering is important. For example, the monthly rent for 900 square feet in Boston, MA is $2,855 whereas the cost for the same square footage in St. Louis, MO is $1,046. That extra $1,500 a month could make the difference when it comes to finishing your Ph.D.

The reputation of a university is not as important as the reputation of the specific department that you will be joining. Joining a university that has a reputable department in your field will give you the best collaboration, teaching, and professional connections that will stay with you throughout your career. When you interview for a job, prospective employers will be looking closely at the people that you worked with and at your department as well as at the research you completed.

Visit the University

Take the opportunity to visit the university and the department that you are considering for your Ph.D. You may be asked to give an interview during the selection process. If so, take the chance to tour the school. While you are there, ask questions about:

• The working norm at the institution
• The frequency of group seminars
• How many Ph.D. students are in your field
• Whether there are internal discussion groups or presentations

When considering the option of self-funding your Ph.D., “How” is probably the first question that comes to mind. But if you’ve already decided that you are not ready for that step by asking yourself the questions before this one, then you don’t have to spend the time stressing about how to finance the Ph.D. A self-funded Ph.D. does not necessarily mean that all of the money has to come out of your own pocket. There are many other options to pursue. It may be time-consuming to look into other options for funding but it very likely will pay off, and you will learn the valuable skill of marketing yourself and your work.

Funding Options

Work – Working at the university could later apply for a scholarship. Working a side job is difficult but it has been done and there is advice that can be found from people who have done it. There may even be people in the department that can connect you with the right job.

Because you are doing a Ph.D. you should be qualified for something that pays more than minimum wage. When you are intensively working toward a terminal degree, time is money and making as much as you can in as little time as possible is optimal. Some students have successfully completed their degree working full time. Financially, this would be the best option. However, the time commitment is equivalent to two full-time jobs. Below are some options for part-time jobs that would keep you in your field and pay fairly well, along with their average wage per hour.

• Tutoring – $17.28
• Consulting – $42.97
• Grant Writing – $24.11
• Security Guard (though this doesn’t pay well, it often allows you to get some studying in at work, as long as you stay alert!) – $11.07
• Part Time Teaching – $29.52
• Your Own Business – $25 – $40

Charitable Institutions/Other –  Look into charitable institutions or trust funds that may fund your field of study.  Some charities are general and will have a wide interest group that they fund. The applications are generally short, so it may not be as time-consuming as it sounds. Try to be creative and persuasive. Hone your writing skills and your self-advertising. Start with the charities listed on the website of the institution that you plan to attend and branch out from there. Also, consider talking to the postgrad officer in your school. There may be some unique options that you haven’t thought of.

Government Loans –  Although government loans are an option for completing one’s Ph.D., they have to be used carefully since they can turn into a huge headache down the road. Carefully analyze your potential salary, realistically, before turning to government loans as an option. Three options for graduate school loans are:

• Students may receive up to $20,500 per year of unsubsidized Stafford loans with a limit of $138,500 which includes loans borrowed while obtaining an undergraduate degree. Interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed, and while the rate is fixed, the amount is based on when the loan was first disbursed.
• Graduate students may borrow up to the cost of attendance for the year – which can include some living expenses – minus other aid received. There is no annual or aggregate limit to graduate PLUS loans. There is a mild credit check with the option of an endorser. Interest accrues from disbursement and payments are due six months after you become less than half-time or graduate. There is an origination fee.
• Private loans have higher payments and fewer forgiveness options. This option should only be considered as a last resort for small amounts.

“If you live like a lawyer when you’re a student, you’ll live like a student when you’re a lawyer.”-  old saying

Budget –  A penny saved is a penny earned. According to World University Rankings, 15% of students find the biggest stress during school is to be financed, which make finances equal in stress to exams for most students. Do some serious number crunching and budgeting, once you have your financing lined up, in order to save every penny. Do what you can to lower your standard of living. Remember all a person really needs is food and shelter…and a Ph.D.

• Use a budget app
• Live below your means
• Identify the biggest expenses like housing and transportation and find creative ways to minimize cost
• Ask people who have done it !

If you decide to go ahead and self-fund your Ph.D., keep your eyes on the goal. Reaching it, like Bilbo, you will come home with your treasure, richer and wiser for the adventure you chose to go on. You will also have gained years of work and life experience that will make you, in some ways, more qualified than funded Ph.D. students. In the words of blogger Stephen McGlinchey :

“The flexibility that I had in my self-funded Ph.D. was liberating…I’m very satisfied with the end result, and it has been very profitable for me intellectually and career-wise. I can honestly say, if I had to do it again, I would not do it differently. The mistakes I did make were all part of a rewarding learning experience.”

Reverse cannot befall That fine Prosperity Whose Sources are interior — As soon — Adversity – Emily Dickinson

Self-funded PhD Research

A Guide To Self-Funding Your PhD Research

Self-funding your own PhD research degree means you intend to secure the necessary funding to pay tuition fees and any other associated costs from a third-party source, external to the university.

If you have the correct entry qualifications and are seeking to pursue your own PhD research proposal, here are 6 key points to consider on self-funding your study.

Ready to Apply?

UEA offers a wide range of postgraduate research opportunities. Search all current  PhDs and Research Studentships , or take a look at the full list of  Research Themes  where UEA specialises and submit your own research proposal. For further information on what to consider in the application process,  access our guide  and take the first step to achieving something incredible. Our  Postgraduate Research team  can also help with any queries you may have.

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May 29, 2022

The Myth of the Fully-Funded PhD: Using Scholarships to Mitigate the Financial Realities of Research Degrees

When you decide to go to graduate school of any kind, you are making a financial decision that will dramatically affect your earning capacity for the duration of the program and throughout your life. While the caliber of school, available mentorship opportunities, and research resources are important factors to consider when making a decision about which university to attend, students often forget to carefully assess the financial realities associated with each opportunity.

The financial decision surrounding attending graduate school

Unlike students in professional graduate programs, most PhD students do not plan to pursue high-paying careers, and they depend on the fact that doctoral programs automatically include “full funding” to offset the cost of long-term research degrees. Though many graduate students receive admissions offers that are referred to as “fully-funded,” such funding packages require PhD students to teach multiple years in exchange for tuition waivers and teaching stipends. Once students start to work for the university and balance their many responsibilities, they quickly realize that “full-funding” isn’t exactly the same as a “scholarship” or a “full-ride. ”

Common misconceptions about what it means to be “fully-funded”

Depending on the university and its location, the value of one’s teaching stipend in relationship to workload and cost of living can vary greatly. In reality, graduate student teaching stipends for students who live in large United States cities are not enough to cover basic necessities. As a result, most graduate students go into additional debt to complete their programs.

Since tenure-track jobs have become increasingly elusive in the United States university system, today’s doctoral students must also satisfy a growing list of requirements to be considered for well-paying and stable teaching positions upon graduation. The added responsibilities associated with producing early publications, progressing through the degree quickly, regularly attending conferences, and pursuing ongoing professionalization or certification opportunities all require significant time commitments.

However, since doctoral students must work for the university in order to waive tuition and fees, they cannot devote all of their time to academic and professional progress. To avoid burnout and set aside more time for completing research, I suggest that prospective and current graduate students continuously apply for extramural funding, research fellowships, and community-based scholarships throughout their degrees.

Accepted’s clients received over $3.5 million dollars in scholarship offers in the last application cycle.  Explore our scholarship essay services   to find out how we can help you!

How the academic culture deemphasizes the financial aspects of the work

The common phrase “no one goes into a PhD to make money” is thrown around frequently in academic settings, and seems to suggest that pursuits related to funding are selfish and “anti-intellectual.” Especially in the humanities and social sciences, there is significant cultural importance placed on the fact that academia is not about money, and that academic careers are shaped by intellectual merit, not an individual’s financial capacity to stay in school.

Historically, however, the option to waive tuition in return for a few years of university teaching was an affordable way to enable individuals to pursue intellectual projects in the not-for-profit environment of the public university. One generation ago, doctoral students transitioned into tenure-track jobs with much more ease than those currently on the market. They also entered public institutions carrying far less student debt, and upon employment, they received guaranteed state pensions and salaries commensurate with the cost of living.

In today’s public university, the labor commitments of teaching assistants have grown significantly while the pay has not caught up with the steep rise in the cost of living for most university hubs. For example, throughout my graduate program at UCLA, I received between $15,000 and $22,000 in annual pay as a teaching or staff stipend. Given that my Los Angeles rent was upwards of $1,200 per month and rising, I was unable to continue my degree without applying for extramural grants and taking on work outside of the university.

Furthermore, the number of tenure track positions is diminishing so it is unlikely that I will ever make the stable and generous income to which my advisors have access. So the cultural norms of the intellectual community, which eschew any discussion of financial wellness, are no longer sustainable for most graduate students.

Though most graduate programs do not emphasize the financial aspects of navigating life as a student researcher and university employee, I have found that the pursuit of additional funding is neither a greedy nor an “anti-intellectual” use of my time in graduate school. Rather it is a great way to empower myself to set aside more time for conducting critical research and preparing for a successful career.

Strategies for applying for funding throughout your doctoral degree

In addition to my own efforts to build funding applications into my graduate studies, as a Student Affairs Advisor at the UCLA Scholarship Resource Center, I have worked with graduate students to generate strategies for incorporating annual cycles of grant writing into their studies.

Here are some of the most important takeaways from that work:

Most applicants are so anxious about whether or not they will be accepted to their desired PhD program that they don’t think about funding until after they’ve found out where they have gotten in. But there are a number of organizations, like the Ford Foundation , the Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation , the Stanford-Knight Hennessey Scholars Program , the National Science Foundation, and the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation , that offer funding for prospective graduate students.Like university admission applications, these also run on an annual cycle that requires students to apply one year before they plan to enroll in school. So, if you are planning to spend this fall putting together applications for graduate school, it is well worth it to add a number of fellowship applications to your list as well. Even if you aren’t successful with your first round of applications you will be well prepared to add scholarship applications to your graduate school routine. This is an activity that you should engage in throughout your entire degree, and you have to start somewhere!

Below are some questions that you should be able to answer by carefully analyzing your letter of admission. If you can’t answer them, try to find out the answers before you make your decision.• How many years of teaching assistantship does the university commit to you? How many students are you responsible for teaching, assessing, and holding office hours with for each term?• Are there stipulations related to your progress through the degree that may create limitations on your access to university funding or campus work opportunities?

• Does your status as university student or staff come with health benefits?

• Does your university have a union for teaching assistants? If so, what employee rights do you have through your union membership? Pay close attention to issues of pay related to maternity leave, medical leave, absence in the case of the death of a family member, and access to childcare.

• Is there an employee handbook for student staff and teaching assistants?

• What is the pay scale associated with the teaching positions that the university has offered you?

Before you decide where to go to school, do the research about your housing options. How much does university housing cost? Are there other options?Some universities offer annual budgets on their websites that include the cost of housing, but you have to analyze these carefully to understand how these budgets translate to your degree. For instance, UCLA’s estimated cost of attendance for graduate students only lists the annual budget for the academic year, which consists of 8 months. So you’d have to add four months of summer expenses in order to get a true sense of the living costs associated with each calendar year.

Once you’ve chosen a university, I would suggest that you map out the various phases of the program, the skillsets that you wish to build, and the accomplishments that you will achieve as you progress through the degree. There are different types of funding for every step of progress that you make, and if you are intentional about identifying related funding you can apply for specific opportunities throughout.Here are some examples of different achievements or degree phases associated with specific funding opportunities:• 2-3 years of coursework

• Conference travel

• Master’s exam period

• Master’s thesis writing year

• Language study

• Building a technical or quantitative analytical methodology

• Preliminary fieldwork or archival research

• Prospectus development

• Qualifying exam period

• Preliminary dissertation research

• Primary fieldwork or archival research

• Dissertation writing year

Most research-related funding opportunities do not pay out until a full academic year after the application submission period. This means that you should plan out your goals an entire year in advance, and apply for funding in the year before you carry out the projects and goals that you propose in your application materials. If you can continuously conceptualize your degree in the long-term, you will be able to anticipate the types of funding that will support your progress.

Whether you work for the institution or not, it will likely be up to you to cover the cost of your summers during graduate school. Rather than wait until summer starts to figure out how you’re going to pay the bills, start making plans the preceding fall. You may find paid opportunities to conduct research, fieldwork, or language study during your summer. But you also have the option to take on paid internships in a number of research fields in both the public and private sectors.

Do you need help with your PhD admissions or PhD funding applications? Our expert advisors are here to walk you through the PhD application process, from strategy-building to final send-off. Check out our Graduate School Admissions Consulting & Editing Services for more information on how we can help you GET ACCEPTED…with funding!

Student Affairs Advisor and scholarship expert, Rebecca has six years experience reviewing and editing large grant applications, research-based proposals, statements of purpose, personal statements and fellowship materials. Want Rebecca to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Grad School Statement of Purpose , a free guide
• How to Write About Your Research Interests
• The Personal Statement That Got Me a Large Scholarship to Cambridge

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Becoming a self-funded PhD candidate

Fees and requirements.

Starting a PhD at the Faculty of Humanities as a self-funded candidate is a two-step procedure, starting at the research school. First, candidates need to be admitted by a research school: see the application procedure below. Then, they are contacted by the Faculty in order to start the admission procedure to the UvA doctoral programme. All PhD candidates need to be admitted to the UvA doctoral programme by the Doctorate Board and need to meet the requirements set by the Doctorate Board in the Doctorate Regulations . One of these requirements is that the candidate should have obtained a Master’s degree.

The Faculty of Humanities does not regard PhD candidates as students. Once accepted, self-funded candidates automatically receive a full tuition waiver. 

There are no set requirements at the Faculty of Humanities for the level of English a candidate has to have; therefore, we do not have any requirements to provide an IELTS, TOEFL etc. score. However, a very good command of English is highly recommended and a candidate’s level of English will be assessed by the supervisors and research school based on the submitted research proposal.

Application

In order to join the Faculty of Humanities as a self-funded PhD candidate you need to take the following steps:

• Read the Research Programmes of the research schools on the website and decide which school you want to join, depending on how your project fits with or contributes to the programme of this school.
• Choose a potential supervisor from the members of the research school and contact them by sending an email and a first short draft of your proposal.
• Once you have found one supervisor willing to supervise you and your project, together you should look for a second (and possibly third) supervisor. Again, please note that at least one supervisor should have the  ius promovendi;  all full professors and some associate professors hold the  ius promovendi . 
• Rewrite the proposal according to the advice provided by the supervisors: see the guidelines for the full proposal below. 
• Ask your supervisors to write a short statement confirming their commitment to the project, with an argumentation on how the project contributes to the programme of the research school (max. 250 words).
• Send the proposal, including a CV, your address, copies of your BA and MA diplomas and grades, a copy of your passport, and your supervisor's statements by email to the coordinator of the school.
• The research school will inform you whether your application has been accepted, needs to be resubmitted with revisions, or has been rejected.
• Upon acceptance, you will be admitted to the research school as a new PhD candidate for a probationary period of max. 18 months. After 12-18 months, your progress will be evaluated by your supervisors and the director of the school on the basis of a so-called pilot study; only if you pass the pilot study, your affiliation as a PhD candidate will be renewed.

Research proposal for self-funded PhD candidates 

In the Netherlands, scholars are expected to prepare specific proposals, in which central questions, aims, theoretical premises, concepts, the corpus to be studied and proposed methods are described in some detail. General outlines are considered too undeveloped and therefore turned down almost immediately. This requirement is based on the idea that candidates have completed a (research) MA and that the PhD is the core activity and goal of the student. 

Proposal guidelines

Please strictly follow the format below to prepare your full proposal.

1. Supervisors

For each project there need to be two supervisors, one of whom should have the ius promovendi 

• Supervisor 1:
• Supervisor 2:

2. Name PhD candidate

3. Curriculum Vitae PhD candidate

• Full address details
• Relevant professional information
• Publications, other relevant academic output (presentations, reviews)
• Grants, honours, etc.
• Relevant language skills

4. Title of research proposal

5. Summary (max. 250 words)

Please provide a brief summary of the project.

6. Project proposal (max. 2,500 words)

Please outline the following in your proposal.

• Object(s) of research and main aims/objectives of the project
• Research questions or hypotheses
• Theoretical approach and methodology (min. 400 words). Please provide detailed information regarding your data/sources: how will these be obtained/selected and analysed?
• Scientific importance of the proposed project (min. 400 words). Please provide a ‘state of the art’ of the field and explain how the project will advance the understanding of the object(s) of research and the scientific field(s) with which you engage.
• Importance of the proposed project for the Research School
• A work plan or planning for the project. Please specify a starting date and prospective completion date, as well as completion dates for important output (chapters, articles, data collection, etc).
• A bibliography of important scholarly work your refer to (nb: the bibliography does not count towards the word limit)

7. Motivation for doing PhD research (max. 300 words)

Please provide your motivation for doing scientific research and any relevant experience you have for carrying out the proposed project. 

8. Recommendation by the supervisors   (max. 250 words)

Both supervisors are requested to write a short statement confirming their commitment to the project and the candidate.

9. Research budget

Self-funded PhD candidates are entitled to a research budget of €4,500 for costs related to presenting papers at conferences and doing fieldwork, including travel and accommodation costs, and for the production of the final manuscript (printing, editing). Please provide a short breakdown of how you are planning to use this research budget.

10. Data management

Will data be collected or generated that are suitable for reuse? Yes/No

If yes, a data management plan must be made during the first year..

11. Research ethics

Will human test subjects and/or interviewees be involved in the research? Yes/No

If yes, please provide details here; and please make sure to seek the approval of the Ethics Committee of the Faculty for your project after your admission: see https://aihr.uva.nl/about-aihr/ethics-committee/ethics-committee.html for more information.

12. Previous research experience

Are you currently working towards a PhD degree elsewhere or have you worked towards a PhD degree at another institution? Yes/No

If yes, please provide details: at which institution do or did you work towards a PhD degree, for how long, and are you or have you formally been admitted to a doctoral programme?

13. Funding

Will you receive any sort of funding (e.g. a scholarship, grant, fellowship, ...) to work towards a PhD degree at the Faculty of Humanities? Yes/No

If yes, please provide details; particularly what kind of funding (private or public) you will receive and from whom, how much (per month or year), for how long, and whether any particular conditions have been set for you to receive the funding (e.g. yearly reports, the completion of the dissertation within a particular amount of years, etc.). 

Please send the above information, together with a copy of your passport and a copy of your BA and MA degrees and grades (transcript) to the coordinator of the research school of your choice by e-mail.

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All of your PhD funding options explained

“I want to do a PhD but I’m worried I can't afford it.” If this sounds like you then you're in the right place. Read our post to find out more about PhD funding at the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine.

“I want to do a PhD but I’m worried I won’t have enough money to live on.” If this sounds like you then never fear - you’re in the right place! In the blog post below, we’ll be looking at all of the funding options open to you as a PhD student in medicine and life sciences, as well as highlighting the living costs that you’ll have to think about during your time at university. We’ve even got some amazing examples of how our PhD students have managed to travel the world while studying – all with a simple bit of planning.

Many people are put off the idea of doing a PhD because they think that PhD students never have any money. In the post below, we show that this simply isn’t the case – you can study for a postgraduate degree without constantly worrying about how you’re going to pay the rent.

This blog post explores :

• Our funding options for PhD students studying medicine, vet medicine and life sciences
• The living costs that you’ll have to think about as an on-campus research student
• Travelling on a budget

Your options for PhD funding explained

Funded phd programmes.

Here at the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, we have a wide range of funded PhD programmes for outstanding students. These studentships are offered in collaboration with our world-class research centres, and subject areas include everything from Precision Medicine to Cardiovascular Science.

Applying for one of our PhD studentships is probably the most straightforward route into a funded PhD programme at the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. However, applications are highly competitive.

What’s on offer?

Our studentships offer eligible candidates a stipend, tuition fees (at the UK/EU rate) and a contribution towards any research costs.

PhD Studentships

Funded PhD projects - FindAPhD

Another option for students thinking about postgraduate research is to browse our wide range of pre-defined PhD projects. The College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine advertises available PhD projects on Findaphd.com. You can also browse them using the link below.

FindAPhD Research Projects

Various stipends and research costs are available depending on the project. These are significant amounts of money which will allow you to devote all of your time to research, rather than worrying about funding.  

You’ll notice that each research project will either be ‘directly funded’, ‘competition funded’ or will have ‘funding available’. All this means is that there may be certain requirements which apply to each project depending on the type of funding stipulated.

For example, there may be restrictions relating to residency or nationality depending on the type of funding body involved.  

Self-funding a PhD

Some postgraduate students are fortunate enough to self-fund their studies over three years without having to work at the same time . They may be using their own savings or receiving financial aid from parents or another relative.

Students in this position are welcome to apply with a research proposal at any time of year. However, if you are applying for an advertised PhD project, make sure that you submit your proposal before the specified deadline.

For more information on self-funded postgraduate research , including where to check entry requirements, visit the link below.

PhD Applicants with External Sponsorship or Self Funding

Working while studying for a PhD

Some of our students work around their studies to bring in a bit of extra cash. Obviously this is a lot easier to do if you decide to study for a PhD part-time over six years rather than the usual three years full-time.

However, some of our full-time students are also able to earn money by occasionally working on weekends or evenings.

Finding a part-time job while studying full-time is certainly not for everyone, and you should think long and hard about whether you will be able to succeed in your postgraduate research while devoting any spare time to working. However, if you have strong time management skills and you can find flexible work in your area of study, then this may be a great way to keep some of your industry skills up to scratch.

Jenni Irving McGrath is a full-time PhD student at the University’s Feline Genome Project:

I continue to work as a locum vet in practices around Edinburgh every second weekend. The balance has worked well and I believe it benefits my PhD as it keeps my phenotyping skills up to date. Working in clinics also keeps me focused on my end goal of bringing my research results from the lab bench into the clinics. Jenni Irving McGrath PhD Genetics and Genomics

Keep in mind that there may also be the opportunity to work as a tutor during your PhD too:

“I’ve learned how to conduct highly-interdisciplinary research, and to work with participants. I’ve also learned how to use R, and other open science practices. I also got the opportunity to work as a tutor alongside my research, which improved my teaching skills.”  Bérengère Digard PhD Psychiatry

Additional Funding Opportunities

At the University of Edinburgh, we welcome students from a variety of different backgrounds and funding options are available to those people who wish to apply but have very specific needs in place .

For example, if you are a single parent, have a disability or find yourself facing unexpected financial difficulties, the University offers additional funding opportunities on top of the main postgraduate loans and bursaries.

Additional financial assistance

Living costs for PhD students

When you’re a PhD student there are plenty of living costs to consider . You’ll have to think about accommodation, electricity bills, travel and a lot more.

However, the University has put together a handy guide for the upcoming 2019-20 year, which gives an excellent idea of how much it generally costs to live as a postgraduate student in Edinburgh.  

Estimated living costs 2019-20

Travelling near and far on a budget

And finally…we’ve got some great examples of past and current students who have shown that it’s possible to enjoy postgrad life to the max while studying for a PhD. Some of our PhD students are keen travellers and have managed to save up their money and spend it on what they enjoy doing most .

As we all know, mental health issues and stress are very prevalent among Ph.D. students. However, we are also privileged to have a more flexible schedule. We should also appreciate and take advantage of the fact that there are many cheap flights from Edinburgh to many European countries, whereas in my home country Canada, a 5 hr coach bus ticket to the next province costs at least £100. Of course, you need to first consult your supervisor, but it shouldn’t be a massive problem if you’re only away for a Friday or a Monday once in a while. There are also ways to travel without breaking the bank. Amy Cui PhD Population Health Sciences

Amy’s South American adventure post in full

Plus you don’t have to travel outside of Scotland to enjoy beautiful scenery and experience a different vibe to city life.  

With a little bit more free time on your hands, you might be able to rent a car and venture up to the highlands. For a friend’s birthday, we did a little retreat tour of the Highlands & the Isle of Skye. The drive through nature there was spectacular – and it was on the way there where everything started to get very remote, and the roads turned into tiny single lane streets.  Chiara Herzog PhD Neuroscience

It’s also worth bearing in mind that many of our PhD students come from overseas . Although they might not be flying home to Canada or Australia every other month, many of our students are still able to cover the costs of a long haul flight to see family and friends by dipping in to their PhD funding.

Remember too that you’ll more than likely have the opportunity to travel to academic conferences during your studies, many of which provide funding for eager students.

You can read more about student life - including tips on how to save money - by visiting the University’s ‘Student Stories’ website below.

Student Stories

Related Links

Steps to Postgraduate Study – impartial advice on Postgraduate study options

University of Edinburgh Finance Homepage

Alternative Careers in Medicine - Where can your PhD take you?

Information about self-funded PhDs

What are self-funded phds .

As a self-funded (= self-supporting) doctoral student you work on your PhD under the supervision of a supervisor working at the Arts Faculty without receiving financial compensation from KU Leuven (including external Flemish funding bodies like the FWO).

This broad definition means that there are many different profiles of self-funded doctoral researchers, from researchers who receive a non-Flemish grant to researchers who complete their PhDentirely on their own resources. Many self-funded researchers combine a job (whether or not in a field that is related to the subject of their PhD) with their research.

I'm thinking of starting a self-funded PhD, what should I keep in mind?

• What are my rights as a self-funded doctoral student?
• What are my obligations as a self-funded doctoral student?

Tools to support your PhD trajectory

Is there any financial compensation for my phd.

• Other points of attention
• Switching from a funded to a self-funded PhD

Doing a phD requires a great degree of self-reliance. You will be expected to take initiative, plan and structure your own work independently, and actively contact your supervisor when you need feedback. This page offers a useful set of guidelines that can help you plan your PhD. Drawing up a plan will help clarify the scope of the project as well as time frame in which you can execute it.

Experience shows the average time frame of 4 to 5 years for finishing a PhD is not realistic. In reality, self-funded PhD researchers often take 6 to 7 years to complete their doctorate, given that they often cannot work on their research full-time. Be advised that taking a longer time to finish your PhD can have a negative impact on your own well-being, and may also have consequences for the relevance of your research. The state of the art may have moved on in the interval, and your analysis may have become obsolete. 

You can still apply for funding for your project while doing a PhD, but funding opportunities are limited, and different eligibility criteria can play an important role. The funding body financing most PhD research in Flanders, FWO, will not fund PhD researchers who have obtained their master’s degree more than 3 years ago (so-called ‘advanced master’s’ do not count as master’s degrees in this context). More details about the eligibility criteria of the FWO fellowship can be found here under ‘Profile and Conditions’). Don’t hesitate to ask the Research Support team for help when preparing your application: they will give you tips and feedback on your application before you send it in. There are also other funding opportunities, which you can find on this website . There is some funding available for PhD researchers without a bench fee to go to conferences (within the country or abroad), see further information below. 

Self-funded PhD researchers generally do not have the right to an office, and there is little office space available. This, in addition to the different time management required when doing a self-funded PhD (for instance in combination with a job), can lead to a more difficult process of integration into your Research Group. It is strongly recommended to go to Research Group meetings whenever possible, to stay in touch with other (PhD, postdoc, …) researchers, and take part in other events organised by your Group or your Research Unit. It may be a good idea to contact the administrative and financial coordinator of your Research Unit (RU) and ask them if you can be included on all mailing lists of the RU. Also ask them (or your promotor) to introduce you to other doctoral students within the RU. They can then tell you about activities organised within the RU. (Are you not sure who your ‘administrative and financial coordinator’ is? Find out here .) If you are not sure which Research Unit you are connected to, you can enter your name or the name of your promotor on the KU Leuven who-is-who page. It will appear under ‘Unit’.

Read the rest of this website for more practical information.

What are my rights as a self-funded doctoral student? 

You will receive a KU Leuven email address and a so-called u-number. This will give you access to all materials from the Library (including journals which KU Leuven is subscribed to). 

In most cases, self-funded PhD students regrettably do not have a designated office office space, nor will they be offered a staff card, which gives access to facilities like printers. You can reserve a so-called flex space via the KURT reservation system . Go to the reservation system > Leuven > seat > office spaces > Faculteit Letteren > choose a numbered flex space > create reservation. The following spaces are available at our Faculty:

 LETT 00.15: 5 workstations, designated for quiet work only

 LETT 00.22: 2 workstations, with the possibility to make phone calls 

LETT 00.26: 2 workstations, designated for quiet work only 

You may call on the assistance of your supervisor and your supervisory committee when working on your doctorate. 

You may communicate to “the outside world” that you are working at KU Leuven (e.g. by putting this in your e-signature), which can for example facilitate contact with scientists at other universities. 

You may call on the assistance of the Research Support team if you need help preparing funding applications.

Your contact information is incorporated in the KU Leuven organigram and on the KU Leuven who-is-who page . 

Your u-number gives you access to the KU Leuven Lirias repository, where you can upload your publications, allowing you to make them visible on your who-is-who page. If you have questions, you can contact the  Artes research team .

You will be able to take a variety of courses offered to all KU Leuven researchers (see overview here , under ‘Courses for researchers’). These include a course on networking, stress management, professionalization, and much more. Many of them can be followed online, at your own pace. They can help strengthen your CV, and prepare you for the next step in your career (academic or otherwise). 

As a self-funded PhD researcher you are automatically covered by the Student accident insurance (in case of accidents resulting in you getting physically injured on your way to, during, or on your way back from your office/ class/ internship, and during any activities related to your research) and the Third-party civic liability insurance for research-related activities. Please be aware that during your research stays abroad you will remain covered by KU Leuven insurance only on the condition that you register your mobility through KU Loket . You will have to verify yourself whether your own health insurance is valid abroad (for travels within the EEA the European Health Insurance Card is sufficient, for travels outside of the EEA you will need to take out a travel insurance).

Consider joining KU Leuven PhD society  to meet your colleagues! Are you an international PhD student? Then you may be interested in joining  Pangaea  or  International House Leuven  for all sorts of social events and info about living and working in Leuven.

What are my obligations as a self-funded PhD student? 

• You re-enroll each academic year as a PhD student at KU Leuven. You pay the tuition fee when you register for the first time, and again when your PhD defense has been scheduled. You do not need to pay tuition fees during the years in between.
• Whereas funded doctoral researchers are obligated to follow a minimum of 12 training hours of “educational, supervisory, and communication professionalization” (cf. doctoral regulations art. 15, particularity 2), self-funded doctoral students are exempt from this. 
• Additionally, unlike doctoral students who receive funding, you are not obligated to perform administrative tasks, such as the invigilation of exams. Similarly, your supervisor cannot oblige you to take part in teaching and/or the rendering of other services.
• All other components are obligatory for all PhD students, including self-funded PhD students.

In the context of improving its support of self-funded PhD researchers, the Faculty’s research support staff conducted interviews with self-funded PhD researchers and promotors supervising self-funded PhD researchers in 2021-2022. Clear communication and well-coordinated expectations were identified as the vital basis of a good collaboration between researcher and supervisor. For this reason the Faculty strongly advises to have an in-depth conversation with your supervisor at the start of your PhD. This will serve to clear up mutual expectations and give you a clear road map for the years ahead. Specific points of attention could consist of determining a realistic frequency of meetings (plainly stating who is expected to take up contact with whom), as well as coming up with a provisional structure of the first years (planning publication(s), conference attendance, approximate deadlines for sending in chapters, etc.), a delineation of the precise topic of your dissertation and your methodological approach, etc.  This page can help you prepare such a supervision agreement.

You can turn to the Faculty’s support network if you hav e specific problems . The Research support staff officers can answer any funding-related questions you may have, and help with proofreading grant proposals. The Artes research team can assist you in all matters related to digital scholarship (e.g. Open Access, Research Data Management, Digital Humanities). The Internationalisation support staff officers can give you advice regarding international mobility and visa matters, while the PhD ombuds person can help you navigate psychosocial problems when pursuing a PhD, as well as potential problems with your supervisor. 

If for personal or professional reasons you cannot make meaningful progress in your PhD for at least 8 months, you can ask to have your PhD put ‘on hold’. This will unenroll you from the PhD programme, and requires the agreement of your supervisor. You can choose to resume work at a later stage. Mind that this can have consequences for your visa status if you are an international researcher. When you, together with your supervisor, decide to pick up the thread again, please contact the doctoral administration, so they can put your account back on ‘active’. You should also re-enroll as quickly as possible in the PhD programme. 

• In some cases, the supervisor may have some financial means at their disposal to help their self-funded PhD student financially, for instance to cover travel costs related to a conference trip. However, in the clear majority of cases, supervisors do not have such means , so please don't count on them.
• You can explore whether you can apply for any PhD scholarships . However, be aware that funding opportunities are limited, and different eligibility criteria can play an important role. The funding body financing most PhD research in Flanders, FWO, will not fund PhD researchers who have obtained their master’s degree more than 3 years ago (so-called ‘advanced master’s’ do not count as master’s degrees in this context). More details about the eligibility criteria of the FWO fellowship can be found here under ‘Profile and Conditions’). Don’t hesitate to ask the Research Support team for help when preparing your application: they will give you tips and feedback on your application before you send it in. There are also other funding opportunities, which you can find on this website .
• The Arts Faculty . Self-funded PhD researchers can apply for a 500 euro allowance from the Faculty. In this case, the doctoral researcher is expected to participate actively in the conference, in the form of an oral and/or a poster presentation. Only applications to participate in international scientific conferences are taken into consideration (this is to say that the scientific committee of the conference has to be assembled internationally), so that the participation can contribute to the completion of the PhD programme. Each PhD student can only receive an allowance once during their PhD. The maximum allowance consists of 500 euros, which covers enrollment, travel, and accommodation expenses which you can reclaim upon the presentation of the original documents. To apply, please send proof that your abstract was accepted by the conference organizers to the research support staff officers . Make sure to register your stay abroad in KU Loket . That way you will remain covered by KU Leuven insurance.
• Doctoral School for the Humanities and Social Sciences . Self-funded PhD students can apply for this grant once during their PhD. Applicants are asked to submit an application to the FWO in parallel unless they are unable to do so. The application form can be found on the DSHSS website ('Request forms: Conference allowance'). Send the form to the e-mail address indicated in the footer of the form.
• The FWO Flanders provides grants for the participation in scientific conferences. Click here for more information regarding eligibility and application procedures. Advice on what to pay attention to when preparing the application can be found here.
• Please note, regardless of funding:  you should register your time abroad in KU Loket in order to remain covered by KU Leuven insurance (in case of accidents  resulting in physical injury or when you are held liable for material damage ).  Here you can find the correct  application procedure .
• PhD students do not need to cover costs related to the travel and accommodation of jury members.
• PhD student receive max. 500 euro from the Faculty to cover costs related to the defense, such as printing costs, paying the final tuition fee or organizing a reception afterwards.
• More information about the defense.
• The KU Leuven Fund voor Fair and Open Access offers funding for publications in  Fair Open Access . More info can be found here .

Some additional important things to keep an eye on in the course of your PhD: 

To remain up to date regarding important information to do with your PhD progress, make sure to regularly check your KU Leuven email address. You have a student email address ([email protected]) and a Faculty member email address ([email protected]). You will use your staff email account to stay in touch with your promotor, your Research Unit, etc. You will receive an email at your student address every year to re-enroll as a PhD student, and other administration-related messages. It is therefore important that you check both email accounts frequently and read those emails. 

All emails addressed to PhD students at the Faculty are also meant for you. As a self-funded PhD researcher you belong to the Faculty member category called “ABAP”, so if you receive any emails for the ABAP, be sure to read these in particular. 

As your research progresses, it is useful to consider what thesis format suits your research best. PhD students may submit their thesis as a monograph or as a bundle of publications. The time that self-funded students can spend on their research can be fragmented, so opting for a bundle of publications can be a good strategy, depending on your situation and the shape of your project. Keep in mind that it can take up to a year before a publication is accepted, and that your submission so plan accordingly. 

Switching from a funded PhD to a self-funded PhD

It regularly happens that PhD students who start their PhD with funding (e.g. a personal fellowship or project funding) do not finish their dissertation before their employment contract ends. In this case, they switch to a self-funded PhD. There are a few points of attention:

• The Faculty recommends that the PhD student and the supervisor schedule a meeting to discuss the work plan for the upcoming months and/or years and to go over the questions specifically meant for self-funded PhD students in the supervision agreement . This is because in most cases, the PhD student will look for a part-time or full-time job outside the University, which will inevitably lead to fewer hours per week that the PhD student can spend on research. It is also advisable to discuss the work plan during the annual meeting with the DBC (supervisory committee) so that the DBC members can give further advice about what to prioritize.
• It can be worthwile to follow the workshop " Managing your PhD " (free of charge) to enable you to use the time that is available to you in a maximally efficient way.
• You will no longer be a personnel member of KU Leuven. In terms of administration, the so-called ' minimal registration ' needs to be finalized by the Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences (= the level above the Arts Faculty) so that your KU Leuven account (u-number, email address, KU Loket..) remains active. Please contact the Doctoral School before the end of your contract so they can make sure there is no gap in between the last day of your contract and the start of your trajectory as a self-funded PhD student.
• Please be aware that if you were using a laptop that was purchased with project funding, the ICT service will ask you to hand in your laptop when your contract ends.
• It may be useful to discuss with your supervisor what thesis format suits your research best. PhD students may submit their thesis as a monograph or as a bundle of publications. The time that self-funded students can spend on their research can be fragmented, so opting for a bundle of publications can be a good strategy, depending on your situation and the shape of your project.
• Please note that even though your employment contract ends, you will still need to fulfill the annual requirements : preparing progress reports, presenting to the DBC (supervisory committee), having performance interviews with your supervisor.

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Self-funded PhDs

Our self-funded PhDs give you the chance to work with our established research academics in an area we have identified as a priority for research. You will be able to select from a range of pre-defined research topics. However, if none of the advertised opportunities are quite right for you, you can create your own research project. To do this, the project would need to be developed as a proposal and would need to be discussed with a potential supervisor before you apply. This is to ensure your research area aligns with our research focus. We recommend that you look at our research centres and groups for our current research areas and review our guidance on how to write a research proposal .

A PhD usually takes three years full-time and up to six years part-time. For self-funded PhDs, there are a range of options that may be available to you to help you  fund your PhD.

Please contact the project supervisor(s) directly to find out more about availability on the projects and how to apply.

Current opportunities

These are the self-funded PhDs available across our Colleges:

Digital and Material Artistic Research Centre

• Going viral: narratives, metaphors and symbols of a pandemic
• Reaching new audiences in the curation, exhibition and production of artists' film and video
• Public sculpture of post-war Derbyshire artist Ronald Pope: modernism, regionalism, civic engagement

Institute of Education

• Excellence and expertise in further education teachers’ professional formation
• Serendipity influencing career decisions for young people navigating school-to-work transitions
• Supporting peer-based pathways to recovery and desistance
• Diplomacy and political discontent
• Dealing with the Past: Exploring new pathways of accountability for colonial-era atrocities
• Chinese and global financial integration
• Understanding interfirm relationships in the era of digital transformation
• Antecedents, outcomes, and mechanisms of employee and leader proactivity
• Blockchain Technology: How to unblock the chain for improving business sustainability and transparency

Centre for Business Improvement

• Pro-environmental capabilities in SMEs
• The role of co-creation in rural town centre identities
• Behaviour change for sustainable tourism and improved wellbeing and quality of life
• What constitutes effective enterprise support for pro-environmental and pro-social SMEs?
• Place-based sustainability leadership

Centre for Social, Cultural and Legal Research

• The reproduction and politics of inequality

Centre for Supply Chain Improvement

• Exploring the compatibility of lean manufacturing methods and circular economy practices
• Digital supply chain strategy
• Repurposing production operations and manufacturing systems during the COVID-19 emergency
• Exploring the role of emptiness meditation for improving health and wellbeing
• Addressing emotional barriers in mathematics education using attachment-based creative play
• Exploring the impact of compassion-based initiatives in higher education
• When will they stop? An exploration of protective and desistance factors amongst people who have been involved in stalking behaviours
• The exposure and effects of foods high in fat, sugar, or salt content and advertising on broadcast television and video-on-demand services in the UK
• Examining the effectiveness of an Emotion Skills Training intervention for reducing emotional difficulties in individuals with disordered eating (DE)
• Cyberbullying in adolescents with an acquired brain injury
• Making microcontinents: Determining the role of the lithosphere and mantle in controlling plate motions, microplate rifting events, and subsequent distributions of resources

Data Science Research Centre

• Enhancing video game artificial intelligence via machine learning and evolutionary strategic interactions
• Dynamic edge artificial intelligence models to empower Internet of Things-based systems
• Artificial intelligence model security
• Detecting and responding to adversarial tools
• Smart contracts for access monitoring

Human Sciences Research Centre

• Exploring the Experience of Yips in Elite Sport

Everything you need to know about how to join us for your PhD.

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Find out what the tuition fees are for MPhils and PhDs at Derby, as well as what sources of funding there are to help pay for them.

Q&A: Self-funding your PhD

• November 17, 2016
• evalantsoght_uw8lmy
• Uncategorized

Dear Dr. Lantsoght, I’d like to ask you about the funding issues relating to PhD studies. Some PhDs are advertised as ‘for self-funded students only’. What does that actually mean? Is it referring to funds as in, I’lll have to pay for international fees by myself (a non-EU student looking to study in UK) or fund as in I need to scout for…a grant? bench fees and all? Thank you!!

While I’m not entirely sure about the UK, I’ll reply your question from my perspective – having done graduate studies in the United States and the Netherlands.

First of all, self-funded PhDs in the Netherlands are extremely rare, but I know one person who was looking into the option. A PhD position in the Netherlands is traditionally combined with becoming an employee of the university, including salary and social security and all that. A Dutch PhD program is research-only, so no coursework. As a result, Dutch universities do not charge tuition and fees during the PhD – it really sits apart from Master’s studies. So, if in the Netherlands, you want to bring funding for a PhD by self-funding your PhD or by bringing funds through a private company, you will need funds that will cover your salary, your office space, the university overhead, the use of lab equipment, the cost of your experiments… It gets extremely expensive really fast.

In the United States, a PhD program is the continuation of a Master’s program, and the program will contain coursework, a qualifying exam, a proposal stage and then the dissertation and defense. In an American PhD program, you need to pay tuition and fees. You can either pay for these yourself, or you can find a position as a research or teaching assistant, which will cover these costs and will pay you a small stipend to pay rent and food. Again self-funding is rather rare, although I think it is maybe more related to the prestige that comes with getting a scholarship or teaching/research assistanceship. I’ve only once heard somebody mention that his parents funded his MSc and PhD, but I’m not entirely sure if that also meant that all the costs for using the lab and office space and so on had to be paid by the student.

As for the UK, I really can’t tell – so I hope some of my UK-based readers might want to chip in on this topic? Has anybody self-funded their PhD? How was your experience?

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I self-funded in the UK but I was awarded my PhD 10 years ago and the situation was very different then. I wouldn't be able to afford it now, I don't think. More recent info here (read the comments, too): https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/jun/06/self-funded-phd-student-lives

There are many many self-funded student in the UK, particularly in the Arts and Humanities as there is very little government/company funding for these. In the Sciences it is slightly better, but there are still people who self fund.To self fund you would need to pay tuition fees for the year, and of course your own accommodation etc. Sometimes people self-fund for a year hoping to get funding for the other few years of their PhD.

Thank you for your input! In the Netherlands, I've never met anybody who self-funded, and in the USA only one person – but every country is different in that regard.

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Frequently asked questions.

A fully funded PhD covers your tuition fees and also your living costs.

A self funded PhD means that the student will rely on their own sources of income in order to study their course. This often involves taking on a job or student loans.

The average cost of Tuition fees for a UK or EU PhD student is around £3,000 to £6,000. International students cost between £16,000 and £24,000.

Most PhD studentships and scholarships are extremely competitive. You will need to highlight your academic prowess in order to secure this funding.

If you have set your heart on completing a PhD subject, then the last thing you need is confusion over how the funding works. The differences between studentships, scholarships and loans can seem confusing. But don’t worry, here are some pointers to help find your way to PhD funding.

First things first, what is PhD funding?

UK universities are complex organisations requiring a lot of money to keep their operations functioning. They employ a lot of people and provide facilities for teaching and research. Most of this comes from the Government one way or another.

There are five different sources of funding for PhD’s in the UK:

• The Government, through organisations such as the UKRI
• Postgraduate Research Loans, available to individual PhD students
• Universities offer their own funded PhD courses which are termed Studentships
• Charities and Trusts support individual PhD students through the award of Scholarships and Bursaries
• Companies seek answers to business-critical problems by investing in research and partnering with a relevant University.

When you start looking for a PhD, you'll find the significance of these different sources will become clear.

What do I do first?

The simplest way to find PhD funding is to look for existing projects with your current university, or from another that specializes in the same area. Make time to consider your options as the course progresses. You could be preparing to step into work once you have completed your masters degree. Or you could have already considered the possibility of staying on to continue your studies.

Remaining within the structure and support network of your current university offers the most security. This is because you can draw upon the knowledge of your academic colleagues and potential supervisors to consider the routes that you could take with them.

However, if you have been working and are considering a change of direction by stepping back into study then you will have to start from scratch. This involves researching which location and research academic team would be best placed for your particular specialty.

Where does the funding come into it?

If your current/previous university is a research-intensive institution it is likely they will be actively bidding for research grants from bodies such as the UKRI each year. A successful bid means recruiting for PhD students.

These new PhD students will be awarded funded studentships. These individuals will conduct the research, under supervision, and the results will be peer reviewed. Postgraduate Studentships lists the details of these from leading universities all year round.

Most of the research funding in the UK is for STEM subjects. This is because the physical sciences are a Government priority for trade and employment. However, research funding in the social sciences is widely available. Arguably they contribute as much to the economy through the service sector.

Many will also include a stipend, which is an additional living cost allowance. UKRI sets the rate and in 2024/25 the minimum amount is £18,622, paid in regular instalments.

University Studentships

In addition, your university may fund PhD studentships. You can find these from universities that have a well-established expertise in a specific area.

They can be organized around a specific facility or named academic who has a recognised reputation in a subject. Studentships are usually offered once a year in a block. Applicants are invited to apply in advance with the successful candidates usually selected in the early spring .

Sometimes these are awarded based on a competition because the demand for places will be high. Tuition fee discounts and Alumni bursaries can help to entice current masters students to remain (or return) to their previous universities.

Companies seeking answers to problems through research

Universities that have connections to industry are able to develop funded studentships that have direct applicability to a specific service. These can offer some of the most interesting opportunities because they are directly contributing to the discovery of new knowledge of significance to global challenges.

Explore PhD funding through scholarships from Charities and Trusts

You can search through a large number of charitable organisations that distribute funds to assist with postgraduate study. You may find that these are usually based on academic results. International students seeking a place at a UK institution often use these sources of funding.

These are Merit Scholarships, and while they probably won’t cover all the costs associated with a PhD, they are nevertheless a very useful additional sources of support. You can explore funded PhD opportunities on Postgraduate Studentships .

Government Doctorate Loan

The UK Government Doctoral Loan scheme opens each summer to cover the costs of your course. You will receive the loan directly. You can use it for your course fees and living costs.

Remember that this sum is divided into the length of your programme. So if you are thinking about a part time PhD that lasts over 3 years, the amount paid will be equivalent to the costs for each year. This will be on top of any existing student loan, and you have to start paying some of it back when you get a full-time job.

You can mix and match any scholarships with a loan. This could very useful if you are not able to secure a studentship for your PhD when you start your course.

International access to research funding

Recent changes to the UK Study Visa scheme have come into effect so that international students can stay on beyond the end of their study period while they pursue a career. This means international students are now eligible to apply for studentships offered by the UKRI. This is a real help when you want to find PhD funding.

Don’t forget tuition fees

Tuition fees vary from course to course. All universities must charge students these fees.

The fees for these are set in line with the Research Council rates, and for 2024 the cost is £4,712. International students pay much higher fees.

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• Paying for a PhD – The Cost of Self Funding

First of all, a little about me: I’m a part-time PhD student, I’m five years into my project, I’m hoping to submit in my sixth year. And I’m self-funded.

The five years of my project have brought many challenges (as any PhD does). Some of these are specific to my situation as a self-funding student. I’d like to share my experiences with you: introducing some of the things which actually need to be paid for during a PhD, explaining how I’ve been doing that, and saying a little about the impact my self-funding status has had on my personal development.

Counting the costs

Self-funding a PhD comes with several costs, some obvious and others not so much.

Course costs

First and most obvious: tuition fees. Yes, we postgrads have them too! PhD fees are not nearly as high as those for undergraduates, coming in around £4,000 per academic year. You will be able to earn enough to cover these during a PhD, but that’ll leave a dent in both your income and time.

As a part-time student, my fees were essentially halved. This was good but, still, trying to accumulate enough income to pay for the necessities makes that extra £2,000 for tuition a bit more cumbersome.

Accommodation

Secondly: rent. As an undergraduate in the UK, you may not have worried too much about rent, particularly if you had access to subsidised student halls and / or a maintenance loan to help cover living costs.

Take a quick jump into the graduate world and rent is not only your single biggest outgoing, but also the least negotiable one. You have a few accommodation options available as a postgraduate, and it pays (perhaps literally) to look into these in advance.

Some regions of the UK are more expensive than others and it is worth looking into accommodation a little beyond the immediate location of your university. Rent can often drop quickly beyond city centres, for example, and public transport is generally good enough to make commuting viable. Personally, I've found that St Andrews is quite an expensive area, which ups the ante a little bit on that account.

Thirdly: typical bills. Nothing much to say here. Food, power, tv, phones, internet. . . nothing out of the ordinary. But you will have to cover them as a PhD student. And, if you’re self-funding, you won’t have a bursary to help you do so.

Lastly, and perhaps most surprisingly: council tax. Yup! That’s right: I pay council tax. "But wait!" I hear you cry. "Students are exempt from council tax". Ah! Yes, full-time students are indeed. As a part-time student I am not eligible for that exemption and, whilst I get a 25% discount for living with full-timers, I do indeed pay the brunt of council tax.

. . .and covering them

Taken together, my standard outgoings amount to roughly £700 per month, not including food. That’s approximately 21 hours per week at minimum wage.

So how have I dealt with all these necessary outgoings? I was very fortunate to have acquired a job shortly after starting my PhD and have managed to pay for the essential bills each month with that income. I also spent the first few years with my then partner so when things were a little tougher we had a communal pool to pay for the household outgoings.

Finally, as well as my regular job, I’ve been fortunate enough to have held teaching positions in three different departments. Whilst this is not a sustained income year-round, it is well enough paid at the time that I am able to build some savings in case of a rainy day (or worse).

How this experience has shaped my PhD journey

So, what has five years’ experience self-funding a PhD brought me? Let’s start with the negatives.

The negatives

It’s tough, simple as that. A PhD is a difficult thing, but I’ve found at times that researching by day and working by evening has been a burn. Trying to maintain the necessary commitment during long days is very draining and grating on your well-being.

Having never done a funded PhD, I can’t really comment on the comparison, but the situation is at times incredibly difficult and that can sap your determination. In particular, it’s been a strain to budget the time (and mental resources) necessary to get things done.

The concern is that this impacts on the quality of the work you do: It’s one thing to commit to multiple responsibilities and it’s another to maintain them well. Keeping track of everything hasn’t always been easy (and, in fact, still isn’t). It has also been difficult to mentally separate everything and I’ve found it all too easy to be thinking about research at work and vice versa.

Lastly, after getting on top of commitments it has been very difficult to maintain the energy to support the other aspects of life. I love playing my guitar and have recently taken to blogging/reviewing and story-writing but these other “for me” interests are difficult to sustain when other more immediate concerns are pressing for your energy.

The positives

It’s not all bad, though, and the positives are largely the flip side of the negatives. I’ve (relatively) quickly developed time and mental space management skills. To excel at my job as well as my research (and teaching) I have had to learn how to separate these roles into different mental compartments such that I can work on one at a time.

This has given me some useful transferable skills , but it’s also proved handy during the PhD itself. I’ve become better at 'switching off' during my down time, which means I’m not worrying about other things when I’m relaxing, reading, or writing for pleasure.

I’ve also learned what is (and isn’t) a reasonable amount of work to expect of myself in a given time. It’s very easy to just want to achieve everything and be disappointed when you fall short, but my experiences have helped me to identify achievable goals in the short and long term. This also helps me manage my time and head space – developing some good habits in the process.

Lastly, my part-time status means I have greater flexibility and time to get things done at my own pace. I don’t want to be researching my PhD forever, but knowing that I’m not counting down to the end of funding or a short submission deadline means I have the freedom to take some me time or simply take longer working through things.

I find myself a little more confident in my thoughts now and I don’t think I’d have reached that point in the same way were I to have been full-time (and thus done by now). So, overall, I’ll hopefully be a better and more balanced researcher because of it.

So that’s about it. Self-funding is tough but manageable and pushes you to rapidly develop skills which are useful in every aspect of life.

I would still choose this pathway if I could go back to the start again (though, if you asked me 2 years ago I’d have said no) so it’s not all tough. For the most part, the efforts are worth it.

Thanks for reading!

Ben Turnbull is a PhD candidate in Psychology & Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews . He writes about his experiences and reflects on the transition into PhD study over at his personal blog .

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What to think when asked to self-fund research?

I applied to a funded advertised PhD position about 7 weeks ago... I heard nothing between then and a few days ago when I got an email from them saying that they “wondered” whether I would be willing to self-fund my research. I let them know that I wouldn’t be able to do that and have heard nothing back from them since... The issue here is that I don’t know how to take this.

I’m under the impression that my application was well above average (I had it looked over by several academics I know) and I’m pretty sure that I was one of the first people who applied, if not the first.

I just want to know if I should take their question to mean that they are not willing to fund my research. Is this standard practice? And if it is, what does it mean?

• application

• If only done by a single professor, I wouldn't put much weight into this. There are many strange people out there. I know a (famous) math prof, whose students are usually funded, but he says that he does not want students who do not love maths enough that they would work for free. Silly, if you ask me.(I don't know if and how he finds out whether his students would work for free...) –  user114084 Commented Sep 15, 2019 at 19:19
• 2 If you applied to a possition (as opposite to a school), your application being well above average becomes irrelevant. The only thing which matters is if there is ONE application better than yours or not. And in some situations even exceptional applications end up second....If that is the case, it is possible that they want another candidate yet your application is strong enough that they don't want to miss you, but they may not have funding. –  Nick S Commented Sep 15, 2019 at 19:48
• 3 If this is the sciences, you should laugh in their face and frankly I wouldn't even answer them. –  Azor Ahai -him- Commented Sep 15, 2019 at 23:31
• It seems pretty obvious the way to take it. They want you if free, but not if they have to pay for you. Your next step is to look for other options and not worry about the one that passed. As my mother said, there are a lot of fish in the sea. –  guest Commented Sep 16, 2019 at 4:52

2 Answers 2

Answering for the UK and for not-STEM: YMMV in other locations or subjects.

In such a situation it is very likely that you have not been given the funded position. If I were to speculate here, the internal decision about the funded position was likely made and whoever contacted you assumed you had already been notified that you did not get it. However, it is certainly acceptable and appropriate for you to ask about the status of that application and you need not hesitate.

However, to put things in perspective, my subject area recently had over 100 applicants for 4 funded PhD positions (and 86 applicants for a single post doc position). It certainly didn't matter at all who applied first as no one looks at the applications until the closing date, and we don't look at them in the order they come in. While you might believe your application was strong, and it might be strong, if you are facing a similar applicant to award ratio, your prospects aren't good.

Only they know the meaning and implication of what they said. You will have to ask to know if you are in contention or not. Perhaps, since the position was intended to be funded, that they are thinking of bringing in more than one person with only one funded.

My response would be to simply ask them what are the next steps you should take to complete your application and what is the time scale for them to make a decision.

But I would also not give up on any other opportunities that you have or that you could explore.

The question asked of you was a bit strange, even a bit improper. Maybe it was just awkwardness on their part and maybe something worse. But don't make assumptions or take actions that might be wrong and that might disadvantage yourself.

• In the UK it is a pretty common question we have to ask. When a student has not been given a funded PhD place, but has been accepted to the PhD programme because acceptance was a requirement of the funding application, we have to contact them to ask if they are planning on showing up anyway. –  GrotesqueSI Commented Sep 16, 2019 at 12:59

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Develop your own self-funded PhD proposal

If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it. To begin this process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor from one of our research groups, whose research interests align with your own.

How to Apply

To begin the process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor whose research interests align with your own. View our list of Research Groups to identify Supervisors in each area. You will need to contact them, with an outline of your research interests and a copy of your CV, to discuss your application.

1. Find a PhD Supervisor in a relevant Research Group

Atmosphere, climate & pollution.

Critical Geographies

Earth Science

Ecology & Conservation

Environmental & Biogeochemistry

Geospatial Data Science

Plant & Crop Science

Political Ecology

Soil, Plant & Land Systems

Water Science

2. Develop your proposal with your PhD Supervisor

Step 1 - your proposal, step 2 - your application, step 3 - what happens next.

As part of your discussions with potential supervisors and the application process, we will require a research proposal on the area(s) you are interested in joining us to study. This will be used to help us determine who will be the most suitable potential academic supervisor(s) for your research.

It is recommended that a research proposal includes the following:

• a section that defines and characterises your selected research area
• a section that briefly surveys and sums up the state of the research in this area
• a section that identifies deficiencies in the research area which you would like to address in your PhD
• a section that outlines some possible research directions that you might pursue
• a section detailing the methods you envisage using in your studies
• who within LEC appears best qualified to supervise you
• a list of references that you cite in the above sections

Further information on writing a research proposal. Please note that your proposal is open to negotiation with your supervisor(s) and may change before and even during your PhD.

To submit an application, simply create an account on the and then select ‘Create a new application’ from your homepage once you are logged in.

Using your account on the My Applications website, you are able to submit applications for the programme(s), which you wish to study, upload supporting documentation and provide us with information about referees. You may apply for all our postgraduate programmes using this method.

PhD programmes

We offer 3 PhD programmes, and you should choose the one you consider most appropriate for your proposed project. You may wish to discuss this with your potential supervisors.

• Biological Sciences MPhil/PhD
• Environmental Science PhD
• Geography MPhil/PhD

Start dates

You can apply at any time of the year for PhD study, but you will need to select one of the predefined start dates:

If you are applying for funding, are applying from overseas or require on-campus accommodation, we recommend that you apply as early as possible.

After you submit the application it comes into the Admissions Office where it is assessed. It is then sent through to the Department for consideration. This can take up to three weeks. Please make sure you submit all the essential documents otherwise this will delay your application.

Once we receive your application in the Department we send it to potential supervisors. That is unless you have already identified a supervisor for your research.

We then make a decision on your application. The Admissions Office communicate this decision via your application portal and via email.

Fees and Funding

Our Postgraduate Research Tuition Fees are displayed on individual programme pages that can be found here . Information on the funding available, tuition fees and living costs in Lancaster are at Postgraduate Fees and Funding.

Laboratories

You will find yourself taking advantage of several laboratory facilities at Lancaster Environment Centre. There are our £4.4 million Teaching Labs, for example, as well as specialist facilities for Environmental Chemistry, Noble Gas, and Plant and Soil Ecology.

Research Facilities

There are no fewer than 15 purpose-built glasshouse modules, 16 controlled environment plant growth rooms, 4 solar domes based at the Hazelrigg Weather Station and a suite of ultraviolet radiation research facilities that can truly claim to be world-class.

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You could find yourself working at a range of catchment science sites across England and Wales, including the local River Eden Valley, or they can travel much further afield to the tropical forests of the Amazon and Borneo.

Cutting-Edge Technologies

You can be trained to use a range of equipment, such as our Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer Facility, X-ray CT Scanner, Magnetometer or the LI-COR Portable Photosynthesis System, which has the capacity to measure plant gas exchange with exceptional speed and precision.

Rich Data Resources

Dedicated support staff with expertise in GIS, statistics, modelling, information technology and programming are available to provide specialist training in all aspects of data acquisition, processing and analysis.

Other methods of applying for a PhD

We offer a number of different routes to beginning your PhD study.

Apply for a funded PhD position

Every year we offer a range of PhDs funded by a number of different sources, including research councils, industries or charities. Browse the list of latest funded opportunities here.

Doctoral Training Centres

You can also apply for a PhD from one of the Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships that work with the Graduate School for the Environment. Details of each of the Training Centres are provided here.

PhD Student Stories

Our PhD students are engaged in cutting-edge research, in locations across the globe. Take inspiration from some of our current PhD students.

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What Does Fully Funded Actually Mean?

You may have heard that many PhD programs are fully funded — universities pay doctoral students to attend school and even provide health insurance. The thought of getting paid to earn an advanced degree in a subject that deeply interests you may seem like a good deal – so what’s the catch? Are PhD programs free? Is a fully-funded PhD real? 

Before you sign that dotted line and accept such an offer, understand the whole picture of a fully funded program and whether the offer will be worth it for you.  

What’s included in a fully funded program? 

Before you can make sense of a funding offer, you might be asking yourself two big questions.  1. How much does a PhD costs?  2. How do PhD students get paid ?   First, a doctoral program can cost anywhere between $131,000-$263,000.   If those numbers feel daunting, you’re not alone. Most universities understand that the cost of this investment looms over students, which is why they offer fully funded doctoral programs that include tuition waivers, assistantships and living stipends that cover your base expenses to make the longevity of your study possible. A fully-funded offer is essentially an invitation to become a member of that department. Your funding offer typically comes in the form of an assistantship, which means you work for the department in some way. 

Types of PhD Funding

The two most popular options are teaching assistantships and research assistantships .  Depending on your discipline, you may be offered one or the other when you start, and you may be reassigned as you go through your program depending on your department’s needs, your strengths and the areas you may need more experience.  Fellowships are another form of funding, which can either be tied to an assistantship or a funding opportunity that gives you the freedom to focus more time on your research. Regardless of the funding type, these offers demonstrate that your department is investing in you and your work. That investment prepares you for future careers by providing hands-on training in your area and the experience you need to succeed post-graduation. 

What to Consider Before Accepting a Fully-Funded PhD Program

→ Assistantships and fellowships add to your workload.  For some students, the teaching and research assignments with funding can be a lot to juggle on top of regular coursework and independent research. Make sure you understand the expectations of your offer before you agree to accept it.  → PhD training takes time Receiving a PhD means that you become an expert in your field, which can sound exciting when contemplating a subject that you’re passionate about. But becoming an expert takes an investment of time.  On average, doctoral students take five to seven years to complete their degrees. While plenty of people reflect nostalgically on their time in their doctoral programs as periods of self-growth and intellectual development, it’s still important to consider the investment.  The costs can add up quickly when you include tuition, research, travel funds, living expenses, health insurance and supplies.  While a package may look fully funded, the true cost of obtaining a PhD isn’t always obvious. Even if you’re offered a fully-funded package from a great program, take some time to consider whether you’re truly interested in investing the time and effort.

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