Applying for PhD Funding: First Steps
Applying for a PhD should be an exciting time, but when it comes to applying for funding it can often feel confusing and stressful. PhD student Lydia Valentine shares some top tips for applying for PhD funding.
Applying for a PhD should be an exciting time, but when it comes to applying for funding it can often feel like a confusing and stressful process. Whether you are applying to a Doctoral Training Programme (DTP), university scholarships, or to alternative funding organisations, demystifying the application process is a useful first step. One of the benefits of belonging to a network is that we can draw on each other’s experience, so I wanted to share some top tips for applying for PhD funding which helped me along the way.
Speak to your supervisor.
A great first step in any funding application is to have a chat with your intended supervisor about your options. Supervisors have invaluable experience with funding applications and can help to direct you towards the best funding options for your area. Additionally, funding bodies also often require you to explain how your research synergises with the work of your supervisor and department, so having these conversations early on is really helpful.
Get familiar with the assessment criteria.
Once you have identified the funding you want to apply to, it’s important to understand how you are being assessed. Funding bodies will typically offer a breakdown of how they judge an application on their websites. There are often sections of your application which are more heavily weighted than others. When I was applying for LAHP funding, I noticed that the quality of my research proposal made up 50% of the assessment criteria, whereas the feasibility of my proposal and my preparedness for research counted for 25% each. Although your application will be assessed as a whole, in this case the assessment criteria is telling you that the research proposal should be your priority as you put your application together.
Attend an information session.
Check to see if the funding body you are applying to offers any information sessions. Information sessions are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the application process and to ask questions about any uncertainties you might have. Your current or most recent university might also offer similar seminars so it’s worth making enquiries about this, particularly at universities with faculty-based Doctoral Centres.
Look at successful applications.
Sometimes the most difficult part of putting together an application is knowing what’s expected of you. Asking your proposed supervisor if they have supervised any successful applicants who would be willing to share their application documents with you is a great way of getting familiar with what a successful application looks like. When I was first considering doing a PhD, my personal tutor and her PhD student were kind enough to share their application with me and it was one of the most useful things I did before I started applying for programmes and funding. Also, if the funding body you are applying to has a page for current students, have a look! This will give you an idea of the projects that they have recently funded.
Justify your choice of funding organisation.
One of the best pieces of advice I received about funding applications was to be specific. Why are you applying to that funding, in particular? Funding organisations want to know how you would make use of everything they offer and how your research might integrate into their existing networks. Researching the funding organisation, including what training, networks and placements they offer, allows you to make your application more specifically tailored to that funding.
Ultimately, there is no definitive way of knowing which funding applications will be accepted or not. Don’t be discouraged if you face some rejection along the way, as it can takes people multiple attempts to secure funding. The application process can feel much easier with the right network of support and advice, and networks like EMSOC are here for exactly this reason. If you are thinking about applying for funding, feel welcome to reach out to the network for more advice! Good luck!