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APPLYING TO GRAD SCHOOL, POST #12: PROGRAM FUNDING STRUCTURES
Some of your prospective programs might be "funded," but what exactly does that mean?
@OpenAcademics @PhDVoice #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #phdchat #gradschool #firstgen #nontraditional
Some of your prospective programs might be "funded," but what exactly does that mean?
@OpenAcademics @PhDVoice #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #phdchat #gradschool #firstgen #nontraditional
If, like me, money is a concern for you, it's important to know and understand the funding structures of all the programs you're planning on applying to, so that you know what you'd be getting yourself into if you eventually get admitted and decide to enter one of those programs.
Again, I'm only writing about US and UK programs, because I don't have any experience elsewhere. It's common for PhD programs in the US to be funded, but I want to emphasize that NOT ALL US programs are funded, so please make sure to check as you're applying. UK programs are...
generally not automatically funded, though there may be exceptions.
First, US programs: "Funded" can mean different things for different programs, so it may be worth asking the program director or your prospective supervisor(s) to clarify, especially if it's not clearly laid...
First, US programs: "Funded" can mean different things for different programs, so it may be worth asking the program director or your prospective supervisor(s) to clarify, especially if it's not clearly laid...
out on the program's website.
Generally, programs will grant at least tuition remission, and most will also give you a stipend. BUT, where is the money coming from, and what are the stipulations of it? For example, for many programs, especially ones that involve rotations,...
Generally, programs will grant at least tuition remission, and most will also give you a stipend. BUT, where is the money coming from, and what are the stipulations of it? For example, for many programs, especially ones that involve rotations,...
the funding will come from your department for the first 1-2 years, and then once you've selected a research group to join, the funding will come directly from your supervisor. To add to the complication, sometimes you're not guaranteed funding after the first 1-2 years. For...
example, your program may "strongly suggest" that you find your own funding (through grants, fellowships, etc.), and it's up to each individual supervisor to decide if they're willing and able to support you if you're unsuccessful at finding your own funding.
What happens if you're funded through your supervisor, and they run out of funding? It might be worth clarifying, because some programs have departmental funding set aside to support students in these situations, but others don't have any such security measures.
It's also worth noting that some programs essentially "pay" you as a teaching assistant (TA) and/or a research assistant (RA), so especially in the former case, you may be required to teach every term in order to get your tuition remission and/or stipend. For me, this wasn't...
a big concern because I knew I wanted to teach anyway, but it may be a factor to consider if you're not that keen on teaching the entire time you're in the program, or if you want the freedom to choose to not teach if your research work becomes too time consuming, etc.
I'd also like to mention that, if your program continues to fund you and you decide to apply for a grant/fellowship anyway for CV purposes, you won't be allowed to keep both sources of money, in most cases. So your stipend will either stay the same or increase a little bit to...
equal the amount of the fellowship, if it's higher than your original stipend, but most programs won't let you receive two stipends.
Now, for most UK programs (and some US programs), funding is competitive, so not all students who receive admissions offers will also receive...
Now, for most UK programs (and some US programs), funding is competitive, so not all students who receive admissions offers will also receive...
funding offers. In these cases, it's important to communicate with your prospective supervisors and program directors to see what your options are. Sometimes, you can apply directly to a funded program/project that's advertised as such; so, for example, a supervisor might have...
funding to support the tuition and stipend for one student to work on a specific project that they've proposed. Some research institutes have similar schemes, where they can fund a certain number of new students each year.
Funding might also be available through one of the UK...
Funding might also be available through one of the UK...
Research Councils, or through your department, or through your university itself. I suggest speaking with your prospective supervisors and program directors; they might be able to direct you to as many funding opportunities as you're eligible for, in order to maximize your...
chances of getting funding. One personal recommendation I have is to really keep track of all the deadlines and requirements for each of the funding opportunities you apply for, especially if you're an international student. Sometimes, funding opportunities will only be open...
to people of certain nationalities, or if they advertise "full tuition and maintenance," it might be at the rate for UK nationals, which can be substantially lower than the amount you would need as an international student.
Funding can be a huge headache, I know, but I think it's better to ask questions and know exactly what you're getting yourself into as early as possible during the application cycle, so you don't find yourself surprised later down the line!
