Pursuing a PhD in the United Kingdom as an international student can be an exhilarating yet daunting prospect, especially when it comes to securing funding.
In this article, I will share my personal journey of obtaining a fully funded PhD position at the University of Lincoln, offering valuable insights and tips for aspiring international doctoral students.
The Quest for Funding As an applicant from India, my primary focus was on finding funded PhD positions that were open to international students.
The search process revealed that a significant number of opportunities were exclusively available to UK/EU students, while the ones accessible to international candidates were highly competitive.
Exploring Various Avenues To increase my chances of success, I adopted a multi-pronged approach.
Firstly, I reached out to potential supervisors, expressing my interest in working with them and inquiring about the possibility of being hosted for external fellowships like the Commonwealth Scholarship.
Simultaneously, I diligently scoured popular academic job portals such as findaphd.com, naturejobs.com, jobs.ac.uk, and euraxess for advertised PhD positions.
The Successful Application After numerous applications and a challenging Skype interview, I was thrilled to receive an offer for a fully funded PhD position at the University of Lincoln.
The fellowship included a stipend and required me to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for six hours per week. Within four months of the offer, I found myself in Lincoln, ready to embark on my doctoral journey.
The Importance of a Supportive Supervisor I cannot emphasize enough the crucial role my supervisor played in helping me complete my PhD within the allotted timeframe.
Their guidance, support, and encouragement were instrumental in my success. I started my program in November 2013, submitted my thesis in November 2016, and successfully defended it in December 2016.
Funding for STEM vs. Humanities It’s worth noting that securing funding for a PhD in the UK can vary depending on your field of study.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates with a first-class honors degree from a prestigious university may find it less challenging to obtain funding as international students.
Many universities, such as the University of Manchester, offer full scholarships for international students in their Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering.
On the other hand, PhD students in the Humanities often face greater difficulties in securing funding, even for British students.
The government tends to prioritize funding for research that has a direct impact on the economy, resulting in a smaller pool of resources available for Humanities PhDs.
Consequently, many British Humanities PhD students opt to study part-time. However, some universities do offer grants for international students pursuing Humanities PhDs, and it’s advisable to explore opportunities at institutions with strong Humanities departments, such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, and others.
Pursuing a fully funded PhD in the UK as an international student requires perseverance, thoroughness, and a proactive approach.
By exploring various funding avenues, reaching out to potential supervisors, and demonstrating academic excellence, you can increase your chances of securing a coveted funded position.
Remember that the journey may be challenging, but with determination and the right support system, you can achieve your goal of obtaining a PhD from a prestigious UK institution.