Likelihood of Ussher Fellowship or Postgrad Research Studentship?

kellyldoolin

Hi everyone,
I am an American student and completed my M.Sc. at Trinity last year. I am hoping to attend Trinity for my PhD too, and have been accepted. The problem is that I do not have the means to self-fund my PhD. I was initially lead to believe that my supervisor would fund me through a grant, but now she claims that it is not possible.

I have scoured the internet for statistics or information on how many people are awarded the Ussher Fellowship or Postgraduate Research Studentships, but haven't found anything. I feel that my chances might be especially slim considering that I am required to pay "Overseas" fees. Does anyone have any advice? I keep being told to investigate Marie Curie studentships, but have found that US students are ineligible. I appreciate any advice or info that you might have!

CJC86

The Ussher Fellowship is very difficult to get. I know the year that I started my PhD there were only 2 given out to the EMS faculty, so I'd imagine there are no more than 6 or 7 in any given year. They have a strong preference for people who have produced research papers before.

The Research Studentships are a different matter though. Each School has a few of these to give out, so it really depends on how many postgrads are looking for funding in your School. I think most Schools just give them out after students have exhausted their search for funding elsewhere.

So, your best bet is to apply to absolutely any funding body that would possibly give you some money. The Ussher Fellowship is a long shot, and the Research Studentships are usually a last option.

kellyldoolin

CJC86 wrote: »

The Ussher Fellowship is very difficult to get. I know the year that I started my PhD there were only 2 given out to the EMS faculty, so I'd imagine there are no more than 6 or 7 in any given year. They have a strong preference for people who have produced research papers before.

The Research Studentships are a different matter though. Each School has a few of these to give out, so it really depends on how many postgrads are looking for funding in your School. I think most Schools just give them out after students have exhausted their search for funding elsewhere.

So, your best bet is to apply to absolutely any funding body that would possibly give you some money. The Ussher Fellowship is a long shot, and the Research Studentships are usually a last option.

Thank you so much for the helpful response. The other school that I was offered a PhD at had endless statistics on how many students get funding and how many international students self-fund, etc, so when I was weighing my options it was hard to get a sense of the more promising outcome. I think I'll try to contact the head of my Department at TCD for nomination for a Postgraduate Research Studentship since my potential supervisor doesn't seem to be well informed in the area of funding!!

I will give up hope on an Ussher Fellowship for the time being, anyways.

Ravelleman

You apply for them as you submit your proposal through the online system.

Ussher Fellowships are extremely limited, not just across Schools but whole Faculties. I certainly would not get my hopes up but someone obviously ends up with one so you might be the lucky recipient.

The Research Studentship is easier to get, from what I´ve gathered from various conversations with staff. If you have a good, well structured proposal and good results then you could have a chance of getting one.

My field is the Humanities so this may not apply to your area.