Grant for a PhD

Poor_old_gill · 30-11-2011 05:26PM #1

Can you get a grant to do a Ph.D??

Tree · 30-11-2011 09:43PM

Aside from the usual funding agencies?

You can apply for the maintenance grant and for your fees to be paid by the council/VEC. But if your stipend is over a certain value, you wont be entitled to it, it will also be means tested in the same manner as the undergrad/masters maintenance grant.

Poor_old_gill · 01-12-2011 01:13PM

Tree wrote: »

Aside from the usual funding agencies?

You can apply for the maintenance grant and for your fees to be paid by the council/VEC. But if your stipend is over a certain value, you wont be entitled to it, it will also be means tested in the same manner as the undergrad/masters maintenance grant.

Well I have been offered an unfunded (thus far anyway) Ph.D in a discipline that I have a huge interest.
So what are my recourses for securing some $$?

Can i get a maintenance grant for the duration of the Ph.D? (3 years)
Can I get the fees paid) Which should be about 5k per year
Are there any other ways of getting some money for unfunded Ph.D's?

2Scoops · 01-12-2011 01:20PM

Don't do an unfunded PhD, period.

Poor_old_gill · 01-12-2011 01:21PM

2Scoops wrote: »

Don't do an unfunded PhD, period.

Would you care to elaborate

2Scoops · 01-12-2011 01:31PM

A PhD is a full time research commitment and should come with a living wage, at minimum. There are plenty of funded opportunities out there so why go the unfunded route? If your PhD can't attract funding, it is either not worthwhile or you are being exploited.

Poor_old_gill · 01-12-2011 01:37PM

2Scoops wrote: »

A PhD is a full time research commitment and should come with a living wage, at minimum. There are plenty of funded opportunities out there so why go the unfunded route? If your PhD can't attract funding, it is either not worthwhile or you are being exploited.

Where do you find these funded opportunities?
I dont even know where to look at the moment?

I have a 1:1 from my thesis and contacted a former lecturer but he said funding could be a struggle- the discipline is Economics by the way

NeitherJohn · 01-12-2011 01:53PM

Agreed. Even an unfunded research MSc is hell on the pocket when you have no income.

Try findaphd.com. I know a few unfunded postgrads now who just have the maintenance grant and fees paid for. But aside from a few lab demonstrating sessions (which end in March and don't begin again till the end of September!) they have no other income. That's no way to live for 4 years. If you end up having to take part-time work for the few bob, it'll invariably add time onto your Ph.D.

I would urge you to find a Ph.D with funding, or at least keep the pressure on your supervisor to find a source of funding if you want to stay with that supervisor. Perhaps investigate other means of funding. Maybe the college might have an assistance fund or some form of scholarship.

Tree · 01-12-2011 05:29PM

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Where do you find these funded opportunities?
I dont even know where to look at the moment?

I have a 1:1 from my thesis and contacted a former lecturer but he said funding could be a struggle- the discipline is Economics by the way

Get hassling your supervisor first, if he gets funding then he can put some aside for you, also many depts send round lists of potential grant funding opportunities, so he should have a list.

Not sure where economics falls, I imagine IRCHSS (while they still exist) would have responsibility for them, might be worth seeing if they have a call for applications going.

Then go talk more to your supervisor, see if he's got collaborators with money who'd take you on. Failing that, look further afield. Doing 4 years of work on 9k to live on for the whole time isn't gonna be pretty at all.

Poor_old_gill · 02-12-2011 01:34PM

NeitherJohn wrote: »

Agreed. Even an unfunded research MSc is hell on the pocket when you have no income.

Try findaphd.com. I know a few unfunded postgrads now who just have the maintenance grant and fees paid for. But aside from a few lab demonstrating sessions (which end in March and don't begin again till the end of September!) they have no other income. That's no way to live for 4 years. If you end up having to take part-time work for the few bob, it'll invariably add time onto your Ph.D.

I would urge you to find a Ph.D with funding, or at least keep the pressure on your supervisor to find a source of funding if you want to stay with that supervisor. Perhaps investigate other means of funding. Maybe the college might have an assistance fund or some form of scholarship.

I have found findaphd difficult sometimes and doesnt seem to have much in the way of economics!
I am very interested in the Ph.D on offer but would need some kind of funding alright!
I guess a severe amount of hassling will have to be done

Poor_old_gill · 02-12-2011 01:43PM

Tree wrote: »

Get hassling your supervisor first, if he gets funding then he can put some aside for you, also many depts send round lists of potential grant funding opportunities, so he should have a list.

Not sure where economics falls, I imagine IRCHSS (while they still exist) would have responsibility for them, might be worth seeing if they have a call for applications going.

Then go talk more to your supervisor, see if he's got collaborators with money who'd take you on. Failing that, look further afield. Doing 4 years of work on 9k to live on for the whole time isn't gonna be pretty at all.

Well the Ph.D would be 3 years! But yeah funding seems to be a must.
I just dont know where to look at the moment and where to look for other Ph.D's- I'll check out that IRCHSS website and see what the deal is there

Tree · 02-12-2011 05:01PM

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Well the Ph.D would be 3 years! But yeah funding seems to be a must.
I just dont know where to look at the moment and where to look for other Ph.D's- I'll check out that IRCHSS website and see what the deal is there

IME most supervisors say three to three and a half years, and their students say four to five years. Make sure you can get funding for a min of three and put some aside for it running over, I dont know anyone with a 3year phd (though im in science, maybe it's different in economics). But definitely, hassle hassle, hassle, it's a fulltime job with loads of "unpaid overtime", it'll be difficult to manage to get a 3yr one done while working parttime. Ask around any postgrads you might know to see how they were funded too, they might have useful suggestions.

Poor_old_gill · 02-12-2011 05:40PM

Tree wrote: »

IME most supervisors say three to three and a half years, and their students say four to five years. Make sure you can get funding for a min of three and put some aside for it running over, I dont know anyone with a 3year phd (though im in science, maybe it's different in economics). But definitely, hassle hassle, hassle, it's a fulltime job with loads of "unpaid overtime", it'll be difficult to manage to get a 3yr one done while working parttime. Ask around any postgrads you might know to see how they were funded too, they might have useful suggestions.

Would you mind sending me a PM as to how you got the Ph.D?
How you got funding and that kind of malark, even how you find supervisors

Annasopra · 03-12-2011 11:07PM

You can actually get a grant for a Phd but I think that there is a time limit of three years for postgrad funding - however there are lots of other problematic rules for grants

Poor_old_gill · 04-12-2011 10:28AM

mango salsa wrote: »

You can actually get a grant for a Phd but I think that there is a time limit of three years for postgrad funding - however there are lots of other problematic rules for grants

Such as?? I will begin looking into it this week- must set up a meeting or 2 with potential supervisors and that kind of lark

Annasopra · 04-12-2011 10:38AM

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Such as?? I will begin looking into it this week- must set up a meeting or 2 with potential supervisors and that kind of lark

Well if you are independent but have never taken a break from studies then there is a three year rule that assesses your grant application based on your parents means; also there are indications that the government will cut postgrad grants in the budget that will be announced tomorrow

tweedledee · 04-12-2011 10:47AM

Hello, same question here. Is the year in Kings Inns studying to be a barrister able to attract a grant and free fees??? Thank you.

Poor_old_gill · 04-12-2011 11:15AM

mango salsa wrote: »

Well if you are independent but have never taken a break from studies then there is a three year rule that assesses your grant application based on your parents means; also there are indications that the government will cut postgrad grants in the budget that will be announced tomorrow

Ah thats fine- I have taken breaks of 2 years prior to doing a masters and a year at the moment in between masters and PhD

Tree · 04-12-2011 11:50AM

You dont have a three year break though, two years and then a masters, they wont take the two years in to account. Also, if you got the grant for the masters, I think you only get two years for the PhD, but I could be wrong.

Annasopra · 05-12-2011 05:56PM

no grants for new postgrads entrants - cut in budget

Balagan · 05-12-2011 06:04PM

mango salsa wrote: »

no grants for new postgrads entrants - cut in budget

The postgraduate student grant scheme is being scaled back and there will be no maintenance grants for new entrants starting in 2012/13. However, over 2,000 students on the lowest incomes will continue to have their fees paid and another 4,000 students will receive a contribution towards the cost of their fees of €2,000.

http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?maincat=&pcategory=10861&ecategory=10876&sectionpage=12251&language=EN&link=link001&page=1&doc=55870

mkie · 05-12-2011 06:09PM

well after 4 years of economics

explain to me / us, why it would be economical for you to spend 3 years sponging of mammy and daddy, whilst also working your ass off!???

i thing that goes completely against everything you college thought you! shove that up your 1:1 and smoke it

Poor_old_gill · 05-12-2011 11:15PM

mkie wrote: »

well after 4 years of economics

explain to me / us, why it would be economical for you to spend 3 years sponging of mammy and daddy, whilst also working your ass off!???

i thing that goes completely against everything you college thought you! shove that up your 1:1 and smoke it

The eventual pay-off

Poor_old_gill · 09-12-2011 11:29PM

Balagan wrote: »

The postgraduate student grant scheme is being scaled back and there will be no maintenance grants for new entrants starting in 2012/13. However, over 2,000 students on the lowest incomes will continue to have their fees paid and another 4,000 students will receive a contribution towards the cost of their fees of €2,000.

http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?maincat=&pcategory=10861&ecategory=10876&sectionpage=12251&language=EN&link=link001&page=1&doc=55870

Any idea what they mean by students on the lowest incomes? Any idea what this income band is?

Annasopra · 09-12-2011 11:46PM

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Any idea what they mean by students on the lowest incomes? Any idea what this income band is?

this won't be fully clear until may/June next year

Poor_old_gill · 09-12-2011 11:49PM

mango salsa wrote: »

this won't be fully clear until may/June next year

You dont mind if I pick your brain via a pm for a minute?

Annasopra · 09-12-2011 11:54PM

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

You dont mind if I pick your brain via a pm for a minute?

feel free to ask away here. I'll try to answer in a clearer way tomorrow

Poor_old_gill · 09-12-2011 11:59PM

mango salsa wrote: »

feel free to ask away here. I'll try to answer in a clearer way tomorrow

Ok!
I am unsure as to what the situation is and I know you have already stated that full clarity probably wont be avilable until the summer time but anyway:

I have completed a masters and am currently on the dole (well a job bridge scheme to be exact, but getting SW payments).
I have a PhD ready to go whenever I want it- which I have found out will have a wage for me but I will have to pay 5k a year in fees.

If I am on the jobs bridge scheme will I be eligible (even at todays rates) for the top up grant next and thus have my PhD fees paid next year?

I have told the lecturer that I will put it off until next September so that I can come up with some way of financing it-so I need to explore every avenue available

Tree · 10-12-2011 02:01PM

They will take your stipend/wage into account when calculating the grant (eg. if you earned more then 16k in wages you wouldnt get anything regardless of your situation). Also, see if there's any scholarships for fees/on-campus accomodation you could apply for.

Might be worth investigating if you can get the cost of fees offset by doing tutorials for students. The other thing to consider, is how much you are being offered in wages,if it's 20k then it's generally expected that you would pay the fees from that, the average take home stipend seems to be in teh 14-17k mark.

Grant for a PhD

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