PhD "employment status"

timkdavies

Hi,

I'm looking to re-apply for a credit card after being rejected several month ago. I've since taken steps to improve my credit rating and my credit report currently looks pretty reasonable.

However, I'm struggling over the issue of my "employment status", as I don't know how it will affect my application.

I'm a full time PhD student. This means than although I am classified as being in full time education, I am paid a respectable tax-free stipend by my university each month. In other words, I am technically speaking not employed, but I get paid each month and will do without fail for the next 3 years.

Of course, credit card application forms don't allow much detail on this issue. They ask for a gross salary, which I don't have. My stipend falls below the common £20,000 application threshold, but my hypothetical gross salary is well above it.

Does anyone have any advice on how I should describe my employment (without lying), and how I should state my "gross pay".

Cheers,
Tim

scottishblondie

I've always said "student" or if possible "postgraduate student" as employment status, and then put in my stipend as the salary. If they ask for gross pay I have, in the past, made it up to the equivalent amount, but only after checking with a real person on the telephone that this is ok. I have also had to produce pay slips as the salary doesn't generally tally with the employment status.