Funding postgraduate study.

Darren08

Hello everyone.

I am typing this post as a means of asking for advice as I am literally desperate now.

Sorry if there are other posts of a similar nature to this, this is the last place I have checked after a long day and I just wanted to get this off my chest and ask for help. Any advice people share would be gratefully received.

I am in my final semester of my BA hons in modern European history. In my first and second academic years I achieved over 70%. In semester 1 of my finalyear my marks hit their highest at 73.4%. My dissertation is virtually completed, a month early, and I have had excellent feedback on my draft. I really hope I can graduate with a first, which I think might be possible.

I applied to seven universities for my masters. Three I had my heart set on; four were backups as I did not expect to be accepted by a number of the institutions. To my surprise I received offers conditional on achieving a 2:1from all seven.

Six of these institutions received AHRC block grants for taught MAs. I applied to all six and I am still waiting to hear back from four of them. I was unsuccessful in acquiring funding from Durham and York via the AHRC. I have notseen my references, as my lecturers did not wish me to have a copy, for fear that these would be copied and distributed. I was a little insulted as I am notthe type of person who would abuse their trust; I respect them a great deal. However, feedback from the institutions I have applied to indicates that both of my references were exceptional.

I also received excellent feedback on my research proposal for my MA dissertation and proposed PhD thesis. I love history and it is my aim to complete a taught MA followed by a PhD before becoming a research active lecturer. I was told by all seven universities that a taught MA was preferred due to the research training it provided. This is why I did not choose an MA byr esearch, even though I have clear research interests and ideas.

Anyway, I have not heard back from four of the universities, but I am doubtful that I will be successful. I should graduate at roughly 72-73%. Two of the universities I applied to advised me that the awards are often given to students achieving 75-77%. I have no chance. In terms of funding, a first is not good enough; it needs to be exceptional, which I am not in a position to achieve now. I could have, if I did not mess around in my second year!

I know deep down that I have not applied myself to the best of my abilities,but if I did so at postgraduate level, I could perform very well indeed; of this I am sure!

My problem is that I do not have a penny to my name. I am from a very poor working-class background. Neither of my parents work and are not in a positionto help me. I cannot fund my own studies either. I could of course look for a job, but from what I can tell, fees need to be paid at the point of registering, and I simply will not have £5,100 spare in September! I would also need to live away from home. I estimate I would need roughly £15,000 for fees,maintenance and other costs.

I am awaiting a career development load application pack, but the lady who sent me it told me not to hold my breath because I have no banking history with Barclay's or the Co-Op. I bank with the Halifax. The Halifax told me they would not help me unless I was employed and could guarantee repayments.

I have investigated charities and trusts and only four or five of those that I have found would I fit the criteria for. These closed their applications in January and only offered small amounts that would not make a dent in the total amount. I am 27 now, so a lot of the ones which may have suited me otherwise,will not assist me due to my age.

I spoke to Student Finance who would not help. They are happy to fund a student who fails a year to take it again, but will not give an extra year to good students! I know plenty of people who just chill through their degrees, fail first year, take it again, and get thirds or 2:2's and they get the extra year! How is that fair?

I tried my local LEA and they did not have any ideas.

I feel very lost, and my options are diminishing one by one. I applied for my MA in December, to be organised and ahead of the game, so that I could focus on my final semester. Every day is plagued with worry and uncertainty. Some universities will not tell me about my funding applications until as late as August! My life and career are in their hands.

What breaks my heart the most is that despite three years of hard work, potentially achieving a first, and a strong passion to go on, money is the thing holding me back. I do not want to be chased up after I graduate in order to complete a survey about my activities to then have to answer 'I work at KFC'. I want to continue at postgraduate level and ultimately lecture in modern, probably British, history!

I appreciate your time and hope that someone may be able to offer an option I have missed.

Thanks guys!

dizzyrascal

First and foremost I would book in to see a Careers Adviser at your current university and try and sort out your priorities.
Secondly, you may well be a very talented student but it is your choice to study at a higher level. No one is making you do this and as you have now found out, that there is a lot less funding for postgraduate study and for research degrees then there was.

Have you considered studying part time to complete your Masters?
I say this because a Career Development Loan is not the right choice for someone considering a PhD as you won't have the income to repay it.

Then it might be possible to see what funding is available for your PhD.
Often, if your tutors think you are suitable, they may put you forward for funding. It can certainly help to get their backing

It is very worthy to want to lecture and as you come from a WP background you will have a lot to offer but be aware that there are a lot of PhD's chasing very few posts.

You can keep applying to charitable bodies. The reality is that they may just give small grants of a few hundred pounds and they are all very over subscribed at the moment but you have as good a chance as anyone. However, your covering letters or applications need to be positive. Not mention how unfair everything is. You need to appeal to them by saying how much you are doing in order to keep studying. (working part time, reducing your costs etc)

I hope this helps and I hope you can achieve everything you want but remember that there are a lot of people (and students) who would have loved to go on and achieve more or become better qualified but had to abandon their dreams because of the lack of funding. Education is a gift.
You may have to adapt and change to get what you want, especially in the arts.

bewildered123

As you are finding out, funding for postgraduate work in the humanities is extremely hard to get nowadays. It is worth asking the places that have rejected you for funding, what you could do to strengthen your application for the future. One thing for example that my colleagues in history frequently complain about is that applicants lack necessary foreign language skills. There might be something you could do in the next year to make yourself a stronger candidate in the future.
You absolutely do not have to go straight from a BA to postgrad work. In retrospect, it is the thing that I most regret doing and I'm a lecturer! A break to get some new perspectives, the freedom to read widely without exam pressure, save up some money and also to get experience of the world outside education could be a marvellous opportunity. Don't whatever you do, get into the mindset that it's now or never.
Doing the MA parttime is also another good idea. I would strongly advise that you do not get into debt to do postgraduate work in the humanities. A history PhD rarely leads straight into employment and if you are heavily in debt, then you simply cannot finance the early career academic lifestyle of precarious employment (often hourly paid during termtime only). I really hope one of your lecturers has been truthful about how difficult it is to get a lectureship these days - most PhDs will not be successful, so you also need a plan b.

Ezek

Firstly, congratulations on being so determined and working so hard, and I hope that you achieve your 1:1!

Secondly, bewildered 123 is spot on. I'm coming to the end of a doctorate now. There are very few jobs. Really. Zilch. I went straight through from BA to MA to PhD and I really wish I had actually taken some time out in 'the real world' to get more saleable job skills. I think it's actually better to leave uni after your BA, work, and then go back into studying, or work and study part-time. Then you have something extra for your CV. You're young, especially if you are considering a PhD (a lot of doctorate students I know are in their thirties). What are your options for going into work, doing an MA part-time and building up funds? Once that is done, you will have more of a chance at AHRC block funding at whatever university you do the MA at, as your supervisors will have built up a rapport with you and get a clearer view of your research interests, and if they want to support them.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that your thesis goes well

Darren08

Thank you for your advice guys.

I did work for over eight years before coming to university, five of which were in management. Unlike many of my peers, I have an extensive CV and a lot of work experience. Would you still suggest I take time out even though I will be 27.5 by the time I graduate? I just feel that coming to university was the best choice I have ever made; it has been amazing. I cannot face going back into the working world, into a job unlreated to my passion which is going to take me away from research and writing. It took me long enough to work out what I wanted to do and now that I know, I am hesitant to go back a step.

dizzyrascal

Hi again
You have had some really good advice here and some very realistic advice too.
I understand what you mean about wanting to continue in research as history is my passion and my first degree too. My postgrad work has all been career related but if I won the lottery and could afford not to work, I would study history again like a shot.
I would suggest that with the management skills you have you are in a good position to apply for great roles at graduation. You have more to offer than most.
Whilst you see this as a step backwards, it is just a means to an end. You can either save up (as suggested) or study part-time. You may even have to think about working through your PhD, you would be surprised at how many do.
Many also give up working on their PhD's due to lack of funding. It can be a very hard road to follow, even with great passion for the subject.
I think you may have to consider working (at least in the short term) to either raise funds or perhaps more long term and your research may have to be your hobby.
Many people work to fund their lifestyle. In this instance, your lifestyle will be research.
I do hope you get funding but it may be a year or two before you get it so you do need to have a plan B.
Btw I also don't think your age is an issue. You're still very young.

Darren08

Thank you Dizzy, that really means a lot to me. I'm definitely going to have a good sit down and look through everything work wise.

Voyager2002

Darren, you have been given some excellent advice.

There is virtually no funding for MA courses, but you might find opportunities for a "three plus one" PhD: funding for the four years required to do an MA followed by a PhD. Broaden your search a little from just history: some of the work funded by the ESRC (Social Science) might be of interest to you.

At the same time, there is a wide range of graduate employment opportunities open to you, and you might find options that are more interesting than the work you did before university and that would strengthen any future application for PhD funding. Have you considered journalism? The 'fast stream' in parts of the Civil Service like the Cabinet Office? Work for a political party, or for an NGO campaigning for policy change? All of these options are highly competitive, but probably more feasible than getting research funding and becoming an academic at the moment. (And traditionally, historians have always starved!)

Noctu

You probably already know this but keep a close eye on http://www.findaphd.com/ for funded PhD studentships (subject specific OR to submit your own proposal) - I know you said you wanted an MA first but with a First you may not need to and especially with your previous management skills.

Darren08

Thank you for your kind words and advice, I have been successful in one of my funding applications -phew-. I appreciate your assistance!

jollyme

That's excellent news ! I'm so pleased that you didn't let people disuade you from following your dream. And so pleased you have kept us posted - good luck in all you do