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SELF-FUNDED PHD RESEARCH

A Guide To Self-Funding Your PhD Research

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Self-funding your own PhD research degree means you intend to secure the necessary funding to pay tuition fees and any other associated costs from a third-party source, external to the university.

If you have the correct entry qualifications and are seeking to pursue your own PhD research proposal, here are 6 key points to consider on self-funding your study.

1. Get started early

You'll need to look for funding opportunities before, or at the same time as, you apply for your research degree. Begin as early as possible and know when the key dates are – application deadlines can often be up to a year before study starts. Check out  UEA’s deadlines for postgraduate research study  to help you with your planning.

2. How much funding do you need?

Consider your finances and whether you are seeking to gain full or partial funding for your PhD research. Maybe you will want to look for ‘ fully funded’ PhD Studentships first, that will include your tuition fees and an annual stipend for living expenses. Check out all of your options. Your circumstances may change across the potential three-year full-time or six-year part-time period of study, so be realistic when assessing your income and expenditure needs. Think about your course costs, accommodation and bills, alongside your lifestyle and what changes you are prepared to make.

3. Check research proposal requirements

With the exception of research in the Faculty of Science where you should contact your nominated supervisor to provide you with an outline proposal, your research proposal doesn’t need to be the fully completed version, but it will need to be developed so that you can use this as a clear and compelling proposition to interest potential funders. Check out our advice on how to succeed at  writing a great research proposal , so you can feel confident that you have covered all the points that you need to consider.

4. Find potential supervisors

Academics within your chosen discipline are likely to be in a knowledgeable position to be able to advise you on where you can apply for funding. Do your research and find out who the relevant potential supervisors are within your chosen area of interest, who clearly share a passion for your topic. Then make contact to discuss your research proposal, and gauge insight into who specific funders may be in your field. Check out our advice on How to Find A PhD Supervisor to help get you started.

5. Build your potential funding portfolio

Explore funding opportunities with government, business, industry, or charitable organisations. You may have gained direct contacts based on your supervisory conversations, or you may need to undertake some desk research to identify potential sponsors. Look for potential research funding opportunities on established industry sponsors’ websites, as well as those for smaller charities and trusts. It may not be possible to source sufficient funding from a single sponsor, and you may have to apply to a variety of different funders, so do check that different funding schemes can be combined. If you are an International fee status student, it is also worth contacting your national government or education ministry to check funded and exchange schemes set up to help citizens receive international research and training opportunities.

6. Check your eligibility for a PhD loan

Ready to apply.

UEA offers a wide range of postgraduate research opportunities. Search all current  PhDs and Research Studentships , or take a look at the full list of  Research Themes  where UEA specialises and submit your own research proposal. For further information on what to consider in the application process,  access our guide  and take the first step to achieving something incredible. Our  Postgraduate Research team  can also help with any queries you may have.

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Choose research area: All research areas Arts and Humanities Biological and Medical Sciences Business and Finance Chemical Sciences Earth Sciences and Geography Engineering and Planning Law Maths and Computing Physical Sciences Social Science and Health Eligibility by nationality: All Nationalities Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Ascension Island Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Channel Islands Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, The Democratic Republic Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran (Islamic Republic Of) Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Rep Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Rep Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupie Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St Vincent and the Grenadines Sth Georgia & Sth Sandwich Is Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Republic of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (U.S.) Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe Show only funded PhDs: Update list

There are 124 self-funded or funded PhD studentship.

A Robotic Soft Matter Scientist: Transforming the Sustainability of Personal Care Products

• Funding: Funded studentship
• Application deadline: Tuesday 30th July 2024
• Subject area: Chemical Sciences
• Supervisors: Dr Joe Forth Dr Gabriella Pizzuto
• Eligibility: Open to students worldwide

Accelerated Inorganic Materials Discovery Driven by Magnetic Resonance

• Supervisors: Prof Frédéric Blanc Dr Matthew Dyer

Accelerating computational materials discovery with diverse toolsets for verification and optimisation

• Application deadline: Tuesday 31st December 2024
• Subject area: Maths and Computing
• Supervisors: Dr Alexei Lisitsa Dr Rasmus Ibsen-Jensen

Advanced Information Storage

• Application deadline: Wednesday 31st July 2024
• Subject area: Engineering and Planning
• Supervisors: Wenqing Liu

Advanced Manufacturing of a Large Scale Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Net Zero Energy Production

• Application deadline: Monday 15th July 2024
• Supervisors: Professor Maulik Patel Professor Kate Black\n

Alterations in reparative dentinogenesis with ageing, gender and genetic predisposition

• Funding: Self-funded project
• Application deadline: Saturday 1st March 2025
• Subject area: Biological and Medical Sciences
• Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Laird Professor Fadi Jarad Dr Nick Longridge

An integrated human organ on chip model for the prediction of BBB penetration and CNS exposure.

• Application deadline: Monday 30th September 2024
• Supervisors: Dr David Dickens
• Eligibility: Open to UK applicants

An international study to investigate and optimise the safety of discontinuing valproate in young men and women with epilepsy

• Application deadline: Friday 9th August 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Gashirai Mbizvo

Analysing the role of statins in cardiovascular protection

• Application deadline: Thursday 16th January 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Mike Cross Dr Bettina Wilm Dr Anil Mondru

Analysis of the role of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in methotrexate-induced liver toxicity

• Application deadline: Friday 29th November 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Michael Cross Prof Chris Goldring

Applied Symbolic AI

• Supervisors: Prof K Atkinson Dr Judith Clymo Prof Sven Schewe

Assessing the consistency assumption underlying network meta-analysis in systematic reviews

• Application deadline: Tuesday 1st October 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Sarah Donegan Dr Angela Boland Prof Catrin Tudur Smith

Automated Powder Coating Platform for Long-Life Lithium-ion Batteries

• Supervisors: Prof Laurence Hardwick Prof Matthew Rosseinsky Dr Gabriella Pizzuto Dr Alex Neale

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: A serine proteinase inhibitor as a gatekeeper to mammalian skeletal development: from gene editing to gene evolution

• Application deadline: Monday 22nd July 2024
• Supervisors: Dr E Emmott Dr Anjali Seth Prof Y Wang

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: Defining the links between ROS and inflammageing in a human model of neutrophil-driven inflammation

• Supervisors: Dr Maya Wardeh Dr Marcus Blagrove Dr O Riabinina Prof M Baylis

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: Developing in vitro models to investigate host-pathogen interactions and polymicrobial synergy in Bovine Digital Dermatitis

• Supervisors: Dr Amy Gillespie\n Prof Nicholas Evans\n Prof Stefan Przyborski\n

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: Exploring interactions between co-infecting trypanosomatids and other pathogens in a Drosophila model

• Supervisors: Dr Venera Tyukmaeva Dr Marcus Blagrove Dr Vincent Croset Dr Ewa Chrostek

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: Structural understanding the mechanisms of co-presentation of unconventional HLA ligands and chemicals

• Supervisors: Dr Xiaoli Meng Dr Svetlana Antonyuk Dr A Benham Prof D Naisbitt

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: Uncovering the role of NF-κB2 in embryonic stem cell pluripotency and differentiation

• Supervisors: Dr D Turner Prof N Perkins Prof Mike White

BBSRC NLD Doctoral Training Partnership: Understanding mechanisms of ageing and muscle weakness utilizing omics and bioinformatics\n

• Supervisors: Dr Masoud Isanejad Dr V Pekovic-Vaughan Dr Daryl Shanley Prof Stuart Phillips

Bio-Guard: Innovative Biofouling Solutions for Buoyancy Materials for Renewable Energy infrastructure

• Supervisors: Dr Evrim Celik Madenli Prof Rasmita Raval

Bioactive-loaded scaffolds for conjunctiva regeneration

• Application deadline: Saturday 31st August 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Lucy Bosworth Dr Kevin Hamil Prof Mandy Peffers

Biological pathways supporting the formation and function of chromatin (Scholarship)

• Application deadline: Saturday 8th February 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Colin Hammond

Biologically Inspired Design and Simulation of Neuromorphic Drone Control

• Supervisors: Vince Page Mike Jump Chung-Chuan Lo Kea-Tiong Tang

Carbon dioxide utilisation from captured industry emissions

• Application deadline: Thursday 1st August 2024
• Supervisors: Prof Alex Cowan

Cardiac Harmony: Modelling Heart Beats with Stem Cells and Code

• Supervisors: Prof Richard Barrett-Jolley Dr Rachel Oldershaw

Cardiovascular and Neuromuscular Functions around the Clock: Harnessing Protective Endogenous Mechanisms towards Smarter Design of Novel Therapies and Interventions

• Supervisors: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan Dr Masoud Isanejad Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki Dr Sunil Loganthama

Chromatin regulation of oncogenic transcription and replication stress: mechanism and functional implications in acute myeloid leukemia

• Application deadline: Tuesday 18th March 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Manolis Papamichos Chronakis Prof David MacEwan Dr Aditi Kanhere

Community Connectedness and Decision Making: Investigating the role of community cohesion building in the delivery of GDF Community Partnerships

• Application deadline: Friday 12th July 2024
• Subject area: Earth Sciences and Geography
• Supervisors: Dr Catherine Queen Dr Tom Moore Prof Patrick Devine-Wright (University of Exeter)

Computational exploration of substrates and interfaces for thin film solar cells

• Supervisors: Dr Matthew Dyer Dr Troy Manning

Computational identification of catalytic covalent organic frameworks

• Supervisors: Dr Matthew Dyer Dr John Ward

Control of bone shape and function by the extracellular matrix Fibrillin-1

• Supervisors: Dr Blandine Poulet

Determination of the non-coding RNAs in the knee joint tissues of dogs at differing risk to cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

• Application deadline: Friday 28th February 2025
• Supervisors: Professor Eithne Comerford Professor Mandy Peffers

Determining metabolic reprogramming events in stem cells in response to inflammatory disease phenotype

• Supervisors: Dr Rachel Oldershaw Dr Amy Chadwick Dr Marie Phelan Dr Brendan Norman

Developing a New Class of Electromagnetic Field Solvers for Charged Particle and Mass Spectrometry Modelling & Simulation

• Supervisors: Prof Simon Maher

Developing an in silico method for endodontic restoration of human molar teeth

• Application deadline: Friday 11th April 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Rosti Readioff Dr Alana Sharp Dr Nicholas Longridge Prof Fadi Jarad

Developing new generation adsorbent for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal

• Supervisors: Prof Chai Chen Li Dr Evrim Celik Madenli

Development and validation of the Epilepsy-Heart syndrome: a focus on ictal asystole and developing evidence-based national consensus guidelines

• Application deadline: Monday 2nd December 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Gashirai Mbizvo Prof Gregory Lip Prof Tony Marson Prof Ian Buchan

Development of a novel AI model for cardiovascular disease risk prediction by analysing retinal vascular structure and functional changes in blood flow

• Supervisors: Dr He Zhao Prof Gregory Lip Prof Yalin Zheng Savita Madhusudhan Peck Lin Lip

Development of integration bridges between the clinic and the laboratory

• Supervisors: Prof Willian Greenhalf Prof Tim Maughan Dr Richard Jackson

Development of NMR Methods for the Study of Dynamics in Solids

• Application deadline: Monday 8th July 2024
• Supervisors: Prof Frédéric Blanc

Digital discovery of new photocatalysts for photoredox catalysis

• Supervisors: Dr John Ward Professor Alessandro Troisi

Digital Exploration of Novel Polymeric Materials for Structural Composites

• Supervisors: Prof Neil Berry Dr Tom Hasell

Digital Routes to Next Generation Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

• Supervisors: Prof Matt Rosseinsky Dr Bei Peng

Discovery of Functional Inorganic Materials for Net Zero Applications using High-Throughput Synthesis

• Supervisors: Prof Matthew Rosseinsky Dr John Claridge Dr Troy Manning

Do patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears demonstrate muscle strength deficits of the hip, knee, and ankle muscles?

• Supervisors: Dr Rachel Oldershaw Mr Richard Norris

Dynamic modelling of submarine landslides and induced tsunami propagation

• Supervisors: Dr Xue Zhang Professor John Bridgeman Dr Yan Zhou

Electrochemically switchable materials down to the single molecule level

• Supervisors: Prof Richard Nichols

Elucidation of a new pathological mechanism for brittle bone disease

• Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Laird

Engineered nanomaterials for safe sustainable water purification

• Application deadline: Thursday 9th January 2025
• Supervisors: Prof Raechelle D’Sa

Engineering more water-use efficient crops: functional genomics of CO2 fixation during Crassulacean acid metabolism

• Application deadline: Saturday 30th November 2024
• Supervisors: Dr James Hartwell Dr Peter Walley

Establishing the biomarker potential of extracellular RNA structure in chronic diseases

• Application deadline: Friday 9th May 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Simon Tew

Experimental discovery of new Inorganic Materials for Net Zero Technologies

• Subject area: Physical Sciences
• Supervisors: Prof Matt Rosseinsky Dr Luke Daniels Dr John Claridge

Experimental Discovery of New Ionic Conducting Materials Towards Net-Zero Technologies

• Supervisors: Prof Matt Rosseinsky Dr John Claridge

Exploiting Deep Learning-based protein structure prediction for function annotation and structural biology

• Application deadline: Saturday 15th February 2025
• Supervisors: Prof D J Rigden Dr R Keegan

Exploring the roles of dynamic atypical protein phosphorylation in cancer

• Application deadline: Wednesday 5th February 2025
• Supervisors: Prof Claire Eyers Prof Andy Jones

Fast Algorithms for Huge Dynamic Graphs

• Application deadline: Friday 2nd August 2024
• Supervisors: Prof Simon Maskell Dr Alessandro Varsi Prof Paul Spirakis
• Eligibility: Open to EU/UK applicants

Hair cortisol triggers and moderators and its impact on hair and skin structure and function

• Application deadline: Saturday 6th July 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Carl Roberts Dr Nick Fallon Alice Fenner-Newton

High power laser development

• Supervisors: Dr Laura Corner

High-throughput exploration of multicomponent metal organic frameworks (MOFs)

• Supervisors: Prof Matthew Rosseinsky Dr Alexandros Katsoulidis

High-throughput first-principle simulations of charge transport in organic semiconductors

• Supervisors: Dr Pavel Buividovich Professor Alessandro Troisi

High-Throughput Soft Matter Characterisation for Formulation Discovery

• Supervisors: Dr William Sharratt Dr Esther García-Tuñón Professor Vitaly Kurlin

Hybrid Porous Scaffold 2D Materials for Water Purification

• Supervisors: Dr William Sharratt Dr Evrim Celik Madenli Prof Y L Chueh Kea-Tiong Tang

Identifying age-related extracellular microenvironment in dental tissues

• Application deadline: Monday 10th March 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Kazuhiro Yamamoto Prof Fadi Jarad

Improving patient outcomes following mandibular reconstruction after oral cancer: novel finite element methods for better surgical design

• Supervisors: Dr Alana Sharp Prof Andrew Schache

Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency - Engineering and Evolution of Light-Harvesting Complexes via Synthetic Biology

• Supervisors: Dr Daniel Canniffe

Interaction between innate immune activation and endothelial cells, linked to adverse cardiovascular events

• Supervisors: Dr Neill Liptrott Dr Richard Rainbow Prof Caroline Dart

Investigating how tumour associated macrophages affect cancer metastasis and response to therapies

• Supervisors: Prof Ainhoa Mielgo Prof Michael Schmid

Investigating local invasion in primary and secondary brain tumours

• Supervisors: Dr Rasheed Zakaria Prof Michael Jenkinson Ian Scott

Investigating the cellular functions of Trappc9 in brain development and microcephaly

• Application deadline: Wednesday 1st January 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Antonius Plagge Dr Tobias Zech

Investigating the contribution of meniscal roots to human knee joint contact mechanics: Applying machine learning, experimental and modelling approaches.

• Supervisors: Dr Rosti Readioff Dr Tsung-Hui Huang

Investigating the impact of galectin-ligand interaction on cancer cell resistance to chemotherapeutic treatment

• Supervisors: Prof Lu-Gang Yu

Investigating the Local Mode of Action of Anti-Perspirants using model systems and advanced probing techniques

• Application deadline: Sunday 15th June 2025
• Supervisors: Professor Raval

Investigating the regulation of neutrophil gene expression by intracellular signalling and small non-coding RNAs

• Supervisors: Dr Helen Wright Prof Mandy Peffers

Investigating the role of Aquaporins in age related diseases

• Supervisors: Dr Caroline Staunton Dr Robert Heaton

Investigating the role of neutrophil-mediated tissue damage in a model of lupus nephritis

• Supervisors: Dr Helen Wright Dr David Wilkinson Dr David Turner

Investigating the role of oxidative metabolites in joint destruction in osteoarthritis

• Supervisors: Dr Brendan Norman Dr Juliette Hughes Prof George Bou-Gharios

Investigation into the challenges and scenarios faced in decommissioning

• Supervisors: Prof Andy Boston Prof Dave Joss

Islamicate Scholars, Algorithms and the Making of the Contemporary World: A Decolonial Study of Mathematical, Scientific and Technological Practice in the Islamic Golden Age

• Application deadline: Friday 19th July 2024
• Subject area: Social Science and Health
• Supervisors: Prof Michael Mair

Knowledge-based Design of Dental Surfaces to combat Oral Biofilms

• Supervisors: Prof R Raval Prof Ian Prior Dr V Slomka

Locating and sizing electric vehicle charging stations through multi-stage stochastic optimisation

• Supervisors: Dr Anna Charly Prof S Ferson Prof Dung_Ying Lin

Long-term corrosion in fluoride salts for the development of molten salt nuclear reactor

• Supervisors: Prof Maulik Patel

Magnetic Nanobot Drug Delivery Vehicles for the treatment of cancer

• Supervisors: Dr Jenny Hanson Professor Yu-Ting Chou Professor Raechelle D’Sa Professor, Hui-Hsu Gavin Tsai

Micro-PIV Investigation of Seabed Reactions to Hydrodynamic Conditions and Energy Changes

• Supervisors: Prof Mohad Nezhad Prof John Bridgeman Dr Allison Schaap

Microbial Induced Electrochemistry at the Local Site and Single Cell Level

• Supervisors: Prof Rasmita Raval Dr Andrea Vezzoli

Microstructure-flow interplay in 3D printing: linking structure, rheology and printability of bespoke and commercial formulations

• Supervisors: Dr Esther Garcia-Tunon Dr William Sharratt

Molecular, biophysical and regulatory characterisation of ion transport pathways in the human skin apocrine gland

• Application deadline: Monday 5th August 2024
• Supervisors: Dr C Dart Dr R Evans

Morphology, motion, and mechanics of vertebral joints in fish

• Supervisors: Dr Ariel Camp Dr Alana Sharp

mRNA nanoplexes as a precision medicine platforms for treatment of breast cancer

• Supervisors: Prof Raechelle D'Sa Assoc Prof Kai-Ti Lin Dr J Hanson

Multiplex imaging to uncover key biomarkers and whole brain neuron circuit interaction during stroke recovery.

• Supervisors: Dr Ian Sandall

MUSIC-AF: Personalised music interventions to reduce arrhythmia recurrence after rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation

• Subject area: Arts and Humanities
• Supervisors: Dr Eduardo Coutinho Dr Alena Shantsila Prof Gregory Lip

Network-based predictive modelling of cardiovascular disease risk

• Supervisors: Dr Tao You

Next Generation Electroactive Membranes (EMs) for Sustainable Water Purification

• Supervisors: Dr Evrim Celik Madenli Prof Jyh Ming Wu Prof John Bridgeman

Non-thermal plasma as a chemical reagent: elucidating mechanism and exploring NTP for pharmaceutically relevant electroreductive reactions

• Application deadline: Friday 10th January 2025
• Supervisors: Prof Anna Slater Dr Christophe Aissa

Personalising cancer treatment with tumour evolution modelling using AI-based genomics biomarkers and PK/PD

Platinum self powered neutron detectors, preclinical testing of collagen synthesis inhibitors for fibrotic disease, predictive molecular models of high-performance elastomers in demanding environments.

• Supervisors: Roman Boulatov
• Eligibility:

Probing Death Decisions from Morphogen Gradient Fields

• Application deadline: Saturday 5th April 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Marisa Merino

Protecting cells from mechanical stress: A novel role of cell-surface receptor LRP1 in extracellular matrix- nuclei communication

• Supervisors: Dr Kazuhiro Yamamoto Dr Riaz Akhtar\n

Protecting cells from mechanical stress: A novel role of cell-surface receptor LRP1 in extracellular matrix- nuclei communication.

• Supervisors: Dr Kazuhiro Yamamoto

Pure-Flow: Innovative Forward Osmosis Membranes for Sustainable Desalination

• Supervisors: Dr Evrim Celik Madenli Dr William Sharratt Prof John Bridgeman

Real-Time Subsampled Analysis and Recovery for High-Resolution 3D Tomography

• Supervisors: Prof. Nigel Browning

ReMap Studentship

• Application deadline: Monday 29th July 2024
• Supervisors: Professor Lisa Colton

Remote ischaemic conditioning: a novel approach to reduce hypertrophy?

• Application deadline: Friday 30th August 2024
• Supervisors: Dr Richard Rainbow Dr Parveen Sharma David Turner Dr David Wilkinson Dr Amy Chadwick

Resilient and Sustainable Modular Steel Platform for Critical Components Exposed to Extreme Loadings (RESIST-2-EXTREMES)

• Supervisors: Dr Luigi di Sarno Adam Mannis Simon Gilliland

Resilient and Sustainable Modular Steel Platform for Critical Components Exposed to Extreme Loadings in Maritime Sector (RESIST-2-EXTREMESTS)

• Supervisors: Dr Luigi Di Sarno Prof John Bridgeman Mr Simon Gilliland (Flood Technology Group)

Resilient design of floating wind turbines exposed to climate change effects based on sustainable structural health monitoring and early warning systems

• Supervisors: Dr Luigi di Sarno Professor John Bridgeman

Structural modifications in aged PuO2

The development and application of metabolomics tools to study human metabolism in health and disease.

• Supervisors: Professor WB Dunn Dr H Muhamad-Ali

The effect of low protein diet on the development of the neuromuscular system

• Supervisors: Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki

The evolution of large brains and complex cognition across animal taxa

• Application deadline: Friday 28th March 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Christopher Mitchell

The nexus between climate change, extreme air pollution events and public health – Towards a holistic approach

• Application deadline: Wednesday 31st December 2025
• Supervisors: Dr Vasilis Matthaios Dr Chris Kypridemos Dr Brendan Collins

The Role of Nutrition and Exercise in Physical and Cognitive Function (such as sarcopenia and frailty), utilizing clinical, metabolomic, proteomic, and gut microbiota data

• Supervisors: Dr Masoud Isanejad Dr Howbeer Muhamad Ali

Uncovering novel drivers of pathological collagen synthesis in the lung: the role of a SERPIN/LRP1 interaction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

• Supervisors: Dr David Wilkinson Dr Kazu Yamamoto Professor George Bou-Gharios Dr Sonya Craig (Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust)

Uncovering the mechanochemical signalling inputs that drive gastruloid axial patterning

• Supervisors: Dr David Turner

Understanding the barriers to healthcare for women with chronic pelvic pain

• Supervisors: Dr Selina Johnson Prof Helen Poole Dr Emma Evans

Urokinase-plasminogen activator as a target to block osteoarthritic cartilage destruction

• Supervisors: Dr David Wilkinson Professor George Bou-Gharios Professor Mandy Peffers

Using pre-clinical models of disease to define new targets to slow joint degeneration in osteoarthritis

Vaccine development for important spirochaetal diseases of cattle.

• Application deadline: Saturday 31st May 2025
• Supervisors: Prof. Nicholas Evans

Why do cancers cells re-express meiotic SYCP1 protein?

• Supervisors: Dr Urszula McClurg

3D printing of nanocomposite drug delivery platforms

• Application deadline: Wednesday 8th January 2025

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• What I've Learned About Self-Funding a PhD

Christopher Aris is a Dental Anthropology PhD student. In this blog he shares his perspective as a self-funding student, offering some tips, pros and cons for people are thinking of self-funding their PhD.

My academic path began in 2012 when I read for a BSc in Biological Anthropology at the University of Kent. After graduating I studied for an MSc in Human Osteology and Funerary Archaeology in Sheffield, before returning to Kent and beginning my PhD in 2015. Between taking no breaks between degrees, working multiple jobs, and maintaining a long-distance relationship, the last 5-6 years have been rather hectic.

Applying for and subsequently starting my PhD was no exception. The process of submitting my MSc thesis, presenting my results at my first conference, moving home from Sheffield, and being accepted on my current PhD, all happened over a 4-week period.

My decision to self-fund

All of this meant I would be starting my PhD long after funding deadlines had passed. So, if I wanted to accept my place I faced the prospect of self-funding my PhD. This is ultimately what I ended up doing.

As a result, I have now been self-funding my research for nearly a year and a half. Here I will present what I’ve learned, along with a few pros and cons of this approach to a PhD (yes, surprisingly, there are some advantages to self-funding!).

My tips for self-funding a PhD

The following are three (but by no means non-exhaustive) pieces of advice for anyone thinking about self-funding a PhD. I appreciate that my thoughts may not directly translate to all fields, but I will do my best to generalise, while keeping tips as useful as possible.

Consider your location

After a year and a half of self-funding I can tell you the biggest killer in terms of finances is rent. Home fees for PhD tuition in the UK are actually relatively cheap (at least compared to undergraduate study) but they aren’t all you have to pay.

So, when thinking about where you can study, don’t just factor in the university. Yes, ideally you’ll study at the best of the best institution, but take a moment to consider whether suitable departments and academics are available near home.

University ranking aren’t everything. If there is someone enthusiastic and well-established nearby, take a moment to consider commuting to cut down rent costs (although this does require a generous parental situation).

Ultimately a PhD is a PhD, even if it’s not from Oxbridge.

Don't compare yourself to others

At some point during a self-funded PhD, you may feel like comparing yourself to fully-funded students, or worry that they might be looking down on you. Avoid this. There are a multitude of reasons for needing to self-fund, and none of these make you any less skilled at research.

Ultimately no supervisor will take on a PhD student who isn’t capable of completing their studies and who won’t cut it as a researcher. They stand to gain nothing from you failing and dropping out, so if they offer you a place then you are just as good as any other PhD candidate.

Pros and cons

Now I’ve presented some general tips for prospective self-funders, I’d like to share some of the pros and cons I’ve identified to bear in mind when thinking about self-funding:

Pro #1 – “Begging” rights

In my own personal experience, reminding institutions that I’m self-funded has helped me receive conference bursaries, moved me to the top of the list for extra paid teaching, and even got some rather considerable bench fees voided.

At the end of the day you might not have a large amount of funding money at your disposal, but being self-funded might just help make some costs that come with a PhD go away. If you’re willing to “beg” a little that is.

Pro #2 – Increased freedom

PhD funding is attractive, but it can come with a lot of strings attached. These can take the form of crazy teaching hours, regular mandatory events, etc.

While I’m sure everyone is willing to deal with these in order to get funding, it’s important to remember that if you self-fund these obligations disappear. This leaves more time for research, conferences, paper writing, and maybe even a little bit of a social life.

Pro #3 – Dropping out

Speaking of strings attached. I won’t spend too much time on this as I’d rather keep this article as positive as possible. But if you’re funded and drop out you could end up having to satisfy a disappointed funding body (and likely had to repay some of the money you have received). However, if you drop out while self-funded that isn’t a problem.

Con #1 – You’re not funded

It may sound stupid and obvious but if you’re self-funding you lose a certain safety net. Without funding to bail you out, those moments when things go wrong (flashback to my car breaking down on the way to a conference last year) can be exponentially worse.

Con #2 – Reliance on loans and/or teaching

Self-funding often means relying on other sources of income or support during your degree. While there are plenty of options open to PhD student, these can add to your workload (and by association your stress levels). Teaching is a common option and is often paid rather well (c.£15-20/hour). However, teaching regularly comes with prep and marking, both of which can take up a heavy chunk of your valuable time.

Final thoughts

There’s no denying that self-funding a PhD is difficult: theoretically, logistically, and in practice. However, if you take your time, weigh up your options, and ultimately decide it’s the right choice for you, then it can work. I myself am proof of that, as are the multiple successful self-funded PhD students (and PhD graduates) I have met on the conference circuit.

Editor's note This post was previously published on 15/02/18. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

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Our phd newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice.

We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Not sure how to fund your PhD? This guide answers some of the most common questions about PhD funding in the UK.

The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

Our guide explains the best ways to fund international PhD study in the UK, with information on all the main scholarships available to you.

A range of scholarships may be available to help you fund a PhD. Our guide explains the different types of award with tips for making a successful funding application.

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Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

• a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
• support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

• conference attendance
• language training
• overseas research visits
• internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

• non-medical personal assistance
• specialist equipment
• extra travel costs
• general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

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In the UK, a PhD can be a funded or self-funded programme.

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Funding types

There are three main types of funding arrangements for PhDs:

• Fully-funded students have a full studentship. This usually covers their PhD fees, living costs and other expenses.
• Partially-funded students receive a partial scholarship or studentship. This usually contributes to fees or living costs, but not both. They usually need to top up their funding with other grants or rely on their own savings or earnings.
• Self-funded students don't receive any funding. They pay for a PhD themselves using a combination of student loans, savings, or earnings.

Your situation may change during your PhD. It's possible to begin as a self-funded student and win funding later.

The financial cost of a PhD

There won’t usually be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees.

PhD fees in the UK range from £4,500 to £35,000 per year depending on your nationality. UK students pay an average of £4,500 per year in PhD fees.

International students pay a lot more. International PhD fees in the UK can be as high as £20,000-£35,000 per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, though there are funding routes you can apply for to help with this.

Although A PhD can be expensive, it can give you educational, career and personal benefits. It's worth weighing up whether these benefits are worth the financial commitment.

We can talk to you about whether this is the right option for you.

Funding options

The admissions office for your PhD should be able to tell you if there are any studentships available. Studentships vary between institutions and departments. They sometimes offer a maintenance grant and/or payment of tuition fees.

Studentships are usually offered for very specific research projects at both PhD and Master's level. Studentships at Newcastle are advertised on the individual school or institute's pages . Ask the admissions office if there are research assistantships available within the department. These are salaried positions within the department. The work could be registered for a higher degree, or you could be given time to pursue your studies.

Conditions and salary vary, so find out exactly what your duties will involve.

More information

• FindAPhD - details of studentships • jobs.ac.uk - PhD studentship information

If you are eligible, you could get student finance in the form of a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan. This can help with course fees and living costs. It doesn’t usually cover the full cost of a PhD.

You can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan in any year of your course. But if you apply after your first year, you might not get the full amount.

The amount you’ll get is not based on you or your family’s income. The loan is paid directly to you.

• Doctoral Loan: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Doctoral Loans & Funding - Information for Postgraduates (ucas.com)

You can apply for grants from charities and trusts. Some PhD candidates begin by applying to charities and trusts that have an interest in their area of research. This could include medical research or education for example.

Often the funding is in smaller amounts, but you can apply to more than one charity or grant making trust at a time.

Find a PhD has a guide on funding a PhD through charity and trust funding .

You can find details of charities and grant making trusts in the following publications from the Robinson Library:

• The Directory of Grant Making Trusts 2022/23
• The Grants Register
• Charities Digest

Part time study and work

Some PhD students complete a part time PhD and part time work at the same time. Some universities offer part time teaching positions which you can do alongside your research.

Business and industry funding

You could gain funding from a company who has an interest in your research. Current employees may be funded to pursue research that supports the commercial objectives of the company.

Some banks offer postgraduate or professional study loans. Each individual bank will have their own terms and conditions so it is worth comparing options before committing to one lender.

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Self-funded PhD project opportunities 

There are a number of research projects across the Faculty of Science and Engineering for self-funded PhD programmes.  Our self-funded postgraduate research degrees provide applicants the opportunity to work with our leading academic staff in fields of strategic research importance.

Applicants will be able to select from a range of pre-defined research projects mapped within our 4 Research Centres/Institutes through direct links to the research course.

Our PhD applications are accepted throughout the year and the enrolment takes place every month.

Successful applicants will be expected to have funding in place for tuition fees ( https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/funding-costs-fees-and-support/fees-and-costs/research-fees/ ), research support fees and living expense during their stay in Wolverhampton. More details on the PhD programme are available at https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/

To view the Self-funded PhD projects we offer, please see our R esearch Centres/Institutes web pages below.

Centre for Engineering Innovation and Research (CEIR) https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-centres/centre-for-engineering-innovation-and-research/

Construction Futures Research Centre (CFRC)

https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-centres/construction-futures/

Digital Innovations and Solution Centre (DISC)

https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-centres/digital-innovations-and-solution-centre-disc-/

Research Institute in Healthcare Sciences (RIHS)

https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-centres/rihs---research-institute-in-healthcare-science/

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Self-funded PhDs

Our self-funded PhDs give you the chance to work with our established research academics in an area we have identified as a priority for research. You will be able to select from a range of pre-defined research topics. However, if none of the advertised opportunities are quite right for you, you can create your own research project. To do this, the project would need to be developed as a proposal and would need to be discussed with a potential supervisor before you apply. This is to ensure your research area aligns with our research focus. We recommend that you look at our research centres and groups for our current research areas and review our guidance on how to write a research proposal .

A PhD usually takes three years full-time and up to six years part-time. For self-funded PhDs, there are a range of options that may be available to you to help you  fund your PhD.

Please contact the project supervisor(s) directly to find out more about availability on the projects and how to apply.

Current opportunities

These are the self-funded PhDs available across our Colleges:

Digital and Material Artistic Research Centre

• Going viral: narratives, metaphors and symbols of a pandemic
• Reaching new audiences in the curation, exhibition and production of artists' film and video
• Public sculpture of post-war Derbyshire artist Ronald Pope: modernism, regionalism, civic engagement

Institute of Education

• Excellence and expertise in further education teachers’ professional formation
• Serendipity influencing career decisions for young people navigating school-to-work transitions
• Supporting peer-based pathways to recovery and desistance
• Diplomacy and political discontent
• Dealing with the Past: Exploring new pathways of accountability for colonial-era atrocities
• Chinese and global financial integration
• Understanding interfirm relationships in the era of digital transformation
• Antecedents, outcomes, and mechanisms of employee and leader proactivity
• Blockchain Technology: How to unblock the chain for improving business sustainability and transparency

Centre for Business Improvement

• Pro-environmental capabilities in SMEs
• The role of co-creation in rural town centre identities
• Behaviour change for sustainable tourism and improved wellbeing and quality of life
• What constitutes effective enterprise support for pro-environmental and pro-social SMEs?
• Place-based sustainability leadership

Centre for Social, Cultural and Legal Research

• The reproduction and politics of inequality

Centre for Supply Chain Improvement

• Exploring the compatibility of lean manufacturing methods and circular economy practices
• Digital supply chain strategy
• Repurposing production operations and manufacturing systems during the COVID-19 emergency
• Exploring the role of emptiness meditation for improving health and wellbeing
• Addressing emotional barriers in mathematics education using attachment-based creative play
• Exploring the impact of compassion-based initiatives in higher education
• When will they stop? An exploration of protective and desistance factors amongst people who have been involved in stalking behaviours
• What works in tackling bullying and cyberbullying: perceptions from young people, parents, and teachers
• The exposure and effects of foods high in fat, sugar, or salt content and advertising on broadcast television and video-on-demand services in the UK
• Examining the effectiveness of an Emotion Skills Training intervention for reducing emotional difficulties in individuals with disordered eating (DE)
• Making microcontinents: Determining the role of the lithosphere and mantle in controlling plate motions, microplate rifting events, and subsequent distributions of resources

Data Science Research Centre

• Enhancing video game artificial intelligence via machine learning and evolutionary strategic interactions
• Dynamic edge artificial intelligence models to empower Internet of Things-based systems
• Artificial intelligence model security
• Detecting and responding to adversarial tools
• Smart contracts for access monitoring

Human Sciences Research Centre

• Exploring the Experience of Yips in Elite Sport

Everything you need to know about how to join us for your PhD.

Our studentships provide funding and financial support for exceptional students looking to study a PhD.

Find out what the tuition fees are for MPhils and PhDs at Derby, as well as what sources of funding there are to help pay for them.

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Self-funded PhDs

Develop your own self-funded phd proposal.

If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it.

To begin, you will need to put in an application to the University's online application system . Please follow the University's guidance regarding the required documentation.

1. Create your application

On top of the guidelines referenced above, the following guidelines are specific to the School of Computing and Communications (SCC). Please make sure to follow all of the requirements. Not adhering to them may at best delay the processing of your application, and at worst might result in immediate rejection. The preferred format for all supporting documents is PDF.

1.1 Research Proposal

At the top of the first page of the Research Proposal, please include the following information:

• A clear indication of the SCC research group(s) you want to work with. See a list of our research groups below.
• Two or three works that are related to your proposal. This list is in addition to any other references you may wish to include.
• The names of the SCC academic(s) you want to work with. Please also indicate if you would like us to consider your application if your preferred supervision team is not possible.

1.2 Personal Statement

A personal statement is mandatory and should be a maximum of one page. The document should explain your motivation to work on this project and a little about your background.

We also require you to include a CV with a maximum length of two pages. This should consist of your previous degrees and graduation grades, as well as any relevant skills. Where it applies, also include awards of excellence, publications, and links to code releases (e.g. using GitHub URLs).

2. Choose a Research Group and find a PhD Supervisor

You will need to select one or two groups that are most related to your proposed PhD work. You could optionally identify one or more academics that you would prefer to supervise your work.

Communication Systems

Lancaster's Communication Systems Research Group focuses on the design, analysis and optimisation of future communication systems.

Data Science

Data Science focuses on new methods, algorithms and applications of transforming data in real-time and autonomously to meet real-world needs.

Digital Health

Our focus is on using digital technologies to take a proactive approach to health, with the aim of preventing illness and improving quality of life.

Distributed Systems

Distributed systems are becoming increasingly complex, encompassing areas of technological innovation including cloud computing, multi-core architectures, the Internet of Things and mobile computing.

Interactive Systems

We come together from different fields including computer science, vision, graphics, machine learning and engineering to develop advances in mobile, pervasive and interactive technologies.

The Networking group have a diverse range of interests, from cutting-edge computer networking technologies to understanding new deployment context.

Pervasive Systems

The Pervasive Computing group at Lancaster conducts world-class research into the design, development, deployment and evaluation of mobile and pervasive computing systems.

Our activities deliver ground-breaking research and postgraduate training through programmes as diverse as an MA in conflict, development and security and an MSc in cyber security.

Software Engineering

Software Engineering (SE) has been a major research theme at Lancaster since 1986. In the 2010s our high-impact research spans the range from tool development to theoretical work and focuses on a number of SE themes.

Other methods of applying for a PhD

We offer a number of different routes to beginning your PhD study.

Apply for a funded PhD position

Every year we offer a range of PhDs funded by a number of different sources, including research councils, industries or charities. Browse the list of latest funded opportunities here.

Doctoral Training Centres

You can also apply for a PhD from one of the Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships that work with the School of Computing and Communications. Details of each of the Training Centres are provided here.

Historical Transactions

Royal historical society, blog and online resources.

Surviving the PhD Process as a Self-Funded Student

by emgregory2020 | Nov 27, 2020 | Teaching Portal: Careers , Teaching Portal: Transitions in HE | 0 comments

In this post, Dr Eilish Gregory, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Royal Historical Society and an early career researcher, offers an account of her own personal experience of studying her PhD as a self-funded student. While there were many scholarly and personal obstacles to overcome during the process, she hopes that for those who read this post, she can help remove the stigma often attached to students who are working alongside their doctoral studies.

When I started my PhD journey back in 2013, I was already aware of the many challenges I faced as a self-funded student. I had not jumped straight into doctoral studies after completing my undergraduate and graduate degrees. For a couple of years after completing my Masters, I applied several times for different funding pots to take the next big step and start a PhD in history, a subject which I have loved passionately since I was a small child, and which has helped me through some challenging moments in my life. However, as many other scholars and students have experienced, getting funding to continue studying at a higher degree level is incredibly difficult and competitive. There were two occasions in which I managed to get shortlisted and interviewed for PhD funding, but each occasion I was unsuccessful, which at the time was absolutely devastating. I reached an ultimatum with myself that either I should give up the whole notion of doing a PhD entirely and turn my attentions and energy to something else, or, that I take the plunge and do the PhD as a self-funded student and work out the consequences of juggling between two different working worlds.

As you can naturally assume from reading this post, I chose the latter option. I embarked on my doctoral studies as a full-time student in 2013 and passed my viva voce three-and-a-half years later. The doctoral process for everyone, whether funded or self-funded, can often be a rocky one, with obstacles appearing on the horizon at various intervals. I was incredibly fortunate that I started my doctoral studies with several other students who quickly became firm friends and who are still an important part of my life as an early career researcher. This vital network, helped immensely during the tough moments of research stumbling blocks, the occasional bout of imposter syndrome, as well as life’s other obstacles. I was also lucky that my main doctoral supervisor was easy-going about my work situation and who gave me good research advice and writing support throughout my time as his student. Unlike my friends who relocated themselves to be close to the university, I lived in a different county, so I spent a lot of my time commuting to and from university to carry out my research and collect new reading materials at least twice a week, sometimes making the journey straight after an early morning shift at work.

I worked in retail as a sales assistant throughout my PhD. I was fortunate that the majority of the managers and supervisors at my workplace were flexible if I needed to change a shift because of my PhD upgrade or to attend a conference, and many of my research trips across the UK were paid for by doing the odd extra shift at work or using up my paid annual leave to travel to different places. Although I was self-funded, I was still able to apply for financial support from the various travel and research packages that are offered by universities and the Royal Historical Society , which meant that some costs were offset if I needed to travel to a certain archive or to give a paper at an important international conference based on my research topic. Although all funding pots have various terms and conditions, it is always worth giving it a shot at putting forward an application. I was not successful in the majority of my applications, but the ones I was successful in were the ones I had applied for two or three times so persistence is often vital in these cases.

While this all appears optimistic, there were times when the doctoral process was tough on an intellectual and personal front. As I was juggling work and research schedules constantly, there were periods during the PhD when I was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted by the process. I knew this would be the case before I started my doctoral degree, and I wasn’t oblivious that there would be moments when it would be too much. When you are exhausted and having to maintain the energy and motivation to keep going, it can be hard, especially when people don’t quite understand what you are going through. At one point, I was working in my job, writing up my PhD chapters, doing a few hours of teaching a week, as my university offered me the opportunity to teach for experience, and I was also dealing with the death of a close family member. To me, that was the one of the toughest couple of months of my entire doctoral process, and I was thankful that course convenors and my friends were there for me at my lowest point, to encourage me in my writing and to act as a supportive network.

As a self-funded doctoral student, I also had to deal with a lot of stigma because of my financial situation. Despite the fact that relatively few doctoral degrees completed in the UK are fully-funded, many people in my position have had to put up with what can be quite patronising and derogatory comments about our self-funded status as research students. This had happened to me even before I registered to start my doctoral degree. One vivid example that I can recall is when one mature female PhD student said to me: “Why don’t you wait until you get married and have children first before you decide to do your PhD?” Nearly a decade later, this comment still astounds me.

“Why don’t you wait until you get married and have children first before you decide to do your PhD?”

The fact that I was a self-funded student also meant that I frequently had to deal with “the silent pause” by a few established academics if I was presenting at academic conferences before the conversation would turn immediately to my peers beside me who were funded. At one conference dinner, a female academic made a derogatory remark about my living situation, as I was working and living at home with my mother so that I could pay my tuition fees in full. I was so hurt by her comments that shortly afterwards I had to leave the conference dinner to sort myself out in the restaurant bathroom as I was close to tears.

I do not write this to upset or alarm any current or perspective doctoral students who read this, but rather to warn that these types of comments are not unusual. As a young doctoral student embarking on a new working chapter in my life, these comments stung and were often quite upsetting, considering the sacrifices I was making to study and research for something that I was passionate about. However, I have now reached a point in my life where I can challenge those types of comments. My advice to those who are in the same position that I was doing my PhD: do not give up and ignore the minority who choose to pull the ladder up from under your feet rather than help you climb up it.

“…do not give up and ignore the minority who choose to pull the ladder up from under your feet rather than help you climb up it…”

If I hadn’t done my PhD, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have become a well-rounded early career researcher. Since finishing my doctoral studies, I have been lucky to receive library and research fellowships across the UK, the USA and in the Republic of Ireland. Doing my PhD has enabled me to meet new people, live and visit new countries, and I have been able to disseminate my research to wide international audiences. I have absolutely no regrets in studying for my PhD as a self-funded student and in all, I think it has made me a better scholar and worker because of my ability to balance these two worlds effectively.

Dr Eilish Gregory is Postdoctoral Research Associate of the Royal Historical Society. She completed her PhD in 2017 and her forthcoming monograph  Catholics during the English Revolution, 1642-1660: Politics, Sequestration and Loyalty will be published in 2021 with Boydell and Brewer Press. Since finishing her PhD, she has been awarded research fellowships at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC, Durham University, Marsh’s Library, Dublin, and she has taught at the University College London, University of Reading and Anglia Ruskin University. She can be followed on Twitter @EilishGregory

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