Any experiences/tips on applying for research council funding for a PhD?

[Vimto1]

I'm applying to return to academia 10 years after completing my masters. I've been in full time work for that decade, in the field that I'm looking to do my PhD in.

I have a potential supervisor who is enthusiastic about the project and a partner organisation willing to support.

It would be a PhD in Law and I'm looking for funding via ESRC.

I'm really worrying about my chances especially being 'out' for so long. I'm also not in a position to self fund and the topic is somewhat time sensitive.

I totally appreciate the chances of it all coming together on my first attempt are pretty low but I thought I'd seek any thoughts/experiences/tips on here!

are you applying to an ESRC Doctoral Training Centre? I assume so because it is the only option I know to get PhD funding. so

• look at their paperwork very carefully. take your time to complete every box
• the forms will be evaluated by professors from all ESRC disciplines - psychology and economics etc as well as law. So write for a general audience who don't know your field
• explain why your topic is important and why you are the right person to do it.
• Contacts with industry and 'knowledge exchange' and real world applications of your work are all a plus - make sure you spell those out.
• if you have prizes / papers / awards, make those prominent on your CV. committees like them.

Agree with all this. And if your supervisor knows their stuff and is keen to supervise you, their editorial comments can really improve your application. Make sure you contextualise your project within other relevant recent work in the field, to show that you understand how academic writing works.

It lost half my post! I also said, you may be able to find summary examples of similar projects on the UKRI/ESRC website, which you can use to help you see the style etc