PhD proposals - anyone else applying this year?

[hockeypuck]

I figured that given that there were plenty of people finishing their PhDs on here, there might well be plenty about to embark on the process and we might all be able to support each other.

I am in the process of applying for ESRC funding for a socio-legal PhD at Cardiff University.

Anyone else anywhere?

Finished mine a good few years ago (biochemistry related), but just wanted to wish you good luck.

Yes am in my final year. There are a few of us, see the students boards.

Ah thanks very much academicmum. I have heard that there are over 50 applicants per quota studentship so think I will need plenty of that good luck! I appreciate it! Congratulations on yours Dr AcademicMum!

Oh and mine is in Criminology!

The number of applicants can vary quite a lot and is not even necessarily subject related. I supervise a number of PhD students (6 at present) and when they applied some years I had a ton of applicants for 1 place and on others I struggled to find 1. You need to have lots of self-belief (that you're worth it more than the others) and sometimes lots of perserverance (but then they're also the traits that get you through the following 3/4 years of research too)...

I am doing a self funded doctorate and so I guess its rather different. i was interviewed over the phone one sat moring. Good job it was not a video phone, as I sat there in my pyjamas!

Thanks everyone - Jazzicatz, you're Plymouth-based right? I think we spoke once before because I wondered whether you were Cardiff based.

Academic mum, I have persistence and I will teach myself self-belief

sunnylabsmum - slef-funding or rather work-funding is an option if I don't get the studentship I am after. The uni have accepted me as a student either way, but I wanted to try for the studentship in the subject I find most interesting before resorting to work place-funding for a slightly different subject, still socio-legal. I'm not ready to gve up on my dream of ESRC studentship for the most interesting and unique aspects though!

Application goes in this week and I hear towards the end of March

Hopefully I will be done before you start. Cardiff looks like a great place to go. Good luck!