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Amazing, congrats! Do we know anything about when they'll notify us of funding outcomes? Will the emails say? On the website they mention early April but that's so broad.

Thank you! Still waiting for funding news though They said they were going to notify everyone early next week. Good luck!

Yes! I called to ask and they told me. Then a few hours later they emailed me with an update on college allocation (which had the line 'congratulations on your offer'). Did you hear back?

I've just been offered full funding from a lower choice program I applied to. However their deadline for accepting the offer is in less than two weeks. I am still waiting to hear from my top choices, at one of which they told me I have very good odds of getting funding (but not guaranteed). What steps should I take now - should I contact all the pending programs and ask if they can give me any clarity or ask for an extension of the deadline for the funded program? I feel quite worried because obviously I'd rather go to the fully funded program than nothing but likewise it's difficult to accept when I haven't heard from my top choices.

I've just been offered full funding from what's probably my 3rd or 4th choice. Still waiting to hear from my top choices. I feel like I should email the prospective supervisor at the funded institution to let him know. But what do I say? I don't want him to think that I'm considering turning the offer down, but at the same time I don't want to just remain silent (he's likely to have been informed about the funding outcomes already). What should I do?

I'm about to enter a PhD this fall (currently doing an MA). I was wondering what people's opinions are on the value of summer schools? By this I mean graduate (advanced MA/PhD/post-doc) summer schools of usually two weeks' duration that combine teaching and a couple of workshops at the end as an opportunity for everyone to present their research/work. I found two pretty cool ones relevant to my field. One is free, the other costs about $1000. Are these worth anything in the long run, i.e. useful to have done beyond simply the learning process involved whilst there? Do they look good on an academic CV or do they not matter? Any opinions or views?

Same! I'm getting really impatient. Hopefully we'll hear soon.

Still waiting as well! Which stream have you applied for?

I'm not sure how many PhD applications to submit. I'm applying only in Europe and I'm thinking of applying to Oxford, LSE, UCL, and EUI. Would this be enough or is it better to apply to lots of places? I see that in the US it's common to apply to up to a dozen places, but presumably because the intake is smaller at each institution. Would 4 be enough or is it better just to apply to loads of places?

Anyone else who might know anything about Political Theory at Oxford?

I'm applying in the 2015 cycle One major problem strikes me with EUI - as there are no taught students, the opportunities for getting teaching experience seems non-existent. Do you know anything about what people generally do about this? It appears to be very difficult to get academic employment in e.g. the UK without teaching experience during the PhD... Even if EUI would allow for a very strong research profile to be built with good publications etc. Also, do you know if they would accept manuscript/article-based theses?

I'm thinking of applying for a PhD in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence. Does anyone here know anything about EUI? Is it considered a top institution for entering the UK/European academic job market in politics/social sciences? Is it on par with the better/best UK PhDs? Several professors from my department at my undergraduate institution (UK top 5) did their PhDs there and seem to have made it 'all the way' I'm not planning on going to the US afterwards so its value there is of less importance. (thanks to IRToni for the tip)

Thank you, I've tried posting there as well. Which UK programs are you applying to?

I'm interested in applying for either the Oxford MPhil or the MSc Political Theory before pursuing a PhD/DPhil, ideally at Oxford as well. I'm currently doing my master's in a closely related subject (albeit not exactly political theory) with AHRC funding. I have definite partial funding (basically equivalent to fees) + anything Oxford and/or private grant sources might end up giving. So it's not going to be terribly expensive (which seems like the biggest drawback for a second master's). I've got a number of questions so I was hoping there'd be some Oxford DPIR people out there who can help me out. 1. Is it possible to switch from the MPhil to MSc or vice versa at all once the course has been embarked upon? I.e. by starting on the MPhil but then opting to write the shorter MSc thesis and subsequently progress directly to DPhil after 1 year. 2. With MPhil I gather it takes a 65+ average and a distinction in the dissertation to progress to DPhil, however for MSc it seems less stringent (cf. DPIR FAQ). Is that correct? Are these requirements rigid? I generally perform extremely well in coursework but less well in exams and so I'm worried the exam-basis of the MPhil might set me back. 3. Could I apply to both the MSc/MPhil and DPhil and if I get in but don't get AHRC funding for the DPhil pursue the MSc and then reapply for AHRC PhD funding when progressing to the DPhil? 4. Will it harm my chances of AHRC funding for the DPhil if I do a degree in between my AHRC-funded MA and the (potentially AHRC-funded) DPhil? Thanks so much!

Do you know anything about how likely it is to be allowed to upgrade to the DPhil?