devona

If you're open to UK programs, Gerard Loughlin at Durham would be an excellent resource in this field. He's queer theology and film/literature/media.

I was admitted as a comprehensive student and switched to the literature and theology concentration after my first semester. My advisor was always Dr. Peter Hawkins, the professor of theology and lit. He is now a good friend. All the professors that I encountered at YDS are very approachable and happy to work with students who show earnestness. The program is so short, make the most of your time and enjoy it while you're there!

Lovely!

I agree!

@Seatbelt Blue and @Body Politics: I just could not agree more with you that this gap between the Church and the Academy has to be closed. I am applying to study literature and theology so that I can teach at the college level, but I also really feel called to develop deeper and more accessible Christian adult education programs. I think the arts have a unique ability to enhance Christian discipleship training, and so my long-term goal is to some day teach at a Christian college while developing and teaching adult education programs in churches that utilize the arts as a means of engaging meaningful theological inquiry. I also think the Church has a general responsibility (and opportunity) to be a force of education within society. For example, churches often can (and therefore should) provide literacy and basic budgeting courses for those who might benefit from such instruction. I think something I have been realizing over the past few years is that I would like to use my degree to empower others in the Church to share their own intellectual resources to benefit the community.

Hey, GradCafe-ers, When you apply for a fellowship and it asks how much you want, what is the general rule for requests? For example, I want to apply for a fellowship that awards UP TO $15,000. I could use all of that and more, but should I ask for less because I increase my chances for success with smaller demands?

magic show

Thanks Febriona, and thank you for your reply on Facebook!

Hey, GC folks, I am looking into an ECUSA fellowship that requires a bishop's endorsement. I haven't been in my home state for years, but I used to know the Bishop there a little bit (not sure if he would remember me) from work I did in the Episcopal Church. I currently live in the UK, and my husband is a priest, so I am sure his bishop would give me an endorsement, but the bish here knows nothing about my church experience, history, or academic interests. He basically doesn't know me at all. At the same time, my former bishop probably won't remember me, and I am not sure whether or not I should be worried about getting an American bishop to endorse me. Do you think that matters? Also, would I be crazy to ask my former bishop for a recommendation?

I am definitely thinking about waiting another year! To save ~12,000 pounds, it would probably be worth it. I am an impatient lady, and a lot of it depends on working out my spouse's schedule with my own, but I think I might be crazy to pay 13,900 instead of the 2,000 for home fees. Congrats on Oxford, by the way! I hope you are able to find the money to get there.

So, I know this topic has been addressed in the past, but I wondered if anyone is applying to study in the UK for the 2013 year and perhaps facing the same questions I am. I have applied for a PhD in Theology at King's College London-- the school is an excellent fit for me, and the professor who has agreed to supervise could not be better suited to oversee my project, so I have no intention of going elsewhere. I knew funding is sparse for US students wanting to study in the UK, but I never expected it to be this hard to find grant sources for those of us attempting this cross-cultural academic endeavor. I have applied for full funding from the University, but the odds of my success are slight, since they only give out 20 fully-funded awards to international students across the entire Arts and Humanities Department (just trying to be realistic; I have a very strong application, but these are super slim chances we're talking here). For me it's only one year and then I am elligible for residency (I moved here almost two years ago on a spouse visa, and my husband is a UK citizen) and therefore for lower fees. But I am eager to get my degree started. I am wondering if any of you are facing similar circumstances, and if so, do you have any advice for those of us who are still struggling to find some information? Those of you studying in the UK who are from abroad (not EU), what have you done to finance your degree?

Thank you very much! I have visited this site before, but did find a post that I hadn't read before that was helpful. Anyone else have thoughts?

Hey gradcafe folks, Hoping someone can answer my question about funding a PhD in England. I recently applied for a doctoral research program at King's College, London; I have applied in the UK because my husband is a curate over here and in terms of timing it makes the most sense for me to study here rather than the States (though we do plan to move back to the States pretty much ASAP). I graduated with high honors from Yale Div a year and a half ago, and I am pretty confident about my application to KCL, so while I am obviously a stressed-out wreck of my former self, I still feel hopeful about my chances. What I do not feel hopeful about is funding. I have been scouring the internet for funding opportunities provided by both US- and UK-based sources, and I have found a few, but it's very confusing and certainly there's not that much out there for someone who wants to do doctoral study of theology and literature. Or is there? Am I missing something? Basically, I am wondering if any of y'all is a US citizen who has somehow managed to fund your study in the UK. I would be extremely grateful for any hints, tips, thoughts or stories (hopefully successful!). It's crazy expensive over here, so I am sure I will be piecing things together, which makes me wonder also, do I apply for US or UK loans if it comes to that? Would be so grateful for any advice!

Hi, all, I am currently finishing an application for PhD study in theology, and I have what I think is a very strong proposal, good letters of recommendation from professors at a top university, and an all-around strong application. I am an American student and the program is at a UK university, so as you can imagine, funding is among my biggest concerns right now. I am applying for a fully-funded international studentship as part of my application, and one of the biggest criteria is that I am well-suited to work with my potential supervisor (we have met before and he has agreed to work with me and shown enthusiasm for my project). The personal statement for this PhD program is optional, but I wonder if this might be a place for me to show that I am compatible with my supervisor and that my vocational goals set me apart as a particularly good candidate for the scholarship. I do find writing personal statements very challenging, but I have this one about 1/2 way done and definitely want to finish if it helps my application. So I guess my question is, if the personal statement is optional, should I do one? Or is this just kind of something PhD students don't usually include?