Graduate Study in the UK

[avatarofabs]

Well, having been rejected by 4 schools and wait–listed by 2 (and still receiving no further information from the latter), it is time to think about applying next year. Along with looking at 10 American universities, I am interested in pursuing graduate study at a UK school. My concentrations are Anglo-Saxon/Translation Studies, and many UK programs have better resources in these fields. I’ve done a bit of research, not much, but enough to learn that the main problem is, of course, funding. Also, I’m not entirely familiar with the MPhil or MLitt programs. I’ve considered entering a university to get an MPhil or MLitt (I already have an MA in English Lit) and then continuing onto a PhD from there. Of particular interest to me is Warwick, U of Edinburgh, U of Glasgow, and U of Leeds. If anyone has information about funding for non-UK students, MPhil or MLitt programs, PhD study in the UK, or any of the universities I mentioned above, I would appreciate if you would share it via this thread or a private message. Beyond that, ALL general comments are welcome.

[foppery]

I know of two major drawbacks: UK graduate programs are very unlikely to fund American students (which you already seem to know), and Americans with British doctorates find it difficult to get jobs in the US. The British doctoral system is different enough that many American departments feel reluctant to hire graduates of British programs. Alas, I don't know much more than that.

[yellowjackets]

I know of two major drawbacks: UK graduate programs are very unlikely to fund American students (which you already seem to know), and Americans with British doctorates find it difficult to get jobs in the US. The British doctoral system is different enough that many American departments feel reluctant to hire graduates of British programs. Alas, I don't know much more than that.

I agree it's hard to find any UK PhDs at American universities, but it seems that many Canadian universities hire UK PhDs.

[Venetia]

I have a little bit of info on funding at UK universities, as I was researching UK PhD funding several months ago. The bad news is, ultimately I decided to try in the States instead. Anyhow, here's what I have.

I didn't consider any of the universities in your list, instead concentrating on Durham, Manchester and St. Andrews (where I did my undergrad work). In those cases, I found that if you looked in the fellowship/financial aid section of the graduate website, there was generally some sort of fellowship offered to foreign students university-wide. Sometimes the departments offer them as well, but I never found one for English. So if I were you, I'd get to know that part of their website inside out, and if there isn't a lot of information there, ring them and ask. Now that the scarily busy part of the application process is over, I'm sure most of the admin folk will have time to be quite helpful.

Another possibility is funding from the US for you to do a degree in the UK. The obvious choice is of course Fulbright, but I must admit that I have no idea about their funding at a graduate level. I know that there have already been a lot of warnings on this thread, but I will post this one anyway as it's slightly different to the others. Funding in the UK is already very competitive for local students (as it is in the US!), and international students are competing for a lot fewer awards, making it even more competitive in a way. About the validity of a UK degree in the US, I've heard many people say that UK degrees aren't valued in the States, but I have never heard it from anyone official, only from fellow applicants on this board. I did both my undergrad and my Masters in that part of the world, and I found the quality of teaching to be amazing, especially for Medieval topics (my specialty too!). For Anglo-Saxon, there's really no better place for access to manuscript material and some truly well-known scholars.

Edit: All of my research was for PhDs- in the universities I looked at, funded Masters for international students in the Arts were pretty much unheard of, at least through the universities. You might have more luck finding funding in the US specifically geared at doing Masters work in the UK.

Edited March 28, 2010 by Venetia

[bigdgp]

I am getting ready to do an MA program in the UK (either at York or St. Andrews) and I have talked with professors quite a bit about the struggles of a UK PhD getting a job in the US. I met with an adviser a few weeks ago at Hunter College CUNY (where I am currently working on an MA that I will leave early to finish in the UK) to discuss doctoral study. She advised me to return to the US to work on a PhD as UK doctorates do find it very difficult to get jobs in the US, even from the most elite institutions. She said it has very little to do with any perception about the quality of education. Instead, the fact is that there is a great deal of nepotism involved in landing an initial job in academia. Apparently, it is somewhat rare for a person to find a first position at a school where there is NOT a friend of his or her dissertation adviser in the department. Professors in the UK tend to have fewer close friends in the US. I'm still strongly considering staying in the UK for my PhD, though. Maybe I'll just try to stay and work there after I finish too.

BTW, also studying Medieval Lit.

[avatarofabs]

Well, nothing that I've heard here surprises me... or fortifies my strength for applying to UK programs. However, I thought it was at least worth a try. Thanks to everyone who read/posted. I am not able to afford attending school anywhere without university-funding of some sort. Also, while I do have quite a bit of teaching experience, the academic world is a competitive enough ecosystem without me choosing to turn down more (i.e. giving up teaching opportunities by entering a UK PhD program instead of a USA one). This has been very helpful.

[pomegranate]

I am getting ready to do an MA program in the UK (either at York or St. Andrews) and I have talked with professors quite a bit about the struggles of a UK PhD getting a job in the US. I met with an adviser a few weeks ago at Hunter College CUNY (where I am currently working on an MA that I will leave early to finish in the UK) to discuss doctoral study. She advised me to return to the US to work on a PhD as UK doctorates do find it very difficult to get jobs in the US, even from the most elite institutions. She said it has very little to do with any perception about the quality of education. Instead, the fact is that there is a great deal of nepotism involved in landing an initial job in academia. Apparently, it is somewhat rare for a person to find a first position at a school where there is NOT a friend of his or her dissertation adviser in the department. Professors in the UK tend to have fewer close friends in the US. I'm still strongly considering staying in the UK for my PhD, though. Maybe I'll just try to stay and work there after I finish too.

BTW, also studying Medieval Lit.

It's also got a lot to do with the structure of the UK PhDs. It's research pure. On many programmes you won't be required to do any teaching. Some people pick up a few hours here and there just to get some experience but it's not a rule. So you can have a british PhD with very little to none teaching experience and then compete for jobs with US PhD holders who taught for 2-4 years already. It makes quite a big difference.

[appseasonover]

I'm a US student thinking of doing my MA at U of Leeds. I applied for a 1/2 scholarship through the university, but haven't heard back yet. Leeds administers Fed Stafford loans through the FELP program. Any word on how the heath care reform legislation (which also pushes for reform from FELP to Direct Loans for schools still using FELP) will affect me taking out Stafford loans to study at Leeds or at any other UK school that currently uses FELP? The financial aid officer there was very helpful and said that the switch was imminent, but is anyone else worried about it being an issue... ie, i say no to the US schools I was admitted to by April 15th, yes to leeds, only to find out I can't get stafford loans anymore..?

[stormydown]

I'm currently in the running for funding at Queen's University in Belfast (still part of the UK), at the MA program in Irish Studies I was accepted to. There are up to 5 funded opportunities for international students. It'll be very tough to get one, but they're not unheard of!

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

(took the GRE Lit. yesterday--what a beast!)

It was HORRIBLE. I took it today (Israel doesn't have tests on Saturdays LOL). I have no idea how I did on the damn thing. Beast indeed.

[!anonscribe!]

I have a friend getting his doctorate at U of Newcastle. Full funding is more or less unheard of for international lit students in his department. There are one or two spots floating around. Anyway, there are some scholarships and such that he was able to compete for. But, his situation is rare in that he has the money--through working at a family business--to afford to pay the tuition and take the few months off a year he needs to actually be in the UK.

Great school though, and he loves the program. Good luck.

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Me neither--no clue how I did. Unfortunately, I'm predicting 500-600 range. If I break 600 I'll be shocked. It's good to know that it's not impossible to take the test abroad, as there's a distinct possibility I'll be doing that in October.

I have to break 650, so I may be taking the damn thing again in the fall as well. Of course, I'm hoping that I won't have to, but no matter how much criticism I studied, they asked some pretty obscure questions about it (as well as not having even half as much British lit as I expected). Ugh Ugh Ugh.

[tem11]

I'm a US student thinking of doing my MA at U of Leeds. I applied for a 1/2 scholarship through the university, but haven't heard back yet. Leeds administers Fed Stafford loans through the FELP program. Any word on how the heath care reform legislation (which also pushes for reform from FELP to Direct Loans for schools still using FELP) will affect me taking out Stafford loans to study at Leeds or at any other UK school that currently uses FELP? The financial aid officer there was very helpful and said that the switch was imminent, but is anyone else worried about it being an issue... ie, i say no to the US schools I was admitted to by April 15th, yes to leeds, only to find out I can't get stafford loans anymore..?

I'm also a US student who will be studying in the UK. I'm anxious to see how the switch works since I didn't get any funding and plan to pay for the course entirely with Stafford loans. I don't have any helpful advice to offer, but know that you're not alone!

[bigdgp]

I'm also a US student who will be studying in the UK. I'm anxious to see how the switch works since I didn't get any funding and plan to pay for the course entirely with Stafford loans. I don't have any helpful advice to offer, but know that you're not alone!

Although I'm not aware of the meaning of "FELP," I am also anxiously awaiting the fate of the US students trying to use Stafford Loans to fund UK study. I have accepted a spot in an MA program at the University of York, but I won't be able to go if I can't get a loan.

[wreckofthehope]

I'm from the U.K... and hoping to do my Ph.D in the States because funding is so awful over here (+ the teaching emphasis). It is extremely difficult-impossible for a humanities student to find funding from any source; AHRC funding is highly, highly competitive, and there is little in the way of outside scholarships etc (which you get a bit more of in the Sciences).

There are, however, often scholarships specifically for international students... they are usually endowment type awards - and mostly will only cover some of the fees or provide a small lump sum... but it's worth keeping a look out for them.

This website may be helpful:http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/

Also, in terms of your area - Oxford is very good, and they are likely to have some awards going for international students:http://www2.admin.ox.ac.uk/studentfunding/awards/search.php5