A few questions about Field Work/Research

[Certain_Entropy]

I'm pretty sure for what I want study, field work in India will be required. How does field work/research factor into the time line when pursuing a phd? On average how long do students do field work? While I know it varies from school to school, if field work is required, how is it funded?

Thanks

[browneyedgirl]

I think the best answer is, just as you said, "it varies" - my program is typically 6 years and I was told that comparativists may take as long as 8 years to finish because of fieldwork. now, I think most people don't take that long, but it very much depends on how long you're in the field and then how long you take to write.

funding, again, will depend on your specific school and the package they've offered, but I feel like it would fall into one of two categories: covered the same way it would be if you were on campus (for example, you spend your fourth year in India and you're funded just as you would be at home), or the school expects you to apply for outside fellowships. or maybe a combination of both? I have the luxury of a few years of funding when I'm ready to go, but I will still be applying for as many external grants as I possibly can. fieldwork seems to be the time when you turn to the Fulbright-Hays and the like, money that's intended to assist while overseas.