Transferring to a different university as an international PhD student?

[misswan]

Hello everyone. I'm a North American student who moved to the UK to partake in what I thought was a prestigious Humanities PhD program - oldest one of its kind, with praise from afar. Upon arriving I found that not only had the program been suffocating due to lack of applicants (as well as my second advisor having no interest in my project (the director of my program)), but it had all but been given up on, with absolutely no meet-ups, intellectual gatherings, seminars, etc. I have just finished one complete year, and have struggled with the decision to stay or to go, having very little production over what was quite a blue summer; but there is very little to keep me in the program: no training in my research area, no teaching in my research area, no connections internationally or even locally in my research area to foster further connections and provide experience in the field. I know a PhD is a taking on of responsible, individual work, but this seems extreme. 

I have been working very hard to make this degree "valuable." My decision has been further complicated: I have a scholarship that is unique to this school and administered by it, and as an international student I'm uncertain if any funding is available if I apply to another UK program (I'd contacted a few schools and the prospect seemed grim). I'm also quite stuck; if I continue with this semester, surely I can't abandon the program in year two and expect to take up another offer (if one would even be given). But if I don't enrol, I lose the scholarship funds to pay basic living expenses. I have finances to survive on my own 3 months at best. 

I want to study in the same subject area, but cutting ties may not be ideal. My main advisor and I get along, but he seems to have little interest in my project. Within the first 6 weeks of starting, he had me change my research project to something he was interested in. After 3 months I was able to stand up and take back the project I'd applied with. This seems to have set a precedent for no one in the school knowing how to advise me. 

Perhaps I should stick it out? I'm very unhappy, however, and this is affecting my work (non-work). I'd thought of moving away from the small town to a larger area and commuting when I'm needed on campus; I could find work elsewhere and teach in my subject area. But this too strikes of loneliness and a bit extreme. I'm an older student (40), and was prepared for a certain amount of isolation. I just wasn't expecting a void program without student activity or support. 

Has anyone else experienced a similar situation and found a solution in transferring to a new school with international funding availability, or run through some solutions with friends or colleagues? I'd appreciate some input. I've gone to the school therapist but have been encouraged to stay, which may be slightly suggestive. 

Thanks for reading. 

[hippyscientist]

I'm sorry that I cannot offer more constructive comments, but it is the situation that you have described that has me applying to US schools for my PhD. The accepted and shoved in a cupboard for 3 years analogy seems harsh, but I've seen many many students go that way. It appears to be all too common in the UK that a PhD is not time dedicated to training you for the profession, rather "here do this project and don't bug me, then when you graduate take the name and reputation and go be successful". This is an overgeneralisation, but I did want to say you're not alone! I hope somoene else can comment with more constructive feedback for you.

[TakeruK]

I am also sorry that I don't have very helpful comments because I am very unfamiliar with that whole system!

But I can say that I think it would be really unlikely and difficult to "transfer" as a graduate student anywhere, and I know from my research when I was considering applying to UK schools is that funding is very very tied to the school only (especially for the international students) and funding is fairly rare for international students.

So, I would actually frame your choices as stay and stick it out, or quit the program and applying to a brand new one, starting all over (either back in North America or in the UK but again, you will need to secure funding all over again). Maybe you are already thinking this way but your post title seems like you are planning/hoping to continue where you left off at a new UK school, which seems almost impossible.

[misswan]

Thanks P33. Makes a difference, that "you're not alone"! Today was my find-others-in-the-cupboard-day (who may also want to switch out), and I did. I had no idea other people were also feeling frustrated, put aside. There are some curious benefits and adventures to be had living overseas, and one might consider this "training" of sorts. And so.

I've sent a small storm of emails the past few days in hopes of revving up my program and lining up training, so perhaps something will come of this; maybe I'll be granted funding for project specific professional development. 

TK, thanks for the advice. I do feel very fortunate to have been the one international student selected across my school for their scholarship, and I don't take that for granted. It seems I will have to pave my own way professionally, as this is very much accepted as 'forward thinking' over here. I guess I'd expected things to be a little like the North American academic system. It's really quite a shock. 

This has me thinking; I'd love to see a discussion on GradCafe about UK vs US degrees and their exchangeability (teaching, research...). 

 

[fuzzylogician]

 

This has me thinking; I'd love to see a discussion on GradCafe about UK vs US degrees and their exchangeability (teaching, research...). 

Not too many of us will have enough experience on both sides of the ocean to be able to make an informed comparison.

A more productive conversation may take place in a new thread dedicated to this question, and perhaps it would be better informed if each of us to just describe what we know and ask how things are different in other disciplines/countries. A better venue for this discussion is probably somewhere in the Grad School Life forums, where more experienced students are likely to see it.

I suspect that there will be great variation across fields. I any field where licensing is involved, there will be great difficulty in obtaining a degree in once country but working in another. In addition, I think there are trends in what is "done" in research in different countries, and at least in my field some things are more popular in Europe and others in North America. The education systems are also different. This is not to say that you absolutely can't get a job in another country, but the odds are against you. I think it's generally easier for people from North America to get jobs in the UK and Europe than the other way around, though of course there are exceptions to that rule. This was very vague, though, by the nature of the question. It also assumed top programs and TT jobs, but those are all not a given. Things will be different if we compare lower tier schools, or lectureships, etc. It would really help to better define the terms of the discussion. 

[hippyscientist]

I'll have experience of a Masters degree in the UK and (hopefully) a PhD in the US so I may be able to compare. In the application stage, already there are so many differences. I'm happy to discuss them on another thread like fuzzy suggests. Misswan, I'm glad you're finding others in the same boat and it sounds to me like it's just a bit of a culture shock. If you want some translating, I'm happy to try and assist (american boyfriend, I'm from the UK...I'm used to it lol). Feel free to send me a PM if you want.