Fellowship Questions: Advice Desired

[Horb]

Hi all,

I'm currently finishing up my second year of a combined MA/PHD program. I do not start working on my dissertation until year 4. At the start of year 4, I begin writing my prospectus for my dissertation, then do the bulk of the research, and then write and research as needed.

I'm looking at fellowships to fund archival work in England/Germany (I'm applying German theory to British literature). I'm wondering when I should anticipate applying for funding for research (I'm looking at a DAAD research award and a Fulbright). On the one hand, if I want it for the start of year 4, I'd need to apply this coming fall, but I highly doubt I'll have my dissertation idea fully fleshed out, which is what is required for most fellowships. I could always apply and then reapply in year 4 for year 5, which would push my graduation back a year.

I'm planning on talking to my future advisor about it, but wanted feedback from this community, particularly is anyone else has been through this process.

[rising_star]

If you're talking Fulbright, you have basically 2 single-spaced pages to describe the research you plan to do. It's really not that much nor are you required to do exactly what is in your grant statement if you are awarded funding. Basically, you should try to get something together this spring/summer so you can apply in the fall. That way, you have two chances at getting funding without significantly delaying the time to completion for your degree. If you wait to apply and aren't funded, then you're looking at reapplying for year 6 or having to switch to a backup plan.*

I would apply as early and as often as possible to as many opportunities as possible. Fulbrights to Western Europe are extremely competitive. Good luck!

*BTW, I highly recommend that everyone whose research is dependent on funding to do international research have a Plan B project which they could see themselves doing and which isn't as reliant on external funding.

[Horb]

14 minutes ago, rising_star said:

If you're talking Fulbright, you have basically 2 single-spaced pages to describe the research you plan to do. It's really not that much nor are you required to do exactly what is in your grant statement if you are awarded funding. Basically, you should try to get something together this spring/summer so you can apply in the fall. That way, you have two chances at getting funding without significantly delaying the time to completion for your degree. If you wait to apply and aren't funded, then you're looking at reapplying for year 6 or having to switch to a backup plan.*

I would apply as early and as often as possible to as many opportunities as possible. Fulbrights to Western Europe are extremely competitive. Good luck!

*BTW, I highly recommend that everyone whose research is dependent on funding to do international research have a Plan B project which they could see themselves doing and which isn't as reliant on external funding.

Thanks for your response!

I applied for the UK grant as an undergrad and was a finalist, so I know how competitive it is and the necessity of having a well composed, thought out project. For the Fulbright, I'd be doing an MA in Research (for the UK, you can only apply for a study degree and thus have to have a very solid plan) and turning the final product (a thesis) into the first chapter or two of my dissertation (this is the goal, anyways). This seems slightly...odd...as I'll already have an MA, but it will give me extensive research skills, access to archives, and more guidance, which will be useful, since I need an outside reader on my committee. For the DAAD, it would be research in a archive in Germany for 3 months. 

For my degree, I don't necessarily NEED to do international research. My project could be done here, but it would be an issue with trying to find online versions of manuscripts and whatnot. Additionally, getting an external grant would also reduce my funding by a year (as in, I couldn't roll over the funding and secure a sixth year of funding).