How to request for deferral?

[ttty]

Hi,

I have been admitted to a PhD program at a Top-3 university. 

I have an external scholarship which requires me to have a one-year research attachment prior to my graduate studies. Therefore I have to defer the admission for one year.

I wrote to the admission committee but they said deferral is not allowed and I have to reapply next year.

Technically speaking I do not occupy a quota since I have my own fundings. 

Any suggestions how to appeal for deferral? Anybody has similar experiences?

Thank you.

[TakeruK]

Just to point out, while having your own funding might fully pay for all the cost of your tuition and stipend, you still take up time and effort for training, mentoring, teaching etc. So, it is not quite true that you don't "cost" anything. And, at top schools, they are much more constrained by time and effort than by money.

I think the best thing you could do is:

- Let them know that you cannot accept your external scholarship unless you have this 1 year research thing and defer. Check whether or not you need to have this external scholarship to be admitted.

- If you don't need to have the external scholarship, and you would rather be at this top 3 school than to take the scholarship, then decline the scholarship and accept the school and start this year.

- If you rather have the scholarship instead of the top 3 school, then you should just apply again next year. You can also see if another school would be willing to accept you with a deferral.

[ttty]

2 hours ago, TakeruK said:

Just to point out, while having your own funding might fully pay for all the cost of your tuition and stipend, you still take up time and effort for training, mentoring, teaching etc. So, it is not quite true that you don't "cost" anything. And, at top schools, they are much more constrained by time and effort than by money.

I think the best thing you could do is:

- Let them know that you cannot accept your external scholarship unless you have this 1 year research thing and defer. Check whether or not you need to have this external scholarship to be admitted.

- If you don't need to have the external scholarship, and you would rather be at this top 3 school than to take the scholarship, then decline the scholarship and accept the school and start this year.

- If you rather have the scholarship instead of the top 3 school, then you should just apply again next year. You can also see if another school would be willing to accept you with a deferral.

Thank you for your reply!

You are right that it also costs time and effort for them. I will consider your suggestions.