I am a full-time PhD student at the University of Brighton in my third year of study. I studied Philosophy for my undergraduate degree at Reading University. After that, I went to Met Film School for a postgraduate certificate in screenwriting. I left to work in marketing and social media for most of my twenties but realised I wanted to return to academia, so I undertook a Master’s degree in 2020. I enjoyed the degree and attended many conferences, which led to my PhD application.
I started my PhD 2022 in Psychology and Media at the University of Brighton. I couldn’t have afforded it without the support of charities, which I found through the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding.
The most challenging part for me was finding charities I could apply to. At 31, I was above the upper age limit for many of them. Many also have specific requirements about where to live to qualify. On several occasions, I had responses thanking me for my interest but informing me that, unfortunately, the organisation was not currently funding PhD students. However, I persevered, contacting dozens of charities and finally found success in places I did not expect.
The Sidney Perry Foundation, the Lynne Grundy Memorial Trust, and the Coats Foundation fully funded my fees in my first year, which were almost £5,000. The Coats Foundation Trust and the Lynne Grundy Memorial Trust fully funded my fees in my second year. The Folklore Society also funded my research costs. I was surprised by my success with these charities as I didn’t actually quite fit their remits. I was honest about my financial situation and my disabilities and health conditions, which led to these charities offering flexibility, as well as being kind and personable. As I am doing relatively novel interdisciplinary research, this also strengthened my case for funding, as the charities were also interested in my work! I wouldn’t have found these charities without the help of the Alternative Guide. I took up my place at Brighton and strongly recommend that all students use it. Money may seem like a considerable barrier to postgraduate study, but overcoming it and following your dreams with dedication is possible. I plan to use the Alternative Guide to help fund the rest of my studies!
My advice for other students is to be honest about their situation and not limit their search only to charities with email addresses and websites. On my journey to funding, I sent many letters and made many phone calls.