PhD funding in UK for US students

My wife (American) and I (British) moved over to the UK about three months ago from the States. She is set on doing a PhD over here. Is anyone aware of a consolidated listing of funding available for US citizens studying in the UK? We're just now reading that despite us being married she won't qualify for either "home" fees or research council grants, which has pretty much crushed her spirit.

We're aware of the obvious ones (Fulbright and marshall, the latter of which she is not eligible for) but what else is available? Anyone?

Chris

It's possible she may be eligible for a funded PhD through a specific school/dept that is not part of a research council. What does she want to study?

There were, until the economy collapsed, private loans available but I'm fairly sure you can't even get those right now. And I would caution anyone who considers taking them out as they are very hard-a$$ed about repayments. If you don't get a decent job after completion of your degree, you will be in deep do-do. I speak from experience.

To answer your specific question, though, I am not aware of a listing but someone else might be...

Good luck!

Thanks for the response, Balmerhon.

She intends on doing an interdisciplinary study--look at how fictional minds are constructed using cognitive science means. It would have to be based in an English department, but she's hoping the cog science aspect could generate additional funding sources.

Chris

She may have to resort to approaching individual professors/lecturers with her suggestion for her thesis and see if she can get their interest. My husband did this and while he did end up with a research council funded PhD, there had been talk of funding from other sources. My only caution with this tactic is that she should not approach them with anything less than a very well thought out proposal that is as complete as possible.

I just received a fully funded PhD studentship, and although I'm a UKC I didn't qualify for home fees as I've haven't been living in the UK for the past 3 years. However they were also willing to fund me at the same level even if I weren't a citizen. If your wife has an ILR she could qualify for home fees. She can also use US student loans to fund school in the UK. But definitely check out jobs.ac.uk universities post funded studentships all the time there, in various cycles, so if she has a good proposal written she could submit applications as there usually isn't a fee to apply (unlike the US) but I'd also suggest building a rapport with possible supervisors.

She can also apply for ORSAS (overseas research scholarship) which is roughly the equivalent of the AHRC scholarship for non-EU citizens. She can also get FAFSA loans. Anything else, I believe, will be university-specific.

ORSAS is not a studentship, so it would not be equivalent to AHRC. All it does is pay the fee differential between EU and non-EU students.

ORSAS is not a studentship, so it would not be equivalent to AHRC. All it does is pay the fee differential between EU and non-EU students.

True, but most universities I have seen will pay the home fees for students who get the ORSAS, hence the 'roughly equivalent' ^_^

I still can't agree with you, because research council studentships generally pay fees and a stipend. Neither can be guaranteed with receipt of an ORSAS. It may make the university more amenable to covering the fees or offering an internal studentship, but it's not guaranteed and I don't think should be counted on. It's also worth noting that ORSAS money goes directly to the university, and you can only apply for it through one university.

check out eastchance.com

they seem to have links to many potential funding sources, but each one has it's own rules