Cheapest PhD in the UK for the International Student
Before applying for a PhD, first of all, it should be acknowledged what a PhD is and why one should go for a PhD.
A PhD is short for Doctor of Philosophy. This is an academic or professional degree that, in most countries, qualifies the degree holder to teach their chosen subject at the university level or to work in a specialized position in their chosen field. This is one of the highest-level academic degrees that one can be awarded and is purely a research-based degree. And to qualify for this degree one needs to produce advanced work that makes a significant new contribution to knowledge in the requisite field.
On the other hand, there might be various reasons why one should go for a PhD. Most of the candidates want to pursue a Ph.D. for a career in the teaching profession, while others want to pursue this programme to enhance their knowledge in their area of interest or the subject area they are passionate about further digging in the requisite area and further developing their career aspirations.
A typical PhD normally involves:
- Carrying out a literature review (a survey of current scholarship in the requisite field).
- Conducting original research and collecting own results.
- Producing a thesis that presents conclusions.
- Writing up the thesis and submitting it as a dissertation.
- Defending the thesis in an oral viva voce exam.
Here are some of the cheapest universities in the UK to study a PhD for international students:
Bolton University
Leeds Beckett University.
London Metropolitan University.
The University of Bolton.
University of Chester.
Leeds Trinity University.
University of Cumbria.
Staffordshire University.
Teesside University.
How to apply for a PhD
Application processes vary from different universities with different areas of research. However, for the application process, one must need to have or submit while applying for the program a research proposal in the area the are keen to pursue the programme, moreover some universities require relevant work experience along with the research proposal as well.
What qualifications do I need?
As with the application process, the requirements also vary from each University to each area of research. However, one must meet the general entry requirements for each university. Generally, an upper second-class undergraduate honors degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification with English requirement (equivalent to UKVI) to be met for international students. Although, some Ph.D. programmes threshold is very high with Master’s as minimum sometimes adding the relevant work experience as an entry requirement. Nevertheless, the entry requirements might vary as aforementioned but the research proposal during the application is must.
When should I start applying?
This will vary for each student and the point of time they are looking to apply. September is the most preferred session for the research degrees however there are other January/May/June sessions as well. The deadlines for applying are usually one month before the course start date for UK applicants, and three months before for international applicants.
If one is looking for a funding (full/partial) option for the programme, they should be aware that they should keep a reasonable amount of time before the course start date. Since funding requires different deadlines for the funding application, hence one should have a reasonable amount of time in hand to research the funding options available to them. It is noteworthy that, one should always do his/her research before applying. Since each university offers different scholarships with different funding options, including funding from third parties, hence one should do their research.
Moreover, some universities offer to study for a Ph.D. by distance learning as well, and if someone is interested in distance learning then they should check whether the requisite university can accommodate the opportunity.
How should I look for a supervisor?
When seeking funding or applying to a research center or group, applicants typically must provide a statement detailing their suitability for the work in the requisite area. Upon success, they are then assigned a supervisor.
However, when one decides to propose their own area of research, then they need to decide on a research topic and prepare a research proposal, sometimes along with a summary of academic interests followed by which they will be allocated to a supervisor that suits them. Although some universities have databases of supervisors, it is advised to look for the requisite supervisor in the database and proceed with the application. Some universities do accept a request to accommodate a supervisor with the candidate’s area of interest but it is not absolute that one will be accommodated with such.
Consequently, when one finds a supervisor, they should check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity and also contact them directly to check whether they are available to supervise. It is advised to filter out a list of supervisors in one’s area of interest followed by an in-depth exploration of their research history. Nevertheless, while contacting the supervisor it is advised to tell them something interesting about the candidate most importantly the area of research they are interested in and how their proposal is in line with their area of interest.
How do I write a research proposal?
It is noteworthy that a research proposal is the most important thing when one applies for a Ph.D. programme. The research proposal should include a variety of points including, a brief summary of the research, the research question, what methodologies they will be using for the research, what resources they are going to use, what sources would be used to collect data for the research, what materials will be used for the research, who will be the audiences for the research, how the requisite audiences will be benefit from the research and why do the candidate believe that the research will be benefiting them.
Essentially, highlighting the content and structure of the research is very important for the proposal, because assessing the proposal followed by an interview with the University, the University will give an offer followed by allocating the suitable supervisor.
How long does the application process take?
It is not practicable to provide a precise date for the application process. Generally, it will depen on when the nature of the specific Ph.D., when the application is made, and whether one needs to meet any conditions contained within the offer before the course starts.
What are the associated costs?
It will also depend on each University and its location in the UK. Moreover, one must consider the living cost before applying if it is not a fully funded scholarship along with a stipend per month. Since the living cost also varies depending on the location of the University. Generally, the fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for lab-based subjects per year.
However, apart from considering the fees and costs, it is worth noting the educational, career, and personal benefits of completing a Ph.D.