Thinking about applying to a PhD?

Thinking about applying to a PhD programme? Confused on where to start, on how to navigate funding or writing your research proposal?

A couple of weeks ago, we gave you the chance to ask SOAS University's Economics Department Joint Head, Dr. Hannah Bargawi and and Lecturer in Economics, Dr. Sara Stevano all your pressing questions about both the application process and actually doing a PhD in feminist economics itself. We’ve consolidated all the questions and answers into this blog post for easy access. Read, enjoy, save for future reference. Happy applying and good luck!

Here are the main points covered. Skip ahead to the section you like if you have specific questions -

1. CHOOSING A PROGRAMME and METHODOLOGY

2. FUNDING

3. MAKING YOUR APPLICATION GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT

4. GOOD HABITS

5. IMPOSTER SYNDROME and CONCERNS

6. MISCELLANEOUS

---

A. CHOOSING A PROGRAMME and METHODOLOGY:

1. What makes a PhD a feminist or gender economics PhD? Subject/Methodology/Other?

HB - I am not sure a pithy reply in a short comment here would be sufficient to answer this. For me it would most definitely come down to methodology and approach. There are plenty of examples of attempts to address questions of gender in economics that have done so in a very mainstream way - Gary Becker's New Home Economics perhaps being the ultimate example of this. I find Julie Nelson is very good on unpicking the differences in approach within a 'Feminist Economics' tradition, as this can be quite a broad church!

SS - For me, the topic would need to entail a study of relations of power - gender and others - in the economy and the methodological approach would be based on extending the typical boundaries of economic research through, for instance, engagement in primary data collection, inclusion of marginalised people and reflection on epistemological issues from a feminist viewpoint.

2. Can you apply to a regular economics PhD programme with a feminist economics proposal, topic & methodology?

HB - I would tend to be driven by the staff members and their research areas and go for someone you think you can work with for 4 years of your life! Increasingly mainstream economics departments may well have modules on gender economics so you might want to look at who teaches this and whether they are in a position to supervise. It is also nice to go somewhere where you feel you are contributing to an overall research environment that relates to your topic and you will feel comfortable and can thrive.

3. Can I do a PhD in Fem Econ if my MA was in an unrelated subject? I do have a BA Econ (Hon.) though? Also, how sure do you have to be of the exact research topic before applying for a PhD?

HB - I think this will depend on the department you are applying to and who you are hoping to have supervise your dissertation and of course the topic of your research. Some funders may be specific about discipline when it comes to a Masters so that may be an obstacle but I would like to think that most supervisors are open-minded in relation to a student's background, as long as it is appropriate for what they wish to do. I suggest contacting the department and the potential supervisor to ask their opinion. They may have specific pathways that you can apply to and others that are more restrictive.

Regarding the second question - I think what is important is to demonstrate to a potential supervisor and department that you have a solid understanding of the field you want to research (even if you are open to method and specific research questions). But I would probably advise to put something quite specific in the proposal or a short version of the proposal and then share this with potential supervisors to get some very basic feedback - confirming that you are on the right track. .

4. Are you open to taking on board PhD students who are interested in mixed methods but for the time being are more skilled in qualitative methods? Would this program allow them to strengthen their quant skills or should they do it on their own devices before applying for this PhD program?

HB - I think it will depend on who you want to work with and crucially on your research question. The first year of your PhD is really about honing your methods skills and providing you with necessary training to do your research. You can audit classes, including quants methods classes and can obtain input from other academics to assist with this also.

5. How detailed should the methodological part be in the research proposal when applying? And how much room is there for fine-tuning the methodological approach at a later stage (e.g. once the program is started)?

HB - It doesn't need to be very detailed but rather give the potential supervisor a sense that you have thought about it and that the methods you are considering are appropriate for your research question(s). This is probably the part that changes the most from proposal to the end of year 1, and that is to be expected. However, your choice of methods and approach may also determine your supervisor so some thought about its appropriateness and why you are selecting this method or approach over others is worth highlighting in the proposal.

B. FUNDING:

6. I’m curious about the pros and cons of doing a PhD in the US, UK, Europe or elsewhere

HB - I think a great deal comes down to funding, supervision and research community. The major differences between the UK and US is the length of time. A PhD in the US tends to take longer (min. 5 years) and will involve much more hands-on teaching in the first two years. In the UK the expectation is that you finish within 4 years and perhaps audit some classes in your first year but it is far less structured than in the US at the beginning.

7. How do I navigate the world of funding?

HB - I think everywhere is quite difficult to navigate funding-wise. It is worth contacting potential supervisors in case they have suggestions. For SOAS, the scholarships page is useful (but needs updating!).

See here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/scholarships/research/ You may also want to consider ESRC funding e.g. the UBEL consortium that offers scholarships for SOAS, UCL and Birkbeck - https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/ and finally the Bloomsbury scholarships - http://www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/studentships/ These are just some examples and specific unis might have their own or can link to others in their area. The key is timing - many scholarships traditionally have deadlines to apply in December or January, so you may want to start looking early on. And I suggest letting your potential supervisor(s) know that you are doing this.

C. MAKING YOUR APPLICATION GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT:

8. How can I make my proposal stand out?

SS - My view is that a strong PhD proposal tells a compelling story on the relevance of the research to be undertaken, is structured around a clear research question (or more research questions) and provides a credible plan how the research is to be carried out. I think this website provides a useful roadmap https://www.findaphd.com/advice/finding/writing-phd-research-proposal.aspx A very important aspect is to make contact with a potential supervisor early on and, if they are willing, engage them in the process of developing the research proposal.

9. Several universities are keen to recruit students with the best/most captivating stories, but my statement is really about why I got interested in this line of research. People have told me that it's too impersonal and I need to add more personal feeling to it. Any thoughts?

HB - I have never encountered this as a particular issue - i.e. missing a personal element. Your sense that this is about the research is correct - why does it interest you and what brought you to it should be sufficient. You might want to consider saying something about why you have chosen the particular institution/ department you are applying to in the statement and a short paragraph on your background and suitability. But I would definitely focus it around the planned research.

10. What do university admissions teams and supervisors look for from applicants, outside of academic qualifications?

HB - For PhD admissions it really hinges on the research proposal and whether this fits in with areas of interest for the supervisor and department. Probably a secondary factor (if you are not known by the institution) will be your academic references - most places require 2. It can help if you have reached out to a potential supervisor to let them know you are applying and hoping to list them as a potential supervisor before you click the send button. That way they will be looking out for it and be prepared.

11. How should you politely approach a supervisor, and at what stage in the application process should you do it?

HB - I don't think it's ever too early really, especially as the more conversations you have with different people, including potential supervisors, the more feedback you will receive that will allow you to craft and improve your research proposal. As I have said above, potential supervisors will appreciate a short 1-2 page statement of intent - rough are of work, tentative research questions and methodological ideas. They will much prefer that to a CV and your Masters dissertation which will place expectations on them to give you ideas on what to do. Particular for a PhD application, I think the onus is on the applicant to drive the agenda, as scary as that sounds.

D. GOOD HABITS:

12. As a PhD student we need to read and process a lot of info. Which is the best way to take notes?

HB - That is something we tend to help students with in your first year, working with your supervisor as well as some sessions you will have with the research tutor on managing reading and starting to write. Often those that have already done Masters programmes have some idea of how to do this if they have completed a dissertation.

13. What are some things you wish you knew at the start of your PhD journey?

HB - Start writing early as if it is the final draft, use bibliographic software from the start, talk to people about your research - from experts to laypeople. Go to seminars and ask questions.

E. IMPOSTER SYNDROME and CONCERNS

14. Tips for getting past imposter syndrome?

HB - That's a hard one. Speaking to other people might help, especially those that have started a programme recently. Also reaching out to potential supervisors with even just a one pager of an idea can be very helpful. I think its always best to write to potential supervisors with some (but not too much) of an idea of what you want to do. That way you are more likely to get a response. And don't just send your CV as it doesn't give any sense of your own motivation or interest areas.

And finally, I am not sure imposter syndrome really ever leaves you, but you find ways of accepting it. I have found teaching really forces you to address this, so the opportunity to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant can be helpful for some.

15. I am concerned about my chances of getting into a program with a merit score under 65

HB - I think this depends on whether the score in your Masters overall or for your dissertation. Also what sort of PhD do you want to undertake - if it is highly quantitative and you have scores in the 50s and low 60s for your quants courses this could be an issue. But if you can demonstrate strength in other areas and you want to undertake a qualitative PhD it is less of an issue.

F. MISCELLANEOUS

16. Is it advisable to work alongside a full time PhD if the work you do doesn't have anything to do with your subject or research?

SS - I think it is advisable to do 'something else' alongside the PhD - whether it is a completely different job or other academic activities (such as some teaching or research assistance) and activism - to put the PhD into perspective (you know, there is still life outside the PhD!). However, I am a bit worried about doing a PhD full time while working (full time/part time?) because, on the one hand, the PhD requires a lot of work and focus and, on the other hand, because you want to make the most of your PhD, which is a unique research opportunity and you want to make sure you have time and mental space for research. In essence, it is all about balance: do something else, by all means, but make sure you have sufficient time to actually do your research. If what you are interested in is learning and discussing, then why not consider a part-time PhD alongside your job?

17. Is it an expectation or an extra bonus if you manage to get published during the PhD? Which journals are open to feminist political economy work?

SS - Although what is expected at each stage of an academic career has been constantly increasing, my view is that publishing while still doing a PhD is an extra bonus, not a requirement. It depends however on what you may want to do next - if you want to apply for a post-doc, it may be useful to have some publications in the pipeline (submitted or revise & resubmit stage). Aim for the best journals, it will take longer at the beginning but it will be rewarded later on (just passing on advice received as a PhD student from my excellent supervisor Deborah Johnston). Journals open to feminist political economy work include Review of International Political Economy, Gender Work & Organization, New Political Economy, Feminist Economics.

18. Am I allowed maternity leave during the Phd?

HB - Most institutions will permit you leaves of absence that cover maternity leave (and you can determine how long for and when you wish to return - in discussion with your supervisor). It is unusual for PHD scholarships to cover maternity pay (I've not heard of this). It would probably mean your stipend is paused while you are on maternity leave and then restarts when you return. This website is great on all question relating pregnancy and maternity: https://maternityaction.org.uk/