We all know how hard it can be to fund your PhD, which is why we give away £12,000 every year to new postgraduate students through our scholarship competition. It’s really simple to enter:
- Share a photo on Instagram of what inspires you to study
- Explain why you have chosen this photo
- Use the hashtag #FundAPhD
- Tag us @FindAPhD
Follow these steps and you’ll be in with a chance to win! Take a look at the full details or check out the terms and conditions.
The Judges' Top Tips
If you’re looking for top tips on how to submit the best entry, then you’re in the right place. Read on for some insider info from our judges. . .
#1 Creativity is key
Try to take an interesting, eye-catching or unusual image that really captures what inspires you to study. However, this isn’t a photography competition and you don’t need to be a pro behind the lens. We don’t mind if you’re using a Nikon D3400 DSLR or you’ve just snapped something on your phone, but we do want to see why you’re passionate about postgraduate study in the most creative way you can.
#2 Make it personal
Use your caption to explain what it is about your photo that inspires you to study; this is your chance to tell your story.
#3 Be original
Nobody likes a cheat, so don’t copy anyone else’s entry. Also, it needs to be your photo, so don’t take your image off the internet – if you search ‘Inspirational Images’ on Google and save the first one you see, we will know!
#4 Keep it concise
When you’re writing your caption make sure you stick to the 50-word limit and remember to tag us @FindAPhD and use the hashtag #FundAPhD. If you don’t, we won’t be able to find your entry!
#5 Most importantly, enter
If you don’t take part you can’t win – you have until 5pm BST, Friday 31 August to enter so what are you waiting for?
A final word from the judges:
“Have fun with it! We’ve tried to make this year’s competition simple so that as many people as possible can enter, and have the chance to fund their postgraduate study. We want to see your passion for postgraduate study, and are looking forward to seeing all the weird and wonderful things that inspire you. Most importantly, have fun, and make sure you enter – it could be you walking away with £5,000!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Check out our FAQS below:
What’s up for grabs?
We’re giving away £12,000, split across Masters and PhD students: 2 x £5,000 top prizes and 4 x £500 runner-up prizes.
Who can enter?
Our competition is open to anyone (regardless of age, nationality, or subject area) starting their first year of a Masters / PhD in September or October 2018 at any of the universities and institutions listed on our websites. You can check if your university is eligible by searching our website.
How do I enter the competition?
All you need to do is take a photo of what inspires you to study and share it on Instagram with a 50-word caption. Make sure you tag us @FindAPhD and use #FundAPhD so we can find your entry. Also remember to make sure your Instagram profile is set to public for the duration of the competition otherwise we can’t see your photo! For more details visit our scholarships page.
What should I take a photo of?
Anything that inspires you to study! The only rule is that you must take your own photo and if it includes people, especially children, you must have either their own or their parent / guardian’s permission. Check out the entries we've had so far for inspiration.
Can I enter more than once?
Yes, you can enter the competition more than once as long as they are different posts with different captions. We’ll judge them as if they were separate entries and only one scholarship prize will be awarded per person.
What if I don’t have an Instagram account?
Unfortunately, you can only the enter the competition on Instagram, so if you would like to enter and don’t have an account you will need to create one. How many followers / likes you have is irrelevant so if you create an account purely to enter the competition you will have the same chance as everyone else.