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Switching Universities During PhD


User: moosie - 27 October 2016 14:02

Hi everyone,
Looking for some advice or knowledge on this topic. My main supervisor who I get on with brilliantly is leaving for another University. It is ranked similarly to the one I am currently at. I am wondering if it is possible to switch your school part way through a PhD, or if anyone has successfully done it. The main issue is I am on a studentship, and the other uni does not give those away easily. Any words of advice? Stick it out at my current school or look into switching?
Thanks in advance!
Moosie

User: TreeofLife - 28 October 2016 13:50

It's definitely possible if your supervisor is moving. Has your supervisor asked you if you wanted to move with them? That's what normally happens.

User: chickpea - 28 October 2016 14:27

What kind of studentship is it - uni specific or research council? I stayed where I was when my supervisor moved, both because he was moving to another country and because I was a year into a uni scholarship and everything I'd done was attached to the uni.

User: Mark_B - 28 October 2016 14:51

Hi Moosie

I moved institutions during my PhD for exactly the same reason - essentially followed my supervisor. It wasn't a particularly complicated process, but the new university did need to agree the transfer and formally recognise the work I'd done so far / progress I'd made. My supervisor was able to sort most of this and 'vouch for me'.

There may be some restrictions based on how far along you are, what kind of programme you're joining etc, but if your supervisor is confident a transfer is an option, it probably is.

User: moosie - 29 October 2016 10:35

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

TreeofLife - yes, my supervisor did express that having me follow would be desirable, so I have someone vouching.

chickpea - it is a research council studentship, but in collaboration with my uni. That seems to be the sticking point right now! Luckily, the move is within the country (and not very far) so hopefully we can make it work.

Mark_B - Thank you for your insight. Good to know that it is an option. It is still early days in terms of negotiating this, so hopefully it ends well. I would hate to lose this supervisor, but worst case is I move on with someone else.