How I Self-Funded My Drama PhD as an International Student in the UK (And How You Can Too) – Part I | brokeGIRLrich
Embarking on a PhD journey is intimidating, especially as an international student in the UK without funding. Today, I want to share my experience of financing my drama PhD journey as an American in the UK. Here’s a spoiler: my top advice would probably be to avoid self-funding if you can. As the first person in my family to graduate college, I wasn’t fully aware of all the funding options available, and honestly, I was uncertain about how to get started.
Nonetheless, I made it to this point.
Self-funding has certainly had its challenges. On one hand, it allowed me to explore my interests without being tied to a funder’s requirements or a strict academic framework. This freedom meant I could decline opportunities and projects that didn’t resonate with me—choices that might have been harder to make with traditional funding dependent on pleasing supervisors or maintaining university affiliations. In hindsight, I likely should have refused more offers (a reflection for another day… if I ever finish this!).
Apart from working part-time, I was lucky to have some savings and assistance from family members (shout out to dad!). However, depleting my savings was a tough pill to swallow, prompting me to seek scholarships and grants since I believed there had to be funding options available for my doctorate.
And it turns out, I was right.
Over the past four years, starting before my PhD program, I compiled a list of potential funding sources that I qualified for as a female American drama student in the UK. This list includes scholarships, grants, and some loopholes I discovered along the way that allowed me to pursue opportunities that initially seemed inaccessible.
Below is a collection of scholarships and funding avenues that might benefit others in similar circumstances:
Scholarships & Grants
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Equity Charitable Trust
Provides retraining and education support. -
Fulbright Scholarship/U.S. Student Program
Supports American students studying abroad. -
USArtists International
Offers financial support for international travel for artists. -
USITT International Travel Grant
A grant for theatre students traveling internationally. -
Dan David Prize
Awarded for exceptional achievements in humanities, arts, and sciences. -
Harvey Fellows Overview
A fellowship for students pursuing advanced degrees in various fields. -
SuperMoney’s Financial Literacy Scholarship
Designed for students interested in financial literacy. -
Actors Federal Credit Union Scholarship for Theatrical Performers
Scholarships for theatre students. -
Rotary Scholarships
The Rotary Foundation provides various scholarships for students. -
Hoening Theatre Artist Scholarship
A scholarship for theatre students pursuing advanced degrees. -
Be Bold Scholarship
An essay-free scholarship for confident candidates. -
Society for Theatre Research Awards
Funding for theatre researchers. -
Virginia Liebeler Biennial Grants for Mature Women (Art)
Grants for older women in arts-related fields. -
The Wallace Foundation
Grants for arts education initiatives. -
Tattoo Journal Ink Scholarship
For students with an affinity for tattoos. -
Debt.com Scholarship
A scholarship for students facing debt challenges. -
Postgrad Solutions – Bursary
Financial support for postgraduate students. -
Snowden Trust
Grants for students with disabilities. -
Worthy Women
Scholarships for women pursuing higher education.
Final Thoughts
Self-funding a PhD is a daunting task, particularly for international students, but it is achievable. Though I didn’t have ready access to everything I needed, my journey has equipped me with lessons in perseverance, resourcefulness, and the importance of being open to diverse opportunities.
If you find yourself in a comparable situation and are searching for ways to finance your PhD abroad, I hope this list serves as a helpful starting point. There’s a wealth of support available; often, it just requires finding the right avenue. Best of luck, and don’t forget to seek out new opportunities as you progress!
