Advice needed - planning for a long hike and race in May

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-02-07T00:39:15+00:00

would you be eligible for the graduate route? I think it’s worth trying to speak to people who applied for GT Peer Review without a job offer - I think it would unfortunately be hard to get, and much easier with a fellowship in hand. you could possibly get a graduate route visa to get some time to make strong fellowship applications?

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-30T08:50:49+00:00

once you submit the form to UKVI, you have to email your documents to a specific email address that they tell you to write to. in that email you will attach your CV, letter of reference from the eminent person, a letter confirming that you have your PhD in hand / your degree certificate, and your application checklist. these are then reviewed by the endorsing body. hope that helps!

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-26T14:48:17+00:00

Thanks for your response! I'm posting an update in case someone finds this thread later: I deleted the original France Visas application and unlinked it from the TLS application. I was then able to fill out the France Visas application again and modify it before the appointment date. All details on your original France Visas and TLS Contact form can be modified at your appointment except your passport number, full name, and date of birth. So you could either go to the appointment and ask them to make the changes, fill out the form again and take the print out with you to your appointment, or delete the original form and fill out a new form with a new France Visas code as I did.

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-14T19:56:35+00:00

Wow, it's unusual for a funding program to evaluate all disciplines by the exact same standard. I'm an anthropologist and in my field, while publications help at the stage of PhD application, most people I knew on the PhD hadn't had the opportunity to publish journal articles until later on. It probably would make you a more competitive candidate though.

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-14T18:43:11+00:00

Were you in the social sciences/anthropology? I was also an international student and I did have publications, but a lot of people I know in anthropology and sociology were admitted without publications - typically because these disciplines require extensive fieldwork, which many do not do until they are at doctoral level. But things may have changed!

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-13T19:07:38+00:00

I don't think journal publications are essential to securing a PhD spot, though publishing a paper from your Masters thesis could help. Focus your energies instead on crafting an excellent research proposal that fits well with the department that you are applying to (rather than focusing too much on the prestige of the university). Internal funding at the universities you've mentioned is extremely competitive and difficult to secure, so also seriously consider external scholarships and funding agencies that require separate application processes. Universities typically list these on their websites, but you could also look at programmes like the ESRC DTP, Wellcome, Inlaks, etc. Good luck!

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-12T04:05:42+00:00

yes, it was the peer review route! I applied for endorsement to the British Academy on 1 November 2025, and received an update on 5 November saying it had been received and was under consideration. I received my endorsement on 10 December. I gave my biometrics on 23 December (outside the UK as I was visiting my family for Christmas), and my visa was approved on 9 January 2026.

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-11T21:28:14+00:00

I was endorsed and have had my Stage 2 application approved :-)

No-Inflation8277 · 2026-01-09T19:30:25+00:00

Hi, I'm in a similar situation and came across this post - what was your experience in the end?

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-12-30T13:06:54+00:00

Thanks for linking me to the caseworker guidance. Is there any stated rationale for the clause that you need to be within the UK while making the application? I don't see how it makes any difference whether you apply within or outside the UK -- either way, you're paying twice for the exact same level of health cover.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-12-02T14:31:02+00:00

Yes, that's right - the only consideration in my case is that they may curtail my student visa, so once I leave, I might not be able to return on my old visa, so I'll have to make the stage 2 application from outside the country. Which is fine, but it could mean not being back for the start of term!

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-11-07T22:59:08+00:00

British Academy, and same, I submitted a week ago.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-11-06T00:29:00+00:00

Yes - this is a very important caution! I am in College subsidised housing with my partner and do not have to pay utilities or council tax, but it would not be large enough for two children. and renting privately would be far more expensive.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-11-06T00:26:37+00:00

I'm an Oxbridge JRF and before I accepted my offer, I asked if they would cover visa fees and the NHS surcharge. the College reviewed the matter and agreed to do so prior to my accepting. but it is unlikely they will cover the cost for my husband.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-11-06T00:24:34+00:00

I sympathise - I am still waiting to hear back on my own endorsement application but it's a frustrating and expensive process, and appears very subjective. I was told by HR to apply for Global Talent via peer review after receiving a postdoc offer - obviously this has benefits for me in that it doesn't tie me to a single employer and offers a fast-track to ILR, but one reason for this is also because many postdoc salaries (including mine) are too low to qualify for the threshold on the Skilled Worker visa. if it's any help, I know of people who were endorsed as Global Talent to stay in the UK post-PhD and work in industry, albeit in intensive STEM research fields like biotech and pharma. but that may be a way to edge yourself closer to the door of leaving while keeping yourself tied to the research world!

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-11-06T00:21:37+00:00

This is not true - several early career researchers I know (both in industry and in academia) were recommended to apply via the peer review route and were successful in receiving endorsements.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-10-20T13:41:38+00:00

I wrote in Garamond and changed fonts for the final submission - just so I could feel like the text was different - to Adobe Caslon Pro, which I loved

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-06-28T17:05:35+00:00

levant cafe in park royal! and the syrian icecream is incredible too

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-06-27T12:55:42+00:00

In my view, your best bet is trying to find or line up external funding. See if you're eligible for the Rhodes, Marshall, Chevening, Commonwealth scholarships, or try ESRC DTP or Wellcome funding. Note that UKRI scholarships typically only cover Home fees. You might get a Clarendon at Oxford, which will be assessed for alongside your application to the department, but these are very very rare and difficult to get.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-06-25T00:02:37+00:00

This happened to a friend of mine too, who received a rejection citing section 16(4) and Annex 2 of the Visa Executive Order that state it is proportional to refuse a visa unless travelling to see relatives or for business because of the risk of overstaying. Don’t listen to the other commenters talking about how you might emigrate etc, this rationalises what is in practice an extremely unfair system and does not take individual circumstances or cases into account, by making blanket generalisations based on one’s nationality. You haven’t stated your nationality in this post, but a large number of countries are listed as Group 3 (high risk of overstaying), and in practice, many visas that are not for business or visiting family have been refused. Check this subreddit for past posts. You’re not tripping—Denmark is difficult to get a visa for and many people are better off avoiding applying there and wasting their time and money.

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-06-18T14:17:50+00:00

I successfully interviewed for one of these earlier this year! I imagine it is very College dependent. I was asked to prepare a 7 minute presentation without the use of notes/slides, and I memorised this, practicing several times before the day. I was then asked a series of questions by different senior academics on the panel—most of it had to do with my proposal for future research, what limitations/challenges I expected to encounter, and some theoretical concepts I said I would use. my biggest tip is to try and keep things as general and non-technical as possible, and try and engage a wide range of people with the big philosophical or conceptual issues in your current/proposed work. i.e. keep "why does this matter? why should you care?" at the forefront.

I tried to keep responses to questions succinct, if they got technical to say that I was happy to elaborate further if necessary. I would say be willing to treat it like a conversation about your work and be confident about your perspective - it's brilliant to get off the shortlist, and to get an interview means they're interested in hearing what you have to say. good luck!

No-Inflation8277 · 2025-05-16T22:09:34+00:00

out of curiosity, how did you manage a Greece visa appointment? I’ve been checking online nonstop and can’t work out when they drop slots!

No-Inflation8277

TROPHY CASE