PhD blog: 20

Tripping 

The research office is under threat. There have been emails flying around, here and there. The word is that the university doesn’t feel that students in the English Research Institute need a space to work, and they want to use the room for something else. While I realise that many other universities don’t supply study space for PhD students, this course of action feels crushingly unfair. Rumour has it that the university wants to compensate us with the loans of laptops, which is not an accurate substitute for the many uses the office has (I have written about this in an earlier post). Also, I have just bought a laptop, after several months of saving, so I don’t need one. And, being an unfunded student, it is important for me to have some sort of base on campus where I can escape all of the other pressures in my life. Along with many of my fellow students, I have sent an email of complaint to the relevant people. Let’s hope our sanctuary is not stolen from us…

Despite this, my thoughts have been elsewhere recently, dwelling on the larger world outside of the research office. I want to go to Texas. Good God, I hear you cry. Why does this brute want to go to Bushland? Has he gone insane?

Destination Austin

I haven’t gone insane, at least no more insane than I already am (a certain amount of insanity is required for a PhD – it keeps the psychic wheels greased). The University of Texas in Austin has an archive called The Harry Ransom Centre. There are many papers I would like to look at there – not least Don Delillo’s records which include correspondence between him and the magnificent David Foster Wallace. It is a well-respected centre and many researchers have used the facilities – including my DoS who researched his excellent biography of Anthony Burgess there.

There is a huge problem. I am cash poor. The jeans I am wearing have a big whole in the crotch. I cut my own hair. I haven’t purchased a ‘luxury item’ in a long time. Between fees and living expenses I occupy a frugal and depressing zone – I soiled myself in desperation when I received my portion of the bill for my brother’s forthcoming stag weekend. So how, by golly, am I going to afford a trip to the Lone Star State?

I have to contend with my current nemesis in order to realise my dream of a research trip – a funding panel. The university (current funding total acquired = £0) has recently sent me an email that says the budget won’t stretch to supplying funding to any student wanting to go on a research trip. There are other options though, but each requires more proposals, more application forms and more time that should be filled with research.

Finding the treasure

First I can (and will) apply for a Dissertation Fellowship from The University of Texas’ Harry Ransom Centre. This is a one-off payment of $1,500 in order for a PhD student, such as myself, to fund travel to the Centre and living costs while there.

Secondly, I can apply for a variety of awards and grants from the British Academy. The most likely being the grant for students wishing to attend an overseas research programme – that can be up to £7,500.

I should say that there is still hope from the university. They will consider applicants who have been refused funding from an external source, and there is a board meeting in the first week of term to decide budgets and the like. But times are tight at the moment; the dreaded credit crunch seems to be affecting The Academy as well as the world of business. I will keep you abreast of developments – who knows, maybe I’ll have the chance to someday write a blog while tucking into a Burrito, wearing a Stetson, shooting a gun (and various other Texan stereotypes).

Graham's previous posts

To read more of Graham's experience of further study and the highs and lows that accompany it, go to Graham's previous blogs.

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