Ellie Campbell, Educational Research, University of Manchester (2024 Cohort)

As the first in my family to attend university, the idea of doing a PhD once felt out of reach. I always associated it with something that “never happens for people like me”. Obtaining the NWSDDTP scholarship wasn’t just an option, my PhD journey depended on it. No scholarship meant no PhD. Because of that, I felt enormous pressure.

Applying for the NWSDDTP scholarship was one of the most rigorous and challenging processes I’ve undertaken. Yet, as a successful applicant, it has become one of the most rewarding. Here are my five tips for navigating the process, including what I wish I’d known when I began.

(1) Inform Your Supervisors

My supervisors had previously taught me during my master’s degree, so they suspected I’d be applying for funding to pursue a PhD. Being a first-generation applicant was, however, something I felt nervous and somewhat embarrassed to reveal, even to my supervisors.

When I finally did tell them, I was so pleased that I had. Not only were they supportive, but they also asked no questions and suggested other support I might be eligible for if successful. My advice is, overcome any embarrassment you may have and be brave. Tell your supervisors as early as possible.

By informing my supervisors in October, they were able to plan their own time to support me, which ensured I received consistent guidance throughout the process. We became a small team, reviewing the NWSDDTP criteria together and mapping out a timeline to meet the submission deadline. I agreed to submit monthly drafts, and my supervisors provided detailed feedback on each version. An added bonus was that it gave us a preview of how we would work together throughout the PhD itself, strengthening our partnership before the journey even began.

(2) Use Your Network

As the only “academic” in my family, I initially assumed no one else could help. However, a friend worked in Human Resources, so I shared my application with them.

Although they didn’t fully grasp the details of my research, they had years of experience reviewing CVs and recruiting candidates. From their perspective, they could tell when something was perhaps overcomplicated and areas that could be elaborated on. Their feedback helped me clarify my writing, highlight achievements, making my application more readable for non-specialist reviewers.

This taught me an important lesson: useful feedback can come from unexpected places. You don’t need academic qualifications to review an application. Sometimes an “outsider” can spot weaknesses that an expert in the field might overlook.

(3) Seek Peer Feedback

I also asked an academic peer for their input. I’d made a good friend during my master’s degree who had successfully applied for a different doctoral funding scheme, two years before I applied for NWSDDTP. We met for coffee, and they shared examples of how they structured their proposal, what they included and excluded, and how they refined their references. Although their scholarship was different, following their feedback I refined my application, making sure to stay true to the NWSDDTP guidance.

Combining feedback from peers, non-academics, and my supervisors allowed me to view my application through multiple lenses, which strengthened my final submission. My supervisors even commented on how concise the application had become following these revisions!

(4) Use the NWSDDTP Guidance

I remember thinking the NWSDDTP guidance must have a typo when it said, “Describe the proposed PhD research project in a maximum of 1,500 words, including bibliography”! It all felt overwhelming, so many sections, each with different criteria and word limits.

To make sense of it, I broke the application down into smaller sections, creating bullet points such as key criteria, keywords, my initial thoughts and responses, and any specific requirements (e.g. word count). This became my plan for completing the application, which I then shared with my supervisors for feedback.

The training workshop and examples offered by the NWSDDTP were invaluable. When I was unsure about what the guidance meant, I contacted NWSDDTP staff directly. They were incredibly helpful in explaining what reviewers were looking for and how to meet all formal criteria.

Taking the time to understand and follow the official guidance is crucial. It prevents disqualification, ensures your effort aligns with what the scholarship panel expects, and gives your application its best possible chance.

(5) Keep Going

The application process is tough. The word count is tight, and the repeated cycle of writing, revising, and resubmitting can be exhausting. I remember thinking more than once, “I’ll never finish this” and “maybe a PhD isn’t right for me if this is just the application!”

What kept me going was the structure of the plan I had with my supervisors. The monthly deadlines, clear feedback, and steady progress helped me keep momentum rather than giving up. Each round of revisions brought me closer to the final version, even when it didn’t feel like it.

When I finally submitted my application, I was nervous but proud. I knew I had given everything, and whatever the outcome, I could stand by what I had produced.

Final Reflections

Looking back, applying for the NWSDDTP scholarship taught me far more than how to write a proposal. It taught me perseverance, self-belief, and the importance of asking for help. Asking for help is something that doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m so used to figuring things out on my own but learning to be brave and have the courage to reach out, I feel, made all the difference.

If you’re considering applying, especially as a first-generation student, my advice is simply, keep going. Use every resource available, even when you don’t think someone could help — you might be surprised who can. Lean on your supervisors, follow through on what you agree, seek feedback from peers and friends, and never let self-doubt convince you to stop.