Learn the difference between proposing your own research and applying for advertised projects, as well as finding funding for your research degree. Advertised PhD research projects and other opportunities PhD projects are defined pieces of research that a university, research council or other institution wants to explore. A project may be fully funded, but not all advertised PhD projects or opportunities have funding associated with them. Proposing your own research If you cannot find a pre-defined project that matches your interests, you might want to consider proposing your own research (also called ‘self-directed research’). This involves identifying a knowledge gap after reviewing existing research. Funding your research degree Research degrees can be funded in a number of ways, including scholarships, studentships or loans. The need to find funding, and when you need to apply for it, will depend on the type of research degree you want to do. This article was published on 2025-10-07