graduate level experience-please help

[postgrad]

hello,
I failed to find answer for this online and in leaflets, so hope smb here could help me. I'd like to apply for HSMP under 28. I will submit my phd thesis in september, but want to apply now because of the long processing times. The question is: do my 4 years of full time phd qualify as graduate level experience?? Also, I've worked as research associate for the last year, can I hope to score in the entry as 4years of graduate level experience including 1 year in a specialist role?

Thanks to all in advance!

[ford]

postgrad,

Do you qualify in terms of the earnings in the past one year while doing PHD (I guess PHDS do get paid). If so you should give it a try.

cheers.

[bani]

hi postgrad, i don't think you can include the PhD duration as work experience because the points are different when you have a PhD. for the over 28, 5 years work experience is 25 points. but if you have a PhD you only need 3 years to get the 25 points. so i assume those 3 years have to be outside the time spent to do the PhD (unless you have a separate fulltime job), even though most students get a stipend/salary during that time. i'm not aware of the work experience points for under 28, but i assume it follows similar reasoning.

i claimed a postdoctoral research associate job as a specialist position - being close to your PhD i think you can claim this too. just make sure you write in detail what specialised knowledge and experience the job requires.

[postgrad]

thank you, guys.

the problem is that NO phd is getting paid enough to cover those points on income, as far as I know.
Even being paid full time scholarship I earned smth like 7 000 pounds per year in the UK. However, my tuition fees were also covered by scholarship, which at the overseas rate in the UK is around 9000 pounds. Do you think I have any hope with this point, can I sort of sum them up? please advise me, any ideas will do.