system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Research outside of an institution?

I'm incredibly interested in doing research, but I'm struggling to find a funded programme on the topic I want to do. I simply cannot afford to pay my way through a PhD programme. 

If I were to do some research and write a paper at home, could I submit it to a journal? Would I be taken seriously?

I have a first class honours degree in computer science, and I've spent an awful lot of time since I completed that degree learning more about my chosen field and the topic I'm interested in - I just don't really know where to go from here. Any advice would be appreciated!
gpt
There is nothing stopping you - technically - from submitting research for peer review outside of an institution.

However...

And it's a big however; a large part of the PhD process is learning how to conduct research, how to present it, and how to operate as an independant researcher. And that's besides the dedicated time becoming a true expert in the field, with the related dicsussions and interaction with peers that that requires.