how to get funded phd in uk

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

• a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
• support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

• conference attendance
• language training
• overseas research visits
• internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

• non-medical personal assistance
• specialist equipment
• extra travel costs
• general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

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PhD studentships

If you're looking to get PhD funding for a specific research project or field of study, Doctoral studentships can provide you with either a partially or fully-funded PhD

Who awards PhD studentships?

PhD studentships are most commonly awarded by the UK's seven Research Councils in the form of Research Council grants , with research funding overseen by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) .

Individual UK universities also offer scholarships and bursaries to PhD students, while many professional bodies fund Doctoral research in collaboration with these academic institutions.

For instance, research awards are offered by the following engineering organisations:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - QUEST scholarships
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng)

Additionally, CASE studentships (formerly known as Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering) can be part-funded by any non-academic body in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) . These four-year PhDs require the student to work at the organisation for at least three months.

You can also apply for funded PhD opportunities through many charities, foundations and trusts, including:

• Action Medical Research
• Alzheimer's Society
• British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG)
• British Heart Foundation (BHF)
• Cancer Research UK
• Diabetes UK
• Rosetrees Trust - PhD Plus
• The Leverhulme Trust
• Wellcome Trust

Before you start applying for a funded PhD, it's always a good idea to discuss this with a prospective supervisor first, as they're often able to provide tips on maximising the likelihood of receiving financial support.

How much can I receive?

Many PhD studentships, including those offered by universities, professional bodies, or charities, foundations and trusts, provide three years' funding paid at a similar rate to the Research Council grant:

• Fees-only studentship - These cover a student's tuition fees, plus any associated project and training costs (a minimum of £4,786 per year in 2024/25).
• Full studentship - These add a non-repayable, tax-free maintenance grant known as a 'stipend'. In 2024/25, this is worth a minimum of £19,237 and it can be used towards living costs - see UKRI - Find studentships and Doctoral training .

For example, at The University of Manchester, the School of Social Sciences PhD studentship includes tuition fees for three-and-a-half years and a maintenance grant of £18,622 (2023/24 rate) per year for living expenses, plus associated research costs - such as fieldwork and attending conferences - from the Research Training Support Grant.

However, you should be aware that some PhD studentship recipients are required to teach undergraduates. While this provides an excellent opportunity to gain vital employability skills, it can also be hugely time-consuming. You must be satisfied that tutoring won't negatively affect the quality of your research before accepting your place.

Is my programme eligible for a PhD studentship?

PhD studentships can start at any time of the year, but most begin in September, October or January.

Certain types of PhD, for example professional Doctorates, may not be eligible for a PhD studentship. The same applies to part-time or distance learning options.

Am I eligible?

PhD studentships typically demand that applicants have a Bachelors degree at 2:1 or above, plus a relevant Masters degree or professional experience at that level of study.

Those who already possess a PhD are often ineligible, while some PhD studentships are limited to students fitting certain criteria - for example, those from a disadvantaged background, from a certain country or of a certain ethnicity.

If you're a European Union (EU) national, you'll need to have settled or pre-settled status under the government's EU Settlement Scheme to be eligible for student finance in this country - and this includes PhD studentships.

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application process can be lengthy, and competition is fierce.

Some PhD students will be automatically considered for financial support once they've been accepted by an institution, but many are required to make separate PhD funding applications. These are usually made directly to the university - even for those studentships from Research Councils, professional bodies, or charities, foundations and trusts.

You'll typically be asked for your PhD application form, a research proposal , a cover letter and your references. After the institution has reviewed your application, you may be invited to interview.

Throughout this process, the university will scrutinise what you'll bring to the institution. Applicants at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), for example, are judged on:

• the quality of their research project and how it connects with research currently being undertaken at the institution
• how appropriate the supervisory team is
• their calibre, academic qualifications and academic/research experience
• whether the research can contribute towards the Research Excellence Framework (REF), meaning that interdisciplinary research will be preferred.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You can improve your chances of success by:

• asking a friend or family member to proofread your application
• carefully choosing your referees, ensuring that they'll speak positively of you
• discussing your draft application with a relevant academic
• explaining how your work will be unique and innovative
• following the funding body's guidance regarding word counts and formatting.

What other PhD funding is available?

If you're unsuccessful with your PhD studentship application, you could consider:

• crowdfunding
• employer sponsorship
• PhD loans .

Find out more

• Explore 5 routes to getting a Doctorate .
• Read about 5 challenges faced by PhD students .
• Consider what to do next after completing a PhD .

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• Postgraduate research degrees
• Funding and studentships
• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

The University of Brighton regularly invites applicants for fully-funded PhD studentships across all its disciplines. 

These allow motivated, high-calibre applicants for research degrees to join our thriving academic community and contribute to our rich and innovative research environment. 

Our processes also often allow us to support promising candidates for applications to external funders and we regularly welcome self-funded applicants to programmes across all disciplines.

We will be advertising University of Brighton studentships later in the year. Meanwhile, please visit our PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

Depending on the discipline area, applicants for postgraduate research study may be:

• applying to work on specific, defined research projects
• applying to work with an academic department or individual with specific interests
• or applying with a self-identified research topic proposal.

When available, studentships are open to home and international students and will be given to candidates who best fulfil the promise outlined by these academic departments.

Students may like to review the funding opportunities listed at the foot of the page or visit our  PhD funding advice page  . 

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube .

Can you be a researcher? Professor Bhavik Patel reassures applicants of all backgrounds that they can study for a PhD and aim for a research career. 

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application for financing schemes will usually involve:  

• submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal, our University of Brighton portal is accessible from the  PhD funded projects webpages . You will upload your research proposal as part of this process.
• The submission must include two letters of reference, academic qualifications, a proposed project approach, a personal statement and your CV (resumé).
• Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview.

What does PhD funding include?

The funding for the PhD usually covers the full fee and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus an allowance of £1,500 per year for researcher training for three years (or part-time equivalent). 

Successful candidates benefit from expert supervisory teams, a programme of postgraduate researcher development workshops and membership of specialist, interdisciplinary research centres and groups. There will be introductions to a network of relevant researchers, careers advice and opportunities for interaction within and beyond the university. Through this, our PhD students have the best start possible towards ambitious careers that make use of their research degrees.

The University of Brighton fosters research careers and will provide doctoral training, attentive and expert supervision and access to world-class laboratories and equipment. 

We are renowned as a leading applied university, with pioneer academics in disciplines from sport science to design history and applied science research that translates efficiently to the global challenge of worldwide health and wellbeing. Our strategy of 'practical wisdom' leads to real-world partnerships and beneficiaries across all disciplines while the development of community-university partnership practices have placed us among the best universities for many aspects of co-produced research and innovation.

We pride ourselves on the ways we work in partnership with those outside higher education, across the European Union and internationally. Through our research collaborations we work with a wide range of universities, both internationally and with universities in the UK. We are also founding members of two UKRI Doctoral Training Partnerships which, this year, are dealt with outside our University of Brighton studentship offer. We learn constantly from our involvement in these, and our rich resources are offered across all doctoral research programmes.

Recently the University of Brighton celebrated its performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and the Knowledge and Exchange Framework (KEF2023). Over 87 per cent of our submitted impact case studies in REF2021 were rated as having 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact beyond academia. We are dedicated to developing this quality work with new students. Read more about the review of our research and knowledge exchange performance in REF2021 . Also, read more about our KEF2023 results, which placed Brighton in the top tier for economic and social benefits .

How will you build a relationship with your supervisor? Professor Annebella Pollen and Dr Tom Ainsworth are among those offering advice. This film was made by the University of Brighton for UKRI and also features academics from other institutions.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You must be able to show your suitability for a UK research degree if you wish to apply for fully-funded studentships.

This includes evidence either of a relevant and successful academic background or equivalent relevant professional/expert background in the applied subject area. Applicants from overseas will also have to fulfil any English language and visa requirements.

This will be true for studentships in the UK across most of the UK universities. It is usual for applicants either to have completed (or be about to complete) a masters degree, have an exceptional undergraduate record and references, or demonstrate the equivalent scholarly potential.  

Supervisory staff and research students at the University of Brighton consider how important diverse thinking and inclusive practice are to their doctoral studies.

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

We have a long-standing annual programme of funded PhD opportunities across all our disciplines, including several rooted in research council (UKRI) partnerships .

The initiatives allow postgraduate study for UK-based students as well as study in the UK for international students (depending on the PhD programme). 

We are also keen to encourage students who might be able to self-fund their doctoral studies. Studying part-time, for example, is likely to prove more affordable and more easily balanced with professional life than you'd imagine. 

We are dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and structure for your studies. Show us your own qualities and your suitability for programmes as they become available and we will look forward to receiving your application. 

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

On the Funding pages of our website we post advice as to the regular and specific funding opportunities available through the University of Brighton, its partners and networks. 

These include  Doctoral Training Partnership  and University of Brighton PhD studentship calls,  individual studentship projects , University of Brighton  international research scholarships  and our  alumni scholarships  for current and past students. 

We also include below some of the major funding options for international students wanting to do a PhD with us, each of which may support all or part of your studies.

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

The British Council offers a search engine for UK courses, institutions (including the University of Brighton) and scholarships.

Find out more about scholarships and funding through The British Council.

The Gen Foundation

The Gen Foundation considers applicants living in all countries. It is a charitable trust which principally provides grants to students/researchers in natural sciences, in particular food sciences/technology.

Find out more about grants to students and researchers from The Gen Foundation .

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. Our multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Find out more about research funding through the Aga Khan development network .

The Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations are active in more than 120 countries around the world, using grant-giving, research, advocacy, impact investment, and strategic litigation to support the growth of inclusive and vibrant democracies. The four main themes of the Open Society Foundations are climate justice, equity, expression, and justice and they will award grants and fellowships throughout the year to organisations and individuals who share those values. The Open Society Foundations look for grantees who have a vision and whose efforts will lead to lasting social change.

Find out more about postgraduate funding through The Open Society Foundations .

International Education and Financial Aid

The International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA) provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Using the IEFA website, you can easily search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more about international PhD research funding through the IEFA .

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of two to three-and-a-half years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

InternationalStudent.com is a leading online resource for international students around the world providing advice pages for studying in the USA, UK and Australia for international students, plus a dedicated study abroad center for US students who want to travel abroad.

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

ScholarshipTab is an online portal that connects international students to available scholarship opportunities round the world.

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

The IEFA provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more from the International Education and Financial Aid website .

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

The Americas: Postgraduate doctorate funding from institutions and bodies to study in the UK

• Marshall Scholarship:  Provides for United States students to study abroad.
• Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship provides for United States students to study abroad.
• American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
• Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program
• Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund
• Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• The Bolsas Lideres Estudar Program provides for Brazilian students studying in the UK .

Asia: Postgraduate doctorate funding from Asian institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

Great Britain – China Educational Trust is a charity that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and China and aims to build long-term connections between the two countries. It delivers awards contributing towards university tuition fees and living expenses for Chinese nationality students studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university.

Great Britain China Centre Chinese Student Awards  offers scholarships of up to £3,000 for citizens of China and Hong Kong studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university

The Hong Kong People Association (HKPA)  aims to provide financial aids for further university education to students from Hong Kong who are not able to afford international tuition fees. 

The Charles Wallace India Trust  offers PhD funding for study in the arts, heritage conservation or the humanities.

The Inlaks India Foundation

The JN Tata Endowment award funds 90 to 100 scholars across disciplines ranging from the sciences to management, law and commerce and the fine arts.

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

The Persia Educational Foundation Abdolreza Ansari Scholarship   is designed to support the education of students of Iranian descent enrolled in a Master or Doctorate programme in human rights or public service in the UK.

Momeni Iranian Financial Assistance Scholarships  offer partial funding scholarships for international students of Iranian descent towards a PhD in any subject.

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

The Anglo-Jewish Association (AJA)  provides funding for Jewish students to study a Masters or PhD in the UK.

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies  funds students of macroeconomics with a view to them working at the International Monetary Fund.

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan . The HEC offers government scholarships for Pakistani students to study abroad in various countries, including the UK.

Saudi Arabia

The Cultural Bureau of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (SACB)  offers scope for full tuition fees and supporting fees for PhD level study.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

Europe: Postgraduate doctorate funding from European institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The European Funding Guide  - Scholarships and grants in the EU.

France -  Entente Cordiale scholarships for postgraduate studies  provide funding to help students enrolling for a Masters or a PhD qualification in the UK or in France.

Italy -  Il Circolo Italian Cultural Association is a UK-registered charity based in London with the mission to support deserving students with awards and scholarships.

Norway - Lanekassen  - The Norwegian student loans and grants awarding body supports Norwegian students studying overseas.

Scandinavia - Fundraising.how  - article database offering funding advice for Scandinavian students.

Sweden - CSN -  loans and grants for Swedish students studying overseas.

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

The Australia Day Foundation  offers grants to young Australians for fees and course materials.

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

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career-advice.jobs.ac.uk

PhD Funding – A Checklist of Possible Sources

There are probably more funding opportunities for your PhD than you think. It is worth making sure you have investigated them all.

Funding bodies support PhD students in different ways. Some pay course fees only, some include a stipend (maintenance costs) or travel expenses, and others offer a one-off award to ease the financial burden of academic study.

Each funding body will have its own criteria for eligibility. At PhD level full funding will tend to be awarded on academic merit, but there are also some that take into account financial background and other criteria such as gender (such as in the case of the British Federation of Women Graduates).

Research Councils

The seven Research Councils invest in the region of £380 million into doctorate research every year. However, funding is made available through the participating universities rather than the research councils themselves. Universities set up Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in order to receive funding.

It is then up to the universities to decide who to award studentships to – usually based on academic merit following a competitive application process.

Eligibility criteria and award amounts are standardised and you will find many other funded PhDs referring to research council rates when defining their own. Research council studentships include fees and a minimum stipend per annum which is paid tax-free.

The seven Research Councils include:

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Medical Research Council (MRC)

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The above organisations have been grouped together with Innovate UK and Research England in 2018, and the umbrella organisation is called UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) .

UKRI’s key objectives include providing funding for the training of new researchers.

Academic institutions

Universities, colleges and research institutes also fund their own studentships, and these are typically listed on the institution’s own website alongside its research council-funded studentships. Some will offer fees only, while others may offer a stipend as well. Amounts may vary although many use the research council rates as a benchmark.

Commercial and charitable organisations

A number of non-academic organisations help fund research at PhD level in collaboration with the university hosting the study. CASE (Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering) studentships are for four-year PhDs. These are part-funded by a non-academic ‘co-operating body’ such as a UK industrial firm, public sector organisation or charity. Students spend at least three months of the PhD working in-situ at the co-operating body which makes a financial contribution to both the student and the project. Students often find these to be good avenues for finding full-time work at the end of their placement, and will have gained valuable hands-on work experience. There are also CASE-Plus studentships where students spend a further year working full-time on the premises of the co-operating body as an employee following the PhD.

A number of charitable organisations, foundations and trusts can help fund PhDs:

The Wellcome Trust

Cancer Research UK

The British Academy

The British Federation of Women Graduates

The Institution of Civil Engineers

Institution of Engineering & Technology

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Royal Geographical Society

Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland

Leverhulme Trust

Action Medical Research

The Grundy Educational Trust .

Self-funding

If you are having difficulty in getting funding from the above sources, you may be able to fund your own way through a PhD. You may be eligible for Professional and Career development loans. It is wise to review the specific application criteria to ensure that you are eligible.

A further option is to study part-time while working. This could however place additional demands on your time and financial situation. Be aware that if you have managed to access some funding elsewhere, you may be prohibited from working during your PhD as part of the stipulations of the award.

The jobs.ac.uk website lists some excellent PhD opportunities as well as a wide range of jobs – do take a look at them!

For more PhD tips:

Your PhD Journey – Top Tips 

What Can You Do With a PhD?

PhD Application Tips

What is a PhD and Why Should YOU do one?

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Henrietta Nagy

Henrietta Nagy is a seasoned portfolio worker with over 10 years’ experience in the UK education sector. Henrietta writes educational content, designs academic courses, delivers university lectures, mentors entrepreneurs, and provides career development coaching. One of Henrietta's recent organisational clients is the Oxford University where she has facilitated over 100 hours of learning events. With 9 years of higher education studies internationally (including an MBA), she has worked with CEOs, academics, scholars, managers, women entrepreneurs, academic administrators and other consultants.

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10th October 2019 at 12:12 pm

I am a PHD Scholar at Wollegga University, Ethiopia.I need a Research Grant. Would you please help me?

3rd December 2019 at 9:21 am

I am conflict management PhD candidate in South Africa I need funding. My area of focus is Terrorism in Nigeria. Any advice

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I was offered PhD opportunities at Universities of Cape Town, Queen Margaret and Winchester but could not find funding. My area of specialization is health systems management planning and poli

11th September 2020 at 3:25 pm

I am DBA scholar at University of Northampton researching on industrial actions. I need a research grant. Please assist.

4th December 2020 at 5:11 pm

I am looking for an admission to study PhD Medical Imaging or PhD Nuclear Medicine Technology with finding or grants. Kindly specifically help.

6th August 2022 at 6:45 am

I am a PhD scholar in one of the Federal Universities of Technology in Nigeria. I seriously need a funding to allow me carry out a thorough research on Microplastics pollution in coastal areas of Southwestern part of Nigeria. Thanking you for your timely response. Olanipekun Oluwafunmilayo (Mrs)

5th January 2021 at 9:00 am

I am South African and I have been admitted for a PhD programme at the University of Worcester, UK. However, I am struggling to get funding. Please assist where you can.

18th October 2021 at 12:03 pm

I am due to go into my final year of my Professional doctorate in education, and need funding just for this one year. My research is into COVID and the impact upon young children. Please, can anyone guide me towards any potential sources of funding for this one year?

27th January 2022 at 1:42 pm

I have been admitted for a PhD programme at the University College London in 2022 fall, but I find it difficult to get funding as a non-European international student. Any advice! Many thanks in advance.

5th March 2022 at 1:32 pm

Hello, I am a Chinese student. If I am admitted to a PhD programme of Newcastle University in 2022 fall, but I have not applied for CSC, and the program I applied for is not a full prize program, what other subsidies can I apply for?Any advice! Thank you very much in advance!

10th June 2022 at 6:13 am

I am interested in fully funded PhD, I am a master student in de Montfort university presently.

22nd June 2022 at 5:13 pm

My name is Esther, a Nigerian. I am looking for a PHD in Gender studies and Food Economics, please i will appreciate your kind assistance.

31st January 2023 at 2:57 am

I am a Nigerian and will be taking a Ph. D in UK or any European country soon. Please can you share useful information on how to get external funding for my Ph. D in Urban and Regional Planning with specialty in Landscaping and Transportation. Your impactful feedbacks will be highly appreciated.

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My name is Jingrong, a Chinese student. I am a PhD student in the University of Bristol presently, my research is based on the remanufacturing operations. I am interested in some related funding.

13th August 2022 at 5:50 pm

My name is Bulea Christopher, I am seeking to do PhD in Organizational leadership and management. I shall be grateful.

19th October 2022 at 1:31 pm

I am Nigeria and will be taking a Ph. D in UK soon. Please can you share useful information on how to get external funding for my Ph. D in renewable energy system of technology. Your impactful feedbacks will be highly appreciated. Thanks

31st October 2022 at 8:58 am

My name is Nkomo Dalubuhle from Zimbabwe lm looking for a PHD in curriculum studies in education

18th November 2022 at 3:51 am

I am from Pakistan and want to apply for PhD programme at the University of Staffordshire UK. However, I am struggling to get funding. Please assist where you can.

21st October 2023 at 3:56 pm

I am master’s in special education from pakistan.i required fully funded uni of this field.

14th March 2024 at 8:01 am

I’m a Tunisian student who has been accepted into a PhD program at Newcastle University for 2024, specializing in Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as a master’s degree program at the University of East Anglia, focusing on Rural Development. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to secure funding for either program. Do you have any advice on what steps I can take or where I can apply for funding? Thank you in advance!

25th June 2024 at 10:26 pm

My name is Wendy Mbele from South Africa lm looking for a PHD in business administration studies

25th June 2024 at 10:30 pm

My name is Wendy Mbele from South Africa lm looking for a DBA funding please.

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PhD Study in the UK

What is a phd.

A PhD is a research degree and is the highest award available at universities in the UK. The study is based on a substantial research project on an area of academic interest, typically up to 100,000 words in length, written as a thesis, which then must be defended in an oral examination in front of a panel of experts. Students are assigned a supervisor, and a PhD duration is typically three years full-time and six years part-time.

Very few research degrees feature taught modules, so students are expected to take more responsibility for their work and schedule.

PhD Eligibility

UK universities are free to admit anyone, with PhD admission generally conditional on the prospective student having completed an undergraduate degree with at least upper second-class honours and a master's degree . English language ability must be proved; a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is generally required.

PhD Research Proposal

All students who apply for a PhD must submit a research proposal ( example ). The proposal should address the research you wish to undertake, how you will do it, and why it is important. A panel of experts must accept the proposal before your programme can begin.

Other types of Research Degree

Mphil (master of philosophy).

If you wish to study for a PhD, you may first need to begin an MPhil and then transfer to a PhD programme after 12-18 months. An MPhil is also a qualification in its own right and is generally thesis-only, lasting one year full-time and two years part-time. The thesis must present the results of a study and research and be a maximum of 60,000 words.

Students choose to study an MPhil if the proposed research has insufficient scope for a full PhD.

MRes (Master of Research)

An MRes is an advanced postgraduate research degree in the areas of art, humanities, and social sciences. Some Ph.D. Programs require an MRes qualification before beginning a PhD. The programme proper, and the student is required to complete a 40,000-word dissertation.

An MRes is a good way to see if you enjoy conducting research without fully committing to and funding a full PhD.

Professional Doctorate

Professional doctorates are similar to PhDs but are intended to advance professional practice rather than improve academic ability. Joint professional doctorates include law, education, business, engineering, and medicine.

How long does a PhD last?

A PhD in the UK usually takes three to four years if you study full-time. However, it can vary depending on the subject and how quickly you make progress. If you study part-time, it may take longer, typically five to seven years.

How much does a PhD cost?

Funding and researching a PhD can be expensive, with EU students paying up to £6,000 per year, and international students more.

It is rare for a PhD student to not be supported by some form of bursary, grant or scholarship  though, and many universities and research councils provide monetary support for part or all of a PhD programme.

PhD admission - how do I apply?

Once you have decided on an area of research and have looked into how you will fund your study, you will need to fill out several documents required when submitting your application. They can include:

• Academic transcripts
• Academic references
• Personal statement
• Research proposal ( example )

Students will also need to identify a supervisor who will oversee their PhD.

Top PhD Programmes in the UK

- university of oxford.

The DPhil in Computer Science at Oxford University offers students the chance to do advanced research in a beautiful setting. You can study topics like linguistics, biology, medicine, and quantum computation alongside computer science, get one-on-one guidance from experienced supervisors, attend lectures, and gain transferable skills.

• Popular PhD course: DPhil in Computer Science
• Entry requirements: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a four-year undergraduate degree (equivalent to a master's degree) in a relevant subject, or a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a three-year BSc/BA degree and a master's degree with merit or distinction in a relevant subject.
• International fee: £29,700

- University of Cambridge

The PhD in Computer Science at Cambridge University is research-focused. Students work on their research projects under the guidance of a supervisor for three to four years. When admitted, students undergo a probationary period and are registered for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS).

• Popular PhD courses: PhD in Computer Science
• Entry requirements: A UK First class Honours Degree or international equivalent. Additionally, having a master's-level degree or equivalent postgraduate work is highly desirable. 
• International fee: £35,673

- Imperial College London

The Imperial College Business School offers a Master's in Research (MRes) that introduces students to theory and research methods in Finance, Economics, and Management, providing a solid foundation for future doctoral studies. Depending on the chosen research area, the MRes programme can be completed in one or two years.

• Popular PhD course: One year Master’s in Research
• Entry requirements: A high academic standing (such as a distinction or merit), or a first-class or upper second-class honours undergraduate degree.
• International fee: £17,500

- University College London

The Management MRes + MPhil/PhD programme at UCL School of Management offers a prestigious research experience for students seeking scholarly careers in management studies. With a strong reputation for world-leading research, the programme provides rigorous academic training and personalised research mentorship.

• Popular PhD course: Management MRes + MPhil/PhD
• Entry requirements: A first-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an equivalent overseas qualification. UCL encourages applicants from various disciplines to apply and requires them to have taken the GMAT or GRE General Test.
• International fee: £29,000

- University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh’s PhD in Informatics focuses on training researchers with comprehensive knowledge in their discipline and a specialised area. During the first year, you will attend relevant lectures, submit a thesis proposal, and receive annual progress reviews. Successful completion of a thesis and oral examination leads to the award of a doctorate. Regular talks and seminars provide additional learning opportunities.

• Popular PhD course: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Informatics
• Entry requirements: A degree in an Informatics-related field like Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, or Computer Science. Proficiency in computer programming is required. 

Study a PhD in the UK

If you are interested in studying for a research degree in the UK, arrange a free consultation today. The PhD Service  can also help you apply with expert application advice, interview practice and research proposal editing.

PhD Admission FAQ

Is a phd fully funded in the uk for international students.

PhD funding for international students in the UK varies. Some universities offer full funding, while others require students to find funding. Scholarships, grants, and assistantships are available, but not all PhD programmes are fully funded.

What are the requirements for studying for a PhD in the UK?

To study for a PhD in the UK, you generally need a master's degree or an equivalent qualification in a related field. You'll also need to write a detailed research proposal explaining your research objectives and academic references that assess your research abilities. Additionally, you must secure funding to cover your tuition fees and living expenses, which can come from scholarships, grants, personal funds, or sponsorship. Requirements may vary, so it's best to check with individual universities.

Can international students apply for a PhD in the UK?

international students can apply for a PhD in the UK. UK universities accept applications from students worldwide. 

How much does a PhD cost for international students in the UK?

PhD tuition fees for international students in the UK depend on factors such as the university, field of study, and location. On average, fees range from £15,000 to £35,000 per year. However, it's important to note that actual fees can vary significantly .

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How to Find PhD Funding in the UK

So you’ve decided to pursue a PhD, found a potential supervisor and perhaps even been offered a place. Now you’re likely tasked with what can be the most elusive stage: securing PhD funding. Thankfully there are several routes available for PhD funding in the UK and I’ll walk you through the considerations for each.

Note – This post focusses on fully funding a PhD for the duration of your time at university – living expenses and all. If you’re looking to self-fund a PhD be sure to check out some flexible ways of making money I’ve found whilst pursuing a PhD.

Simply looking for an idea of how much you could get paid as a PhD student? Skip straight down to the bottom of this post .

A High Level View of PhD Funding in the UK

In the UK PhD funding falls into several main categories:

Once you’ve found a project, the best starting point is to discuss funding with your potential supervisor. They’ll be able to advise you of the best funding opportunities specific to your situation. It might be that they even have funding already arranged!

It is worth being aware that there are often differing funding opportunities for home, EU and non-EU students. Additionally, be sure to check that any funding includes your tuition fees.

As of 2022/23, home students fees are often around £4600 per year and rise to about £20,000 for overseas students! The project advert should state what the funding covers and includes any restrictions.

Project Specific PhD Funding

The simplest route, and the one that many prospective students may assume to be the norm, is for your supervisor to have funding in place for a specific project. Funding of this sort almost always has been sourced by successful grant applications to external organisations. Find a project you like the look of and get on well with your potential supervisor? You could be on track for a very simple application!

How to Find Fully Funded PhD Programs in the UK

How do you find fully funded PhD projects? They’re advertised in places such as findaphd.com  and on your potential host department’s website.

PhD Funding From Research Councils & Charities

There are seven Research Councils in the UK, annually funding over £3bn of research .  If you’re in discussions with an academic, there will be a research council that covers your field. The UKRI Research Council’s UK website lists all seven councils and their areas of research :

• Arts & Humanities
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences (BBSRC)
• Economic and Social (ESRC)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC)
• Medical (MRC)
• Natural Environment (NERC)
• Science and Technology Facilities (STFC)

Each council puts out calls for the work they are most eager to fund, here is the EPSRC’s current call .

Charities also provide an additional potential funding avenue. Many well known charities provide PhD funding such as Marie Curie  and Cancer Research UK . Plus ones you won’t find on the high-street like the  Wellcome Trust  and  Leverhulme Trust .

Most of the PhD funding via both routes comes in the form of large research grants, regularly upwards of £1 million. These are managed by senior academics who will act as the “PI” (principal investigator) ensuring that the money is spent appropriately. It is not usually appropriate for potential PhD candidates to apply directly to these funding sources, though this is possible: speak to your supervisor to check.

Academics often include PhD studentships in their grant applications so funding through these routes is common. In these instances the money has to be spent by a certain date so supervisors are motivated to fill spaces for the right candidate!

There is also EU-wide funding, such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) . As well as nice training and exchange opportunities it pays a staggering stipend of £35,000 – £40,000. I personally wish I’d known about it earlier!

PhD Funding Through Industry Collaboration

Academics regularly collaborate with industry and they may provide PhD project funding. Something to bear in mind is that a company will often be keen to focus the research around a particular product they wish to develop.

As such this may limit opportunities to alter the course of your project if you find other parts of your research more interesting. The upside is that collaboration with industry looks great on your CV. It could also offer job opportunities after you’ve completed the project.

You may now be wondering what happens if you find a supervisor you are keen to work with but they have no funded-projects available. Or if you are not interested in the ones that they have secured funding for. In this instance institution funding will be your best bet.

Student Specific PhD Funding

Universities often offer PhD funding to ambitious students giving you freedom to tailor a project to your own interests. Though of course you do still need a supervisor! Funding can be found at a variety of levels: university-wide scholarships generously donated by alumni, departmental provisions and, for universities running a collegiate system, colleges.

Most universities have a search tool where you can find all of the funding sources available. For example here is The University of Bristol’s .

Departmental Studentships

Many departments offer a small number of fully-funded studentships each year. These are usually widely advertised on their website. Your supervisor will be able to advise you on any internal PhD funding routes they know of and may be responsible for submitting any additionally required documents.

Though applying for a studentship may require some extra legwork, a noteworthy benefit is that these offer the most research freedom.

Often these are again funded by a research council but are not linked to a specific research grant. This is because they are often awarded based on academic merit rather than being tied to any one specific project proposal. This allows you to develop your own ideas with scope to explore whichever topics you and your supervisor agree to pursue.

PhD Scholarships

Scholarships are very similar to departmental studentships but are often university-wide and with this comes more money, prestige and competition. This is my funding source and you can read more about my PhD application experience here .

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

CDTs are all funded by one of the UK research councils and often are hosted by more than one university. For example there is this Fusion Energy CDT , involving five partnering universities:

Funding is attached to all offers of admission but as ever check the funding criteria.  There can sometimes be restrictions, especially for overseas students:

Unlike other PhD routes, CDTs are more similar to undergraduate or taught-postgraduate courses in their structure. CDTs begin as a cohort with a year of taught modules and short research projects. It is during this year that that you discuss potential projects with supervisors. Following this are three years of research working towards a PhD.

Read more about CDTs here .

CDTs are great for developing knowledge if you’re carrying out a PhD in an area slightly different to your undergraduate degree. If you’re already pretty set on a certain research topic then some consider the foundation year unnecessary.

Additionally, I have met CDT students stating that sometimes many students in the cohort are aiming for the same project. Since supervisors can only take on a limited number of new students per year (often only one!) you certainly have to be prepared to carry out a PhD on an alternative topic.

Each research council lists the different CDTs available within their remit, for example NERCs are here .

So How Much Will I Get Paid as a PhD Student in the UK?

Ah the crucial question! The bulk of studentships are funded by research councils (including CDTs), charities and departmental funds. UKRI sets out minimum doctoral stipends and it is usually this amount that they award. Most projects are funded for three years and for 2022/23 the UKRI stipend is set at:

Outside London:  £17,668 Inside London: £19,668

PhD funding by industry will often also be at the UKRI levels shown above. Scholarships can pay upwards of £20,000 but this may need to cover your tuition fees.

Before you get put off by the idea of a PhD because the pay is so low, check out my comparison of PhD stipends and grad salaries after accounting for taxes . The difference is much smaller than you might think!

A Word on PhD Stipends

As a funded-PhD candidate your monthly income is called a stipend: which is tax-free. Being a PhD student, you retain your student status. This means that you are exempt from certain  real-world responsibilities such as council tax and student loan repayments. Hence the gap between PhD stipends and grad salaries isn’t quite as large as it first seems.

If you’re interested in learning more about the costs of being a student, you may like to check out my post on affording to live in London as a PhD student . I’ve also written about my favourite ways of making money as a student and how I actually managed to build some savings during my PhD!

Keen to learn how to maximise your chances of securing PhD funding in the UK? You may wish to check out my related posts here:

• How to Write a CV for a PhD Application (with free template!)
• Choosing a PhD Project & Supervisor
• What to expect from a PhD interview

Best of luck with your application!

If you’d like personalised help with your PhD application I am now starting to offer a small number of one-to-one sessions. Please contact me to find out more or click here to book a call.

I hope this has given you a good insight into how it works with PhD Funding in the UK. If you’re interested in learning more about PhDs be sure to subscribe to the mailing list:

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• How Much Does a PhD Cost in the UK?
• Funding a PhD

Choosing to dedicate the next few years of your life towards a PhD is no light decision. Not only will it require you to dedicate an extensive amount of your personal time, but you’ll also need to consider how you’ll fund it. This raises the question, how much does a PhD cost in the UK?

The cost of a PhD can be divided into three key areas; tuition fees, living expenses and research expenditures. The combined cost of these are approximately  £20,000 per year  for UK students and can increase to over  £40,000 per year  for international students. A more in-depth breakdown of these costs can be found below. We’ve also compared these costs to other countries and outlined the various methods available to you to fund your PhD studies.

Tuition Fees

For UK ‘home’ students, the tuition fee for a PhD varies between £3,000 to £6,000 per academic year. For 2023/24 programmes, most universities opt for £4,712 per year within this range. Although this number may seem a little odd, it’s commonly adopted due to being the indicative rate set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for UK universities.

International Fees

Unlike for UK applicants, the rates for international students don’t align with the indicative level set by UKRI. Following the implementation of Brexit, EU students now follow the same fee rates as other international students. International students will find that their tuition fees are higher than those of home students. For example, at the time of writing, the average annual PhD tuition charge at the University of Dundee is £4,825 for home students undertaking an Engineering PhD. This same average is £25,305 for international students.

International applicants will also find that the fee for PhDs in STEM subjects are greater than those in non-STEM subjects. For example, at the University of Bristol, a doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering costs £25,300 per year whilst a doctorate in Medieval Studies costs £20,100 per year.

To summarise, international students can expect a tuition fee of between £16,000 to £25,000 per year, with an average of around £19,600 per academic year. Non-STEM subjects will generally be at the lower end of the range, whilst STEM subjects will be at the higher end of the range.

Part-time Fees

The above fees are based on full-time postgraduate study. If you’re doing a part-time PhD, you can expect the fee to be half of these amounts. Although this may appear to be a cheaper option, keep in mind that the average duration of part-time PhDs are twice that of full-time PhDs. Therefore, the total tuition cost will amount to the same value and the end of both courses.

Other Degree-related Costs

Research support fees.

If your research project requires a high use of consumables, equipment or other resources, you may have to support the cost of these through an additional annual fee. This additional annual fee, often referred to as either a ‘research support’ or ‘bench’ fee, often apply to laboratory-based STEM research projects. Bench fees vary between different projects, even those within the same field. Therefore, it is best to speak to the admissions team on a project-by-project basis to receive anything useful.

Another cost you will need to account for is travelling. As part of your degree, many supervisors will expect you to attend conferences, training workshops, or other collaboration opportunities. As a result, you will often need to travel to various destinations which aren’t always limited to the UK. Although some programmes will cover these costs, it’s not unheard of that some positions will expect you to fund this yourself. It’s impossible to put a value on this, as the extent of travel depends on each project. Therefore, it would be wise to speak with the admissions team and current PhD students. They can provide you with an accurate estimate and let you know whether the university will cover the expenses.

Overtime Period Fee

When you’re enrolled into a PhD programme, you will be given a period to complete your PhD within. This period is known as your ‘registration period’ and is usually 3-4 years for a full-time PhD and 6-7 years for a part-time PhD. If you’re given an extension due to not completing your PhD study within this time, you will need to pay an overtime registration fee. Although the amount depends on each university, the University of Leeds sets theirs as £290 for 2023/24.

Living Costs

From a 2022 survey of over 2,300 university students , the average living cost, covering expenditures such as rent, bills, food and recreation, was £924 per month. This equates to £11,088 per year.

Although this is an average cost, your true cost of living will depend on your location. Living in major cities such as London will draw significantly higher rent and travel costs than living in more rural locations. Although your living situation will in large be driven by the university you undertake your PhD with, you should factor it in when deciding which universities to apply to.

To put this into perspective, the survey average of £11,088 per year uses a rent average of £418 per month. In London, this average increases to £650 a month and can surpass £1,000 if staying in university halls or private student accommodation. This is supported by University College London (UCL) who state you should expect an average rent of £1,028 per month if living in private accommodation around their university.

Tip  – You can use this handy calculator for an estimated average cost of living for any UK university. All you need to do is select the university, and the calculator does all the rest.

If you’re an international student, you should factor in return flights back home. Although this may seem like a small expenditure compared to tuition fees and rent, they can add up quickly depending on the frequency and distance of your trip.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How to Fund Your PhD

Studentships.

A studentship is a form of scholarship for doctoral students. They can either be partially funded, which cover tuition fees only, or fully funded, which also covers living costs through a ‘stipend’.

Studentships can be found in various places. Research Councils (RCUK) and European Social Fund (ESF) make funding available to university departments, who in turn make the funding available to doctoral students. Therefore, you will find that there are many postgraduate funding opportunities available to you, with the best places to look being the RCUK and ESF websites and the university departments themselves. External institutions which focus on research and development such as research trusts and charities would also be a useful place to look for a funded PhD.

Doctoral Loans

If you’re a UK student, you may qualify for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan from Student Finance England. This form of financial aid is available for nearly all postgraduate research degrees undertaken in a higher education setting. They will allow you to borrow up to a total of £28,673 for 2023/24 courses .

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Teaching Assistantships are a form of studentships which allow you to teach undergraduates as part of your research degree. This not only helps improve your academic skills, but it also enables you to receive a salary whilst you’re studying. As well as teaching assistantships, some departments also provide opportunities for demonstrations, marking papers, and tutorial support. The amount you can earn through these schemes will depend on how many hours you work and what agreements you make with your supervisor or course leader.

Working Whilst You Study – Part-time PhDs

A research student may opt for a part-time PhD as opposed to a full-time one. Although this would double the duration of their studies, it allows them to take on a part-time job to improve their financial situation. For students going down this route, it would be highly beneficial to pick up a part-time role in a position related to your industry. This will help refine your skills and increase your employability within this career role should you choose to pursue it after your degree.

If you’re an international student, keep in mind that you’ll likely be on a study visa. Therefore, there’ll be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do alongside your study.

How Does This Compare to the Fees in Other Countries?

When considering the tuition fee of PhDs across different countries, the United Kingdom is generally considered as being in the ‘middle-ground‘ region.

A handful of countries offer PhD programmes for free. These include, but are not limited to, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Norway and Poland.

The middle-ground region comprises countries such as Austria, Spain, Russia and New Zealand where postgraduate fees range from £1,400 to £4,000 per academic year.

The upper-end region comprises countries such as Hong Kong and the United States, where postgraduate tuition fees for a PhD student can go up to £33,000 per year.

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Why is it so hard to get PhD funding in the UK for international students?

In general, it's fairly difficult to get a funded PhD position in the UK, if you're an international student.

An international grad student in the UK has essentially a few options, such as: (1) ultra-prestigious scholarships like the Rhodes scholarship, (2) external funding, e.g. from industry or their home country's government (this is common for students from many Asian countries), or (3) compete for a very small number of department or university funded positions/scholarships open to internationals.

This is very different from the situation in the US and most of continental Europe, where a PhD position always comes with a salary, and where there's typically no discrimination between domestic and international applicants.

Are there historical reasons why the UK PhD system is like this? It seems strange, especially given that the UK is a wealthy country strong in scientific research. Why don't they reform their system to better attract international talent?

(My field is physics, but I think the same is true across other STEM subjects.)

• united-kingdom

• 7 Almost all public (i.e. state-funded) universities in the US discriminate against international applicants; this is just not made obvious. –  Alexander Woo Commented Mar 24, 2022 at 19:54
• 2 @AlexanderWoo That is debatable. A lot of the discrimination against foreign students is indirect, because non-US universities are less well known, and because a certain country's education system might be perceived negatively. In any case it is nowhere nearly as extreme as in the UK. –  Aqualone Commented Mar 24, 2022 at 20:00
• 6 The situation at Berkeley was (and I would think still is) the following: the department covered the tuition for all students out of its budget. Domestic students could become in-state residents and have paid on their behalf a much cheaper rate after one year; international students continued to be charged at the out-of-state rate throughout. In addition, some grant funds could only be used for domestic students. The result was that one needed much stronger test scores, grades, and recommendations to be admitted as an international student (even if you came from a US undergrad school). –  Alexander Woo Commented Mar 24, 2022 at 20:36
• 5 @AlexanderWoo. funding is a different issue than "discrimination". Any tax supported institution may validly want to use the majority of its funds for residents (i.e. taxpayers). That may also reflect the UK situation as well. –  Buffy Commented Mar 24, 2022 at 20:47
• 3 @Buffy - I think it's clear this question is about funded positions for graduate students. –  Alexander Woo Commented Mar 25, 2022 at 0:56

3 Answers 3

The big difference between the UK system and some other systems is that in the UK a PhD student is primarily regarded, at least by the system (even if not always by the supervisor) as a student who is there to learn, whereas, at least in the EU system, PhD students are primarily regarded as researchers who are there to perform a role.

The OP asks "Why don't they reform their system to better attract international talent?". This assumes that students are regarded as something you want to attract in order to benefit the country. But officialdom in the UK regards students as people who take benefit, rather than give it. A student is receiving a service, not providing one. To a British official, asking why they don't fund overseas PhD student is the same as asking why they don't pay for the undergraduate tuition fees of international students.

So, the British government sets aside a certain amount of money each year from its education/training budget to train PhD students. As it sees its job to educate British people, it would usually only pay for the PhD education of British people - it is other people's governments' job to pay for the education of their own people.

All of this is at least partly related to the superiority of the Arts and Humanities in British culture as the place where real intellectuals come from - at least in the minds of those in power, who almost without fail have humanities degrees from elite universities. In the arts and humanities, this view that PhD students are not part of a research workforce is closer to the truth.

All of this should not be taken as an endorsement of this situation, which I think is terrible.

All hope is not lost though. While with the UK leaving the EU, students from the EU became international students, the government has partially offset this by saying that up to 30% of students recruited to the main government-funded PhD programs (UKRI DTPs/DTCs) can be overseas students. In practice, I've found that this cap hasn't been a limitation, and we've been able to admit all the overseas students that ranked high enough in open competition in our DTP.

• “… the self-proclaimed superiority of…” Unfortunately there’s an oversupply of demand for UK degrees (and from some other countries as well) so that international grad. students are seen as an income stream to make up for administrative overspending. –  ZeroTheHero Commented Mar 27, 2022 at 13:35
• 3 "Self-proclaimed" is not my experience - its not the humanities PhDs themselves proclaiming their superiority, but more the gatekeepers of British society/culture, who are not generally humanities PhDs. I don't really buy into the whole two cultures thing. I also think that the tendency of universities to abuse international students as an income stream is separate from the government's decision to not fund them. –  Ian Sudbery Commented Mar 27, 2022 at 17:16

Funding of international students in the UK is a lot more difficult than places like the US because the UK research organizations (UKRI and the various research councils underneath it) have very strict rules about which type of award can and cannot support students, and how the money should be allocated to students.

The first major difference is that grants from the UK research councils (such as EPSRC/BBSRC/ESRC/etc.) can not be used to fund any student fees, so when a professor gets a new grant, they can't use it for students they have to use it for research staff (such as post-docs) [1]. This is very different from the US system, where grants from bodies like the NSF/NIH can be used to fund students.

Instead, the UK research councils have special "Doctoral training" grants and "PhD Studentships" that are meant for funding PhD students. Even these are limited though, with the current UKRI rules [2] saying that no more than 30% of the UKRI-funded portion of a cohort on a training grant (e.g. Centre for Doctoral Training, training grant programs awarded to universities, etc.) can be international students, and even then, the UKRI-provided money can only be used to cover the amount of the home fees for the student. This means that those international students still must pay the difference between the international and home fees amount (although the university can cover the difference from other sources, such as internal funding or company support).

Both of these restrictions means that the main funding source available to support PhD students in countries like the US (e.g. government grants and centers) is not easily available to support international students in the UK, forcing the reliance on the private programs and university-level programs where the individual charities/universities set the rules and not the government.

[1] RGC 4.5 in https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/UKRI-170821-FullEconomicCostingGrantTermsConditions-Aug2021.pdf

[2] https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/UKRI-170321-InternationalEligibilityImplementationGuidance.pdf

• 1 I think the question was why does the UK have policies that lead to this situation in general, not what are the details of the funding restrictions that lead to this. –  gib Commented Mar 26, 2022 at 8:54

Different countries give different answers to the basic question

Why would a society (country) fund someone from outside that society for getting some academic degree?

Some of the reasons can be:

• pure altruism,
• seeing it as development aid (which will be politically desirable),
• expectation that the person will stay and work for a domestic company, thus strengthening the economy,
• strengthening the domestic research community (in international competition),
• lack of own personnel capable of doing important research.

Alas, societies often are only willing to invest resources (money) if the can clearly see a good return-on-investment. And the UK seems to be a bit more sceptical here than other countries.

• 1 This doesn't directly address the question. Also, the points you raise only partially apply since a PhD is a job in additional to being an academic course. (indeed, in some places in continental Europe, PhD positions are essentially jobs, with the degree awarded in the end being almost like a side-effect) –  Aqualone Commented Mar 25, 2022 at 12:24
• 1 @Aqualone See my answer, below, but I think the key point you are missing is that in the UK a PhD is not regarded as a job in addition to being an academic course. At least not in the minds of those that make the policies. –  Ian Sudbery Commented Mar 26, 2022 at 23:56

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Funded PhD & MRes studentships

The perfect way to expand your horizons

Funded PhD & MRes studentships

Embarking upon a research degree at Bournemouth University is one of the most exciting stages of your academic career. It’s a voyage of discovery – so we want to make sure you have as much support as possible during what promises to be a life-changing experience.

We are proud to be offering a broad range of funded studentship opportunities, strongly aligned to our BU2025 vision and values , the  areas of strength in which our research makes the greatest impact, and our strategic investment areas: Assistive Technology, Animation, Simulation & Visualisation, Sustainability & Low Carbon Technology and Medical Science.

This commitment to greater expansion of our research work demonstrates BU’s significant investment in our Doctoral College, supporting growth in innovation and developing future talent and expertise in our PhD & MRes students.

We offer you the opportunity to work with external organisations on many of our matched-funded research projects, recognising that partnering with outside companies and charities will broaden your knowledge and experience beyond academia. Many of these projects allow you to participate in cutting-edge applied research areas, generating immediate and tangible societal impacts.

Be assured you will joining a world-leading research community, with the support of a team of dedicated, enthusiastic academic and professional support staff who will ensure your work is efficient, enjoyable and, most of all, successful. All of this within a fabulous location, with seven miles of award-winning sandy beaches amongst the many delights of Bournemouth , attracting a vibrant and creative community.

For questions about our PhD Studentship offering please contact the team on [email protected]  

Browse our funded studentships by faculty

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There are currently no studentships within the DTC.  Please check back at a later date.

Who is eligible to apply for a funded BU PhD & MRes Studentship?

The BU PhD and MRes Studentships are open to UK and International students.

Candidates for a PhD Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years and must demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic potential as measured normally by either a 1st class honours degree (or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA) or a Master’s degree with distinction or equivalent
• An IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum (with a minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent) for candidates for whom English is not their first language and this must be evidenced at point of application.

Candidates for an MRes Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a MRes in 18 months and must demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic potential as measured normally by an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA)

In addition to satisfying minimum entry criteria, BU will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful completion.

Applicants will be asked to submit an online application form and a proposal (approximately 1500 words) outlining their understanding of the project for which they are applying, the approach they would envisage taking and what qualities they will bring to the research community.

Please note:

• Current BU doctoral students are not eligible to apply for a funded PhD Studentship
• Current MRes/MPhil students can apply, subject to satisfactory completion of their Research Degree prior to being able to take up the award
• PhD Studentships cannot be used to support BU staff to complete doctoral programmes

What else will BU look for in successful candidates?

Each funded PhD & MRes Studentship has specific criteria that candidates need to fulfil, in terms of knowledge and/or expertise. In addition, we will look closely at your qualities, skills and background to determine what you could bring to a specific research project.

How can I apply for a funded BU Studentship?

There are individual application deadlines for each funded PhD & MRes Studentship, which are detailed on the relevant page. To apply, click the green Apply Now button and complete our online application form. More information can be found on our  How to apply  pages. You can also read our proposal guidance document here .   

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Who provides funding for UK doctorates

Funding for a doctorate (including fees and living expenses) can come from one or more of a range of research funders, including the UK Research Councils, certain charities or other funding bodies, industry, overseas governments or European Union initiatives. Funding can come from the universities’ own funds or a doctorate can be self-funded by the doctoral researcher or funded by their employer.

UK univerities also receive additional funding to cover the costs of supervising doctorates from one of the national HE funding bodies (e.g. HEFCE - the Higher Education Funding Council for England). 

An analysis of the main sources of funding for all doctoral researchers in the UK in 2012/13 is shown below.

The biggest funders of doctoral programmes are:

• Doctoral researchers themselves - around a third of doctoral degrees are entirely self-funded
• Universities, who provide around 21% of funding for doctoral degrees
• The UK Research Councils, providing around 15%.

There are lots of cases of partial or shared funding, e.g. where different bodies fund a programme jointly, such as a funder and the university, or a funder and an industry partner, or the university and part self-funding by the doctoral researcher.

How can I find funding for a doctorate?

Several specialist services are available which list doctoral funding sources (these are often referred to as funding for PhD studentships), for example:

• EURAXESS UK funding search
• EURAXESS EU jobs site

How does PhD funding work?

Funding bodies support doctoral researchers in different ways: some will pay programme fees and also a stipend (i.e. to cover your living costs and expenses), some will only pay programme fees and others simply make a one-off award of some kind. Each funding body will have its own criteria for eligibility.

The UK Research Councils make their funding available through the participating universities rather than directly to doctoral researchers. Research Council awards cover university fees (currently about £4,000 per year) and provide an annual stipend for the doctoral researcher of just under £14,000 per annum (2014/15 rate) which is paid tax-free. The 7 UK research councils are:

Arts and Humanities Research Council Economic and Social Research Council Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Medical Research Council Natural Environment Research Council Science and Technology Facilities Council

For more information on additional costs you might encounter, see: How much does it cost to study for a UK doctorate?

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RES Services to the Profession Medal: PhD/ECE Panel Member vacancy

• August 7, 2024

The RES is seeking a PhD student or Early Career Economist (ECE)* to join the nominations and judging panel for awarding the RES Medal for Services to the Economics Profession. 

This is an annual award to recognise an individual who has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the profession in one or more of three dimensions: promoting economics; supporting economists; improving diversity. Further information on the Medal is available here .

The person will join a panel comprising the President (Prof Sir Christopher Pissarides) and three members of RES Council. The panel will meet in late 2024 and early 2025 to consider nominations and to select a winner.

It is intended that the PhD student or ECE commits to the role for two years.

Expressions of interest should be sent to Liza ( [email protected] ) with a current CV and short cover letter by 13 September 2024 .

*Defined as having completed their studies within the past five years.

Related Resources

Call for nominations: res council 2025-2030 and president-elect 2026-2027, discover economics awarded funding for edi initiatives, res doctoral training programme, res summit 2024: artificial intelligence and jobs, follow us here.

2 Dean Trench St, Westminster, London, SW1P 3HE Telephone: +44 (0) 203 137 6301 Email: [email protected]

The Royal Economic Society is a Registered Charity no. 231508.

COPYRIGHT ©2024 ROYAL ECONOMIC SOCIETY.

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Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/07/26/how-to-claim-15-hours-free-childcare-code/

How to apply for 15 hours free childcare for parents of 9-month- olds

Since April, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds have been able to access 15 hours of childcare support as part of the expansion of childcare in England.

This comes on top of the pre-existing offer for eligible working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, who can access 30 hours of government-funded childcare by combining the universal 15 hours, which is available to all families, with a further 15-hour entitlement for working parents.

From  September 2024 , 15 hours of childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child from age 9-months-old. Applications are now open – more on this below.

It's worth noting that some providers may charge for extra services, such as providing lunch and nappies in addition to the government funded childcare. Visit  childcarechoices.gov.uk  for further information.

We recommend that everyone who is seeking a childcare place for September 2024 and has not yet done so, speaks to their chosen provider and applies for a code as soon as possible.

It may be difficult at this stage to secure your first-place provider. If you are struggling to find a place you should contact your local authority, who will be able to help source a local provider offering the entitlements.

When can I apply and how do I get my code? 

Applications are open for eligible working parents whose children will be aged at least 9-months-old on or before 31 August, to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September.

This can be combined with the universal 15 hours to make 30 hours childcare when your child turns 3 or 4.

When you apply, you’ll receive a code to give to your childcare provider.

It’s important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months . To do this, you’ll need to remember to login to your childcare account to check when your reconfirmation dates are, so that you can renew your code on time. If you don’t renew it on time, you will need to reapply.

You can claim your place the term after your child turns the relevant age. This gives local authorities and childcare providers enough time to prepare.

There is no limit on the number of codes available. However, if you’re applying for childcare to start in September 2024, we recommend that you reach out to your preferred provider now to check when they will need your code.

How do I apply?  

You apply online here on  gov.uk  once you have checked our  eligibility criteria .

You’ll need to make sure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:

• your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are self-employed)
• the date you started or are due to start work
• details of any government support or benefits you receive
• the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.

You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.

Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.

Eligible parents are also able to access Tax-Free Childcare through the same application system. You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare at any time. However, you don't need to apply for Tax-Free Childcare to be eligible to apply for the 15 hours childcare scheme.

Can I apply for government-funded childcare if I’m on parental leave?

Yes, you can.

If you’re applying for childcare for an older child, who is not the reason for your parental leave, you can continue to apply in the usual way.

For parents applying for funded childcare for the child who is the reason for your parental leave, you can apply for a childcare code at the same time as everyone else as long as you plan to return to work from parental leave or start a new job by the end of September 2024.

Parents on parental leave will need to apply online. They may be told their application is ‘pending’ if it is more than 31 days before they return to work, but they will still receive a letter in the post within 1 to 2 weeks so they can access their childcare entitlement.

Parents starting new work before 30 September can call HMRC on 0300 123 4097 to receive a code.

What if I’m on parental leave and returning to work after 1 October 2024? 

Parents who plan to start or return to work between 1 October 2024 and 31 January 2025 will be able to apply for a code from 1 September 2024 to use from 1 January 2025.

After 1 October 2024, the following dates will apply:

It is important to remember that if you are applying for childcare for an older child, who is not the reason for your parental leave, you can apply regardless of your return-to-work date.

What happens once I receive my code? 

Once you receive your code, you’ll need to take it to your childcare provider, along with your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth.

Your childcare provider will process the code to provide your place.

Your local authority can provide support for finding a government-funded place in your area. You can find out who your local authority is here .

If I receive a code in a letter from HMRC, does this make my code on my Childcare Account invalid? 

No. Both codes will be valid.

If you have two codes, one from your letter beginning with 11 and one from the website beginning with 50, please give your provider the code from the website, as this is the permanent digital code for your child.

If you only have one code (beginning with 11) then you can use this code to start using your government-funded hours.

Please remember that once your reconfirmation window opens, you will still need to reconfirm your eligibility through your Childcare Account and share the digital code you receive with your provider.

Do I need to wait for my reconfirmation window to add another child to my account? 

A parent who is already using the childcare service for another child can add a new child to their account at any time.

Your reconfirmation cycle for your current Tax-Free Childcare won’t affect this.

What happens if I’m using an entitlement for my 2-year-old when they become 3?

Parents are able to access the universal 15 hours childcare support from the term after the child’s third birthday through to when they start school.

If your child is accessing the 15 hours entitlement for 2-year-olds and you remain eligible, your child will automatically be moved onto 30 hours (universal 15 hours + 15 hours for working parents) from the term after your child turns 3.

You will just need to keep reconfirming your code as normal, and it will become usable to claim 30 hours.

You should also speak to your provider to let them know you intend to take up 30 hours.

If you are accessing disadvantaged entitlement childcare for, you will also able to access the universal entitlement from the term after your child turns 3.

You may also be interested in:

• Free Speech Act: what you need to know
• What is the national curriculum and why is it being reviewed?
• The King’s Speech 2024: What does it mean for education?

Tags: 15 hours free childcare , Applying for 15 hours free childcare , Childcare , Free childcare 2024 , Free childcare eligibility , tax-free childcare , When to apply for 15 hour free childcare

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Blog Farming

https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/06/dartmoor-land-use-management-group-appointment-of-a-chair/

Dartmoor Land Use Management Group: appointment of a chair

In April, we published our response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor .   

We agreed with the recommendation to create a land use management group to  reinforce Dartmoor’s existing governance and provide a place for cooperation and collaboration between stakeholders and arm’s length bodies.  

I’m pleased to confirm that following the election, we are now able to move ahead and appoint an independent chair for the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group (DLUMG).

The group will develop a land use framework and land use plan for this internationally significant site. It will also  provide oversight and steward the delivery of the 25 recommendations put forward in the response to the review.     

In this post, I'll provide a summary of the role of the chair along with a link to the advertisement on GOV.UK. 

The role of the chair   

The chair's first task will be to identify and appoint members who bring the necessary knowledge, expertise and engagement to the group.   

They will set the agenda for meetings and help maintain a neutral and safe space to discuss and resolve issues. They will act as an independent mediator between stakeholders. 

They must also consider the responsibilities of arm's-length bodies, such as Natural England , the Rural Payments Agency.  Both are committed to supporting the group.  

A secretariat to support the chair is already in place.

The following is subject to change but is broadly as follows:  

• 31 July: application window opens
• 3 September: application window closes; sift begins
• 27 September: interviews to conclude, character references obtained
• November: ministerial appraisal of candidates; recommendations put to the Prime Minister  
• November: appointment announced.  

The job description for the chair can be found on GOV.UK. 

It includes:

• more information about the role
• person specification
• the process to apply

I'll blog again when we're ready to announce the new chair.

You may also be interested in:

• Acting on the recommendations of the Dartmoor Review
• Farm visit: Challacombe Farm on Dartmoor
• FiPL spotlight: the Central Dartmoor Farm Cluster

Tags: Dartmoor , England , Farming , land use , management

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We have 493 fully funded PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students

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10+ fully funded phd positions at the imprs for molecular organ biology, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Germany PhD Programme

A German PhD usually takes 3-4 years. Traditional programmes focus on independent research, but more structured PhDs involve additional training units (worth 180-240 ECTS credits) as well as placement opportunities. Both options require you to produce a thesis and present it for examination. Many programmes are delivered in English.

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Max Planck Research Programmes are structured PhD opportunities set up by the Max Planck Society, an independent non-profit German research organisation. Max Planck Institutes and universities collaborate to offer interdisciplinary and international PhD opportunities providing high standards of training and support as well as generous funding.

Fully Funded PhD Positions at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca

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An Italian PhD usually takes 3-4 years and consists of some taught units as well as research towards your thesis. This will be examined at a public defence, rather than a private viva voce. Some programmes are taught in English.

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International PhD programs are often designed for international students. Your PhD will usually be delivered in English, though some opportunities to gain and use additional language skills might also be available. Students may propose their own PhD topics or apply for advertised projects.

Seven University of Bath fully funded studentships in sustainable aerospace materials and structures starting September 2024.

Epsrc centre for doctoral training.

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training conduct research and training in priority areas funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Potential PhD topics are usually defined in advance. Students may receive additional training and development opportunities as part of their programme.

Apply now for our fully funded PhD scholarships in Singapore at the Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics & Science (IDMxS)

Singapore phd programme.

A Singaporean PhD usually takes 3 years. Programmes are highly structured with taught courses and qualifying examinations in the first year, before students are confirmed as PhD candidates and allowed to produce a thesis. This is presented in a public seminar and then defended in a private oral examination. Programmes are often delivered in English.

Fully Funded PhD Studentship by EPSRC-funded KUber Project in SAYED Systems Group

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Making Additive Manufacturing Sustainable Using Functionalised Coatings (Fully Funded PhD)

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Fully funded PhD Studentship in decontamination of drinking water supplies (removal of dissolved organic carbon) by novel magneto-composite design and processing

Fully funded phd scholarship in agrifood electronics, fully funded phd scholarship in memristive technologies, phd: improving additive manufacturing productivity using correlative chemical and x-ray imaging (fully funded phd), fully funded epsrc centre for doctoral training (cdt) in cyber security, funded phd programme (uk students only).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Chemistry / Physics: Fully Funded EPSRC DTP PhD Scholarship: Towards Organic Quantum Memristors

Fully funded phd scholarship in multimodal user authentication and personalization at the center for computational, cognitive and connected imaging (c3i).

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• Education, training and skills
• Teaching and leadership
• Teacher pay, pensions and conditions

Government confirms above inflation pay award for teachers

School teachers to receive fully funded 5.5% pay award.

School teachers and leaders will receive a fully funded 5.5% pay award, reflecting the vital contribution they make to children’s life chances.

The decision means the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) have been accepted in full.

Schools will receive almost £1.2 billion in additional funding to cover their costs, fully funding the pay award for teachers and support staff in financial year 2024 to 2025 at a national level.

The investment marks an important step on the path towards the government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers.

As the Chancellor has set out, the poor position of the public finances means that a number of programmes must be cancelled across government – including the Advanced British Standard .

Today’s pay award reflects the value the government places on the country’s 6 million public servants, and the cost to the country of not accepting public sector pay awards.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

The Chancellor has laid out a grim picture – our public finances are in a devastating state and tough choices need to be made to help rebuild the foundations of the economy. But while the impact teachers have on children and young people’s life chances can’t be measured in pounds and pence, those working in education must be in no doubt about their value. Teachers lay the foundations of children’s lives. An investment in them is an investment in the next generation, and this government is determined to make sure every child - whatever their background - has the opportunity to succeed.

The Education Secretary has recognised the delay in confirming pay and funding arrangements for next year due to the timing of the general election.

The 5.5% award will apply from 1 September and is equivalent to an increase of over £2,500 for the average teacher, which would take the median salary for 2024 to 2025 to over £49,000.

The pay award applies to maintained schools, with academies continuing to have freedom over their pay and conditions.

The government is also today announcing further steps to reduce teachers’ workload, reset relations with the sector and make teaching an attractive profession again.

Alongside the pay award, the requirement for schools to use the performance related pay system – which can lead to schools and teachers going through an overly bureaucratic process to agree individual teachers’ pay rises – will be removed from September.

The government will also clarify that teachers can carry out their planning time at home, improving flexible working for staff.

Today’s award builds on the Education Secretary’s work to reset the relationship with education workforces since taking up post, including a letter to all education workers in week one in the role, a reception with almost 200 stakeholders, and a webinar with up to 14,000 front line staff.

DfE media enquiries

Central newsdesk - for journalists 020 7783 8300

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