phd funding in uk for international students

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 .

King's College London

International phd scholarships.

King's College London is one of the world's leading research institutions with a diverse research community producing internationally recognised work. King's and the Centre for Doctoral Studies are dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing top international postgraduate research talent to study alongside our renowned academic supervisors.

If you are interested in a postgraduate research degree (MPhil/PhD) at King's. there are a range of funding opportunities for international postgraduate researchers at King's, including:

  • Joint PhD Programme Funding
  • King's China Council Scholarships

You can learn more about these opportunities below. You can also access our postgraduate funding database to search all currently open funding competitions at King's.

Postgraduate Funding Database

A link to PG Funding database

Joint PhD Scholarships

Three scholarships are available for the 2023/24 academic year for students applying to joint PhD programmes run in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore or the University of Sao Paulo, with King's as their home institution.

The King's Joint PhD Scholarship provides full tuition fees, stipend and an annual research grant.

Download the guidance for the 2023/24 Joint PGR Scholarships .

Find out more about the Joint PhD Programmes available at the National University of Singapore, University of Hong Kong, and University of Sao Paolo by visiting the International Education webpage.

  • Applications close 26 March 2023

King’s-China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarship programme (K-CSC) 2023-24

King's College London and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) hold an agreement to jointly fund PhD students to pursue research degrees at King's College London.

As part of the agreement, successful students will receive a scholarship that covers the tuition fee, an annual living allowance that includes overseas student health cover, a return airfare to London and visa application fees.

Please be aware that students funded through this scheme must abide by any additional terms and conditions set by the CSC. Scholars will be required to enter into a legally binding agreement with the CSC before they are able to take up the scholarship. If there are any significant developments that could affect/hamper a scholar's expected completion of the PhD, scholars are advised to get in touch with the Education Section in the Chinese Embassy.

A considerable number of K-CSC scholarship awards are available for the 2023-24 competition.

  • Applications close 02 January 2023

Find full details on the KCL Funding Database.

Useful links

phd funding in uk for international students

Postgraduate English Language Requirements

Find out more about our English Language Requirements.

10 PhD scholarships in the UK for international students 2022

With a strong research culture on top of encouraging interdisciplinary research, the UK is a great choice if one wants to pursue a PhD scholarship in an exciting and stimulating environment with many research links. The UK is one of the most popular destinations for many international students with many top-ranked and world-class universities and a welcoming culture as well.

Being a research powerhouse means more access to cutting-edge research facilities, which can go a long way in conducting research during your PhD studies. The UK, however, as a developed Western country, has higher living costs, with some major cities and programmes bearing notoriously expensive price tags.

This can be a heavy burden for international students seeking a UK PhD degree. Fortunately, the UK has a great list of university PhD scholarships that may help you realise your dream.

The UK is a research powerhouse. Source: Christine Bird/Shutterstock.

Leeds University Business School: International Business Department Scholarship

The International Business Department of the Leeds University Business School is offering up to two PhD scholarships for international applicants; the deadline is Apr. 1, 2022. One of the world’s leading units for international business and among a handful of triple-accredited business schools in the world, this department is well-known for their exceptional research and teaching.

The award is for three years; the last two years are renewable subject to academic performance. The successful recipient will get a maintenance grant worth 15,609 pounds (standard UKRI rate for Session 2021/22).

University of Cambridge: Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme

Awarded to a select group of 25 brilliant University of Cambridge PhD students of all disciplines and nationalities, this programme aims to produce graduates who can make a tangible difference to the academic community with their excellent research. The majority will be affiliated with St Catharine’s College; the rest will be distributed among the other colleges. 

Depending on your chosen department, the last deadline is Jan. 6, 2022. The PhD scholarship winners will receive a generous package including the University Composition Fee and a 6,000 pounds personal allowance throughout their studies, an annual stipend of 18,000 pounds and student visa costs.

SOAS University of London CHASE

SOAS University of London is among the world’s top 50 for Arts and Humanities (QS rankings 2021) and is a top 20 UK institution for these same subjects (THE rankings). As part of the Consortium of the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE) funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, this Doctoral Training Partnership offers up to 56 Arts and Humanities studentships; a limited number is available for international applicants. 

You should first apply to SOAS by Jan. 10, 2022 so that you can work with your proposed supervisor(s) on the CHASE application to submit by Jan. 28, 2022. You can expect to receive a training grant and a stipend as well.

Aston University College of Business and Social Sciences

As a multidisciplinary college in Aston University, Birmingham, the College of Business and Social Sciences is home to researchers from Aston Business School, Aston Law School and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Up to six fully-funded PhD studentships are available for application to any of these schools’ programmes – the deadline is Feb. 28, 2022.

You will get full tuition coverage at the international rate plus an annual maintenance grant of 15,840 pounds (2022-23 rate) throughout your three years. You should have obtained a merit for your master’s dissertation besides a first class or second upper class honours degree.

University of St Andrews: Doctoral Scholarship in Biology and Statistics

St Leonard’s Postgraduate College at the University of St Andrews is offering a doctoral scholarship to a suitably qualified student to take up research on developing novel methods for estimating the abundance of breeding grey seals. You will have three co-supervisors, and can choose to matriculate in either Biology or Statistics.

The PhD scholarship covers full tuition fees for up to three and a half years on top of an annual maintenance stipend (the 2021-22 annual rate is 15,609 pounds). You will have access to the free GRADskills training programme as well. 

University of Liverpool: Accounting and Finance Subject Group

This PhD scholarship takes on a slightly different form as a  Graduate Teaching Fellowship (GTF) – the deadline is Jan. 7, 2022. If you have a first or upper second class honours degree plus a distinction for your master’s degree besides being committed to research, this GTF allows you to collect teaching experience together with your PhD studies.

Under the Accounting and Finance Subject Group, you will have the opportunity to complete a teacher training programme offered by the University of Liverpool . A living stipend of 15,609 pounds plus a fee waiver will be awarded to exceptional applicants.

Swansea University: the UKRI CDT in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Computing

At Swansea University , you can apply for the four-year fully funded opportunity to research upon these broad areas of particle physics and astronomy, biological and health, and mathematical and computer sciences. You will be trained in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and high-performance data analytics.

After training in the first year, you will have several short-term work placements in the second and third years. Besides full tuition fees, you will enjoy a stipend of  15,921 poundsand other allowances; the closing date is Feb. 11, 2022.

University of Exeter – PhD Scholarship

The University of Exeter’s generous funding scheme consists of two funding parts funding – one Research Masters in Economics and then a PhD programme in either Finance or Economics – both at the Business School; you have to apply by Jan. 21, 2022. As part of the scholarship, students have to work as teaching or research assistants for about 180 hours (23 days) a year, which can help enhance your research and education skills.

The funding includes a combined stipend and teaching allowance for 180 hours of 19,000 poundsper year. Students can also apply for additional funding for research, development and conference travel expenses. 

Imperial College London: Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarship

One of the best universities in the UK, Imperial College London has up to 10 fully-funded Chemical Engineering PhD scholarships via the Chemical Engineering Department . You should have a First Class Honours Degree at master’s level in chemical engineering or a related engineering/science field. This scholarship is tenable for 42 months, covering both tuition fees and 21,400 pounds for maintenance.

You should apply by Jan. 31, 2022. If you are successful, you would be asked to select two projects; depending on your supervisor’s agreement, you can be given either your first choice or second one.  

Oxford University – Clarendon Scholarship

The Clarendon Scholarship is one of the most famous PhD scholarships. You do not need to submit a separate application form for this scholarship; when you apply for a Oxford University PhD programme, you automatically qualify to apply for the Clarendon Scholarship.

Your preferred programme at Oxford may have different deadlines but generally, January is the last application deadline to be eligible for this scholarship. This particular PhD scholarship covers full tuition fees and a living stipend of 15,609 pounds (2021-22 rate).

All in all, if you have been planning to pursue your PhD studies in the UK but are short on funds, these scholarships are great choices, and will definitely help you achieve your dream!

Popular stories

Student protests in the us: how to attend and keep your visa safe as an international student, boarding schools in america providing an excellent education to inspire the next generation of leaders, how to increase productivity by at least 12%: 8 tips to help you crush deadlines, get a job in the us, uk, or australia with these companies that sponsor visas for international students, the no. 1 advice to win a scholarship to the uk: 'believe in yourself', flying to and from the uk here’s what international students should know about new restrictions on uk travellers, record high int'l students numbers in canada, uk and us as falls continue in australia, nz.

Scholarships and funding

Would you like to turn your dream of studying in the uk into a reality.

Deciding to study in the UK is an investment in your future. A prestigious degree from the UK is a valuable and transformative experience and will take your education - and your employability - to the next level.

There are many funding options available for international students who want to study in the UK. They range from part-funding, for example paying part of your fees, to full-funding which covers programme fees, living expenses, and return flights to the UK.

You can search for the right scholarship for you on the course and scholarships finder below.

Postgraduate funding

The UK government runs a variety of scholarship programmes to financially support international students who are looking for help funding their studies in the UK.

The three main UK government scholarships on offer are:

GREAT Scholarships

GREAT Scholarships are scholarships to UK universities across a variety of subjects, for students from 15 countries. Applications for 2024-25 are open.

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships offers fully funded master's degrees in the UK. Learn more about one of the UK's most prestigious scholarships.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are UK university scholarships given to talented individuals with the potential to make a positive impact on the global stage.

Wider UK government funding

The UK government offers hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support to students from a large number of countries.

You can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to find out more about the funding available if you are studying in the UK as a postgraduate student, including whether or not you are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Just scroll down to the relevant section of the webpage.

UKCISA is the UK’s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them.

Hear from international scholars What's involved in receiving a UK scholarship?

Tips for choosing a scholarship, international scholars in the uk.

Thinking of applying for a scholarship? Here are some top tips from international students who have received a scholarship to study in the UK.

GREAT scholarships

Nadine, university of kent.

What are GREAT scholarships and who is eligible? Watch as Nadine, a GREAT scholar, and Maria from the University of Kent explain everything you need to know.

Commonwealth scholarships

Commonwealth scholars.

Are you a high-achieving student living in the Commonwealth? Watch as scholars Suahib and Hamna explain all you need to know about Commonwealth scholarships.

Chevening scholarships

Chevening scholars.

If you have a vision to make the world a better place, the Chevening scholarships might be for you. Watch to learn more about the programme.

Being a GREAT scholar

Ismet, university of essex.

Ismet tells us about receiving his GREAT Scholarship for Sustainable Futures, and why he chose the University of Essex.

Being a Commonwealth scholar

Olaoluwa, nigeria.

Olaoluwa has received a Commonwealth shared scholarship. See her impressions on studying in the UK and receiving this life-changing scholarship.

Postgraduate studentships

Many universities offer fully-funded postgraduate studentships for PhD programmes. Find out more .

Institution-specific scholarships

Many UK higher-education institutions offer their own scholarship programmes.

These are offered based on a number of factors, which can be broadly split out into the following categories:

  • Academic, merit and excellence scholarships - These are usually awarded to students with a strong academic background, including achieving strong grades in their school exams. 
  • Performance-based scholarships - These are usually awarded to those who have exceptional ability in an extracurricular activity such as sports, music or performing arts like drama or dance.
  • Subject-specific scholarships - These are often offered by individual departments for students studying a particular course or subject.
  • Equal access or sanctuary scholarships - These scholarships can take the form of a tuition fee reduction or waiver or maintenance award and are offered to refugees and asylum seekers who have fled persecution from their home countries.
  • Disability scholarships - These scholarships support international students with a disability, long-term mental health condition, learning difficulty or other special needs. 

Always check out different institutions’ websites to discover what is available, and take a look at specialist websites like Postgraduate Studentships and Prospects for curated information that covers different institutions.

Application advice Six top tips on applying for a scholarship

Read our essential advice on how to apply for a scholarship, from eligibility criteria to tailoring your application.

Global scholarships

A.S. Hornby Trust Scholarship

Scholarships for English language teachers to develop their English language skills

Selected countries - see website >

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan

Master's and doctoral courses (for study in the UK and distance learning), plus academic, professional and medical fellowships

Commonwealth countries >

Scholarships for one-year master's courses across a range of subjects at a variety of UK universities.

British Council scholarships for women in STEM

Scholarships for women undertaking master's degrees in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics course at one of 19 UK universities.

Americas, South Asia and South East Asia >

Global Wales Scholarships for International Students

Global Wales offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for international students.

USA; India; Vietnam and EU countries >

Country-specific scholarships

Young Cell Scheme

Postgraduate master's studies in the EU

Kosovo - see website >

Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust Scholarships

Doctoral studies, research, visiting fellows and Scottish summer school

Pakistan - see website >

Marshall Scholarship

Master's and doctoral courses at any university in the UK

USA - see website >

Science and research funding

Marshall Sherfield Fellowships

Post-doctoral research in science and engineering at any university in the UK

Euraxess UK

Research placements in the UK

Global - see website >

Royal Society grants

Postdoctoral science research

Undergraduate funding

While undergraduate scholarships and bursaries for EU and international students studying in the UK are less common than they are for postgraduate studies, they do exist. You just need to know where to look for them.

Funding for EU and international undergraduate students in the UK can generally be split into two categories: those offered by UK universities themselves and those offered by third parties - usually governments or organisations in your home country.

You can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to find out more about the funding available if you are studying in the UK as an undergraduate student, including whether or not you are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Just scroll down to the relevant section of the webpage.

You can also visit the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK (UCAS)’s page about scholarships, grants, and bursaries: EU and international students for more detailed information on what to look out for and where.

Cost of studying in the UK

Studying in the UK is good value for money. Find out how much you can expect to pay to study and live in the UK, and how to make the most of your budget.

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and advice on applications, scholarships, visas and events.

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options

University of Brighton

  • Business and employers
  • Alumni and supporters
  • For students

University students silhouetted against blue sky under promenade arches on Brighton Seafront

  • Postgraduate research degrees
  • Our postgraduate research disciplines
  • Apply for a PhD
  • Funding and studentships
  • International
  • Support and training
  • Research Masters
  • Postgraduate info session
  • Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK
  • TECHNE (AHRC) studentships

Funded PhD research programmes 2024 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 deadline has passed for the October 2024 start for funded PhDs, but there will be further announcements shortly. Meanwhile, please visit our PhD funding advice pages . 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

Our academics at the University of Brighton regularly develop research projects in which they can offer outstanding support and which they are committed to developing and growing.

The studentships available will be given to candidates who best fulfil the promise outlined by these academic departments.

These funded PhD opportunities are generally open to home and international students. 

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 our schemes will usually involve:  

  • submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal, 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).
  • Please note, deadline for 2024 start on the most recent funding scheme was 29 February 2024 16:00 (UCT/GMT).
  • Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview.

Details of application for fully funded PhD studentships

To apply for your studentship at the University of Brighton, you should first review the specific projects or project areas that our academics are offering to support. 

All eligible applications for the funded PhD will be reviewed, with shortlisted candidates entered for final decisions on the allocations of funding, which will rest with the university's central Doctoral College. 

Scientists in laboratory with microscope

What does PhD funding include?

The funding for the PhD usually cover 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 these programmes. We look forward to receiving your application. Good luck!

Back to top

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

by Alumni Team | Aug 2, 2022

COMMONWEALTH PHD SCHOLARSHIPS

How to apply, supporting documentation, advice for applicants, choosing a university/course, applicant eligibility.

  • Eligible countries

Completing the application form

  • Selection process and criteria

Tenure and placement

Financial assistance, general conditions, faqs and enquiries.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for applicants from least developed countries and fragile States, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in the Commonwealth,  for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

Purpose: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) , Commonwealth PhD scholarships contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by supporting research that will have a developmental impact. They also enhance individual teaching and research capacity leading to increase institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth countries, and will contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-calibre international applicants and encouraging links and collaboration, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Intended beneficiaries: Commonwealth PhD scholarships are for high-quality graduates who have the potential to undertake world-class research of a developmental nature and to become influential leaders, teachers, or researchers in their home countries.

These scholarships are offered under the six  CSC Development themes .

Applications for Commonwealth PhD scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year are now closed.

Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system .

Applicants are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

As well as applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominating agency .

There are three types of nominating agency for PhD scholarships:

  • National nominating agencies  – this is the main route of application.
  • Selected universities/university bodies  – which can nominate their own academic staff.
  • Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies .

Nominating agencies put forward applicants to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.

Each nominating agency oversees its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria.  Applicants must check with the nominating agency for their specific advice and rules for applying, and their own eligibility criteria.

Nominating agencies may set their own closing dates for applications.

Agencies will nominate candidates to the CSC by December 2023.

Applicants can expect to hear the outcome by July 2024. We will contact all applicants by email and they should ensure all folders of their email accounts are monitored, including junk mail and spam folders. A scholarship offer may be withdrawn if an applicant is emailed but does not respond within a specified time.

Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.

Please note that applicants are required to collect references and supporting statements, on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from referees and proposed supervisors in the UK and then upload them in PDF format to the application system with their other supporting documentation.

The references and supporting statements must be uploaded to the application system by the deadline for applications and we are unable to accept references and supporting statements any other way or after this date.

Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:

  • Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
  • Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
  • References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
  • A supporting statement, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form.

Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.

The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.

When completing the references, referees should be asked to comment as fully as possible on the applicant, keeping in mind the following points for inclusion, as appropriate:

  • How long, and in what capacity, the referee has known the applicant.
  • The referee’s views on the applicant’s suitability for the proposed Scholarship and the need for the particular subject of study in the UK.
  • Information on how, and to what extent, the applicant has shown ability in terms of capability to grasp concepts and reason analytically; capacity for original thought; and motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives.
  • Assessment of the applicant’s particular strengths and weaknesses.
  • The applicant’s potential to impact development in their home country.
  • Any other general qualities which the referee considers would make the applicant a good recipient of a Scholarship.

Please note that the CSC does not charge apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.

When completing supporting statements, proposed supervisors should be asked to confirm that they are, in principle, prepared to have the applicant working with them and that they have the facilities to undertake the research. They should also be asked how the applicant’s plan of study fits with the expertise of their department and to indicate how much of the applicant’s plan of study, if any, they wrote. Any additional comments they make will be appreciated by the Commission.

Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our advice for applicants page .

Please read and complete the PhD Scholarships eligibility checklist before submitting your application.

Applicants may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution and course of study in the UK:

  • Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
  • Steps to Postgraduate Study – a guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK
  • Postgrad.com  – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
  • Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
  • Research Excellent Framework 2021 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
  • UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
  • Discover Uni – the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
  • UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course of study

The CSC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Applicants can also discover how Commonwealth Alumni are making an impact and leading change across critical development issues by visiting our development impact stories page .

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
  • Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
  • Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
  • By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)*.
  • Not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2024.
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
  • Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

*The CSC recognises that disabled people have often faced and overcome challenges or barriers in their education journey which have prevented them achieving the academic requirement for a Commonwealth Scholarship. Disabled applicants who can demonstrate their potential to contribute to international development but who do not hold a 2:1 Undergraduate degree may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) nominator. For more information, please contact CDPF directly using the details on our NGOs and charitable body nominators page .

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the  CSC disability support statement .

There is no age limit for CSC applications. Applicants are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.

Eligible Countries

Please note that only applicants from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in 2023/24.

Bangladesh Cameroon Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Mozambique Nigeria Pakistan Rwanda Sierra Leone Solomon Islands Tanzania The Gambia Togo Tuvalu Uganda Zambia

In the application form, applicants are asked to:

  • List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained.
  • List up to 10 publications and prizes.
  • Provide details of employment history and explain how the experience gained supports and is relevant to the programme to be undertaken in the UK.
  • List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both their capacity to benefit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and their ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of the referees must be a current employer (if applicable) and at least two references must be included with the application.
  • Provide a Development Impact statement in four parts.

In the first part applicants should explain how the proposed scholarship relates to:

  • Development issues at the global, national, and local level
  • Development issues connected to the chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector

The second part should explain how they intend to apply their new skills once the Scholarship ends.

The third part should outline what they expect will change in development terms following the Scholarship, including:

  • The outcomes that they aim to achieve
  • The timeframe for their implementation
  • Who the beneficiaries will be

In the fourth part applicants should write about how the impact of their work could be best measured and evidenced.

Applicants are also asked to:

  • Confirm what their award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship programme.
  • Confirm what their career plans are for the 5 years following the Scholarship.
  • Confirm their long-term career plans.
  • Provide a detailed plan of study.
  • Provide a personal statement to summarise the ways in which their personal background has encouraged them to want to make an impact in their home country. Applicants may wish to highlight any areas where they have already made significant contributions, including overcoming personal or community barriers in accessing higher education or within their field.
  • Summarise the ways in which they have engaged in voluntary activities and the opportunities they have had to demonstrate leadership.

Selection Process and criteria

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

  • Academic merit
  • Quality of research proposal
  • Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s come country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria .

Applicants should note the criteria carefully and link their answers in the application form to each point listed.

Scholarships are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement for a specific programme of research for 36 months of full-time study only. For the full list, see here: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/uk-universities

Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made.

Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study only and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time.

The CSC does not provide new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas, defined as the extraction, production, transportation, refining and marketing of crude oil, natural gas or thermal coal, as well as any fossil-fuel fired power plants.

Applicants must make clear in the application which qualification they are applying for. This will enable the CSC to consider the application in the correct category. Applications which do not make this clear may be considered ineligible.

Applicants are advised to list three universities and supervisors that they think are the most appropriate for their study, in order of preference, and to explain their reasons. This is important because the CSC will not change the university or supervisor (or the order of preference) of a provisionally selected candidate after the point of selection, unless exceptional information becomes available that could not have been foreseen at the time of application.

Applicants may propose to study at one university for a four-year PhD, but this must be based in a recognised Doctoral Training Centre. They must research this option thoroughly and justify its added value compared with a three-year PhD. As the CSC will fund only a limited number of four-year PhDs, applicants are strongly advised to also propose at least one three-year PhD choice.

The CSC will make the final decision on institution of study, and reserves the right to overrule any preferences indicated by the candidate. The CSC will consider the suitability of the course and its value for money when deciding on any overrule.

Applicants must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to their preferred universities in advance of their scholarship application. Many courses have strict admission deadlines and candidates should check admission requirements carefully when applying. If an applicant is selected for a scholarship and has not applied and been accepted for a course, it may not be possible to proceed with the scholarship.

Applicants must provide a supporting statement for a named supervisor from at least one of the UK universities to which they are applying. Details of what the supporting statement should include are outlined in the supporting documentation section. Applicants are strongly advised to provide a supporting statement from a supervisor at the first choice university. If not, the CSC reserves the right to select for placement at another university for which a statement is provided.

Each scholarship provides:

  • Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
  • Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
  • Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (the cost of one economy class return airfare to the fieldwork location), where approved.
  • Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to the Scholar’s home country, unless they have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork.
  • If a Scholar is accompanied by their spouse but no children: spouse allowance of £290 per month for a maximum period of nine months, if they and their spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless the spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
  • If a Scholar is accompanied by their spouse and children: spouse allowance of £290 per month and child allowance of £290 per month for the first child, and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their spouse and children are living with them at the same address in the UK (unless their spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
  • If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £576.61 per month for the first child, and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.

If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars .

Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

For the CSC to administer the application effectively and efficiently after submission, it will be necessary to create a record in the applicant’s name. If they apply for an award to the CSC, their details will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research. The CSC is committed to protecting personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about applicants and what we do with it. To find out more, see our privacy notice .

Applicant’s personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks to CSC’s satisfaction, before CSC proceeds with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, however further information may be requested, so we ask for full co-operation to speed up the process.

If an applicant does not agree to personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, unfortunately CSC will not be able to proceed further with the application process.

If an application is successful, the CSC will notify the applicant that they have been provisionally selected (selected for an award subject to the CSC agreeing terms of admission to the university) at which point they will be a provisional scholarship candidate.

The CSC does not require any applicants to take an IELTS (English language) test.

The CSC will not be able to offer a scholarship if it would contravene the terms and conditions of another scholarship previously held.

When terms of admission to the university have been agreed, the CSC will provide a Notification of Award (formal offer of a scholarship).

When all conditions of the Notification of Award have been met, the CSC will provide a formal Confirmation of Award.

Candidates will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form  before the Confirmation of Award can be issued.

Candidates will be required to sign an undertaking to return to their home country as soon as possible after the end of the award.

Candidates are expected to start the award on the date stated in the Notification of Award.

If a candidate requires a Student visa to come to the UK to study, they must meet all relevant immigration requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration. They should check the GOV.UK website for updated information.

All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration and are subject to change. The CSC has no control over these regulations.

Candidates will be selected for an award based on the plan of study outlined on the application form, which is not expected to change significantly during the award. Any such changes must be agreed by the CSC.

Throughout their award, Scholars are expected to reside in the UK, and must seek approval from the CSC in advance of any overseas travel.

Scholars must not undertake paid employment during the award without approval from the CSC in advance.

Collaboration is a feature of doctoral research. The CSC expects that participants in collaborative projects will develop a collaborative agreement to clarify the contributions and rights of each partner. The CSC will not get involved in negotiating an exploitation agreement but will need to be assured that an arrangement acceptable to all parties exists. Arrangements should be made to identify, protect, and value any arising intellectual property and to secure a suitable return to the institution and the investigators through exploitation. The CSC considers the intellectual property ownership to lie initially with the student; however, many universities have their own locally applicable policy. In many cases, it is in the best interest of a student for ownership to be vested with the university, which will have greater negotiating powers and will be likely to be able to seek the best returns in any exploitation agreement. Award holders are expected to notify the CSC when CSC-funded intellectual property is exploited.

The CSC will consider a request to extend a Scholar’s leave to remain in the UK after their award only if they wish to move from Master’s to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.

The CSC cannot provide a letter of support or permission for Scholars to remain in or return to the UK after the award to enable them to work or undertake postdoctoral study.

The following are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship; an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council; or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner or a relative of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner. Former employees of the organisations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them.

In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years.

Applicants are expected to adhere to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders and the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure .

An award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, or attendance, or if registration is suspended or terminated by the university for any reason.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedure at and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud .

The CSC is committed proactively to safeguard and promote the welfare of our beneficiaries, and to protect its staff, Commissioners, beneficiaries and all those with whom the CSC comes into contact. The CSC requires staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding. Applicants should note the  CSC Safeguarding Policy which sets out the obligation for staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding.  Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Commission at:   [email protected]

All conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars . Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

For general information about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships, please see our FAQs page.

For queries not covered on the website, please use the contact us form .

Privacy Overview

  • Log in
  • Site search

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, a University of Manchester 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 .

How would you rate this page?

On a scale where 1 is dislike and 5 is like

  • Dislike 1 unhappy-very
  • Like 5 happy-very

Thank you for rating the page

Browser does not support script.

  • Undergraduate
  • Executive education
  • Study Abroad
  • Summer schools
  • Online certificate courses
  • International students
  • Meet, visit and discover LSE

PhDStudentships-banner-1400x300

LSE PhD Studentships

It was a huge honour to receive funding from such a prestigious institution

For 2024 entry, LSE will be offering studentships to new PhD students, in 2023 this was 88, in the form of LSE PhD Studentships, LSE DTP  ESRC Studentships  and London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP)  Studentships.

The awards are open to high calibre students of all nationalities studying across all research areas at the School.

Eligibility

LSE PhD Studentships are tenable for four years and cover full fees and an annual stipend, which for 2024 entry is £21,237. They are available for UK and international students undertaking research in any LSE discipline, with annual renewal subject to satisfactory academic performance.

These awards will be made solely on the basis of outstanding academic merit and research potential. This relates both to your past academic record and to an assessment of your likely aptitude to complete a PhD in your chosen topic in the time allocated.

How to apply

Academic departments nominate students for consideration by a School panel for all PhD funding opportunities they may be eligible for. There is no separate application for any of these studentships.

To be considered for this funding, you must submit your complete application for admission to LSE by a specific date. This date differs by academic department. Refer to the individual programme page for the relevant deadline information.  Find your graduate programme .

  • deadline for the research programme in the Law School for 2024 entry: 1 December 2023
  • deadline for the research programme in the Department of Economics for 2024 entry (including PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 14 December 2023
  • funding deadline for first round of PhD Studentships and for ESRC funding for 2024 entry: 15 January 2024
  • London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) PhD Scholarships  deadline: 26 January 2024, 17:00 GMT
  • funding deadline for second round of PhD Studentships deadline for 2024 entry (some departments only): 25 April 2024

Find out about ESRC Studentships .

More information on how to apply for a place on a PhD programme .

Student stories

Katherine_Furman_170x230

"I received an LSE PhD Studentship, which covers both my tuition and living expenses. It was a huge honour to receive funding from such a prestigious institution and without this support it would have been impossible for me to pursue my PhD."

Katherine Furman East London, South Africa MPhil/PhD Philosophy LSE PhD Studentship

32-lif-747x420

ESRC Studentships Scholarships for PhD study and master's linked to a PhD

fawaz-gerges-747x420

How to apply The application process, UCAS and when to apply

student-services-sign-747x420

Undergraduate fees and funding Details on available scholarships, bursaries, loans and tuition fees

library-study-group-747x420

Graduate fees and funding Details on available scholarships, bursaries, loans and tuition fees

Freshers_Fair_0499_800x450_16-9_sRGBe

Contact us Get in touch with the Financial Support Office

houghton-st-sign-trees-747x420

Meet, visit and discover LSE Webinars, videos, on campus events and visits around the world

Cookies on our website

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our site. And we'd like to serve you some cookies set by other services to show you relevant content.

PhD funding

Create ground-breaking research with our funded PhD opportunities and PhD scholarships for UK and international students.

We add PhD scholarships throughout the year so keep checking this page for updates.

Find PhD funding and scholarships

Browse all available awards .

Other PhD funding sources

phd funding in uk for international students

PhD funding sources for international students

phd funding in uk for international students

Doctoral training centres and partnerships

You may be eligible for a PhD loan of up to £28,673. Read more about  PhD loans .

The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding

The University also subscribes to the The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online . The Guide contains a huge database of funding opportunities, comprehensive guidance written by successful applicants, and numerous tools to help you prepare a winning grant application.

If you are a current Sussex student you can register for the Guide with your Sussex email address. If you are a prospective postgraduate student who has applied to Sussex, please use the following authentication PIN to register for the Guide: 6789

Our Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships

We have scholarships and studentships funded by the following doctoral training centres and partnerships :

  • be.AI Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships  (Leverhulme Trust)
  • CHASE (funded by AHRC - the Arts and Humanities Research Council)
  • The Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme: From Sensation to Perception and Awareness
  • Sussex STFC studentships (funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council)
  • DISCnet Centre for Doctoral Training (funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council)
  • SeNSS – the South-East Network for Social Sciences (funded by the Economic and Social Research Council - ESRC)
  • SoCoBio Doctoral Training Partnership (funded by BBSRC – the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council)
  • Sussex EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  • UKRI Food Systems

Our doctoral training partnerships and centres funded by the UK Research Councils (UK Research and Innovation) are open to UK and International students according to the UKRI student eligibility rules . Up to 30% of each cohort of students may be International, but International PhD fees are not covered by the scholarships.

For information on eligibility, please check the current UKRI guidance .

Sussex PhD funding partners

We have scholarships and studentships funded by:

  • CHASE (funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council)
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council
  • South-East Network for Social Sciences (funded by the Economic and Social Research Council).

Ways to pay for your research, training and living costs

You can also:

  • look for a part-time job (on campus or in Brighton & Hove) - you may have working restrictions if you have a visa
  • teach other students (this depends on your project and where you're based, so check with your supervisor or research group)
  • apply for researcher funding while you study through the Doctoral School.

You may be  eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance  If you have a learning difficulty, health problem or disabiity. Email  [email protected]  for information on disability support.

You might also be interested in:

  • PhD research support
  • PhD degrees

Postgraduate research

Postgraduate research funding for international (including EU) students

We offer scholarships, bursaries and other funding to help you with tuition fees and living expenses.

Funding opportunities open and close all the time, so please check this page throughout the year.

Types of funding

Government schemes, like Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), are the main sources of financial support for postgraduate researchers. We award over £7m of funding each year through  UK Research and Innovation (ukri.org).

These opportunities are open to students who pay tuition fees at the overseas rate. If you're unsure whether you're classed as a UK or international student for fee purposes,  check your fee status .

  • Funding for students with disabilities

If you have a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability, you may be eligible for additional financial support.

Funding opportunities

The following opportunities are currently open for applications.

[email protected] +44 (0)1904 325962

Related links

  • Country-specific funding
  • Tuition fee rates
  • Living costs
  • International students
  • Teach while you study

ONAOSI Foundation Scholarship

We're proud to offer limited National Opera for the Assistance of Italian Health Orphans scholarships for students entering a one-year taught or research Masters.

  • Funding: Full tuition fee waiver
  • Academic year: 2023/24
  • Open to: Students from Italy

China Scholarships Council Scholarship

We're pleased to offer up to ten joint-funded PhD scholarships in collaboration with the China Scholarships Council.

  • Funding: 100% of tuition fees for the full duration, which is typically three years; a grant for living costs; one return flight from China; UK visa fees
  • Academic year: 2024/25
  • Open to: Students from China

Commonwealth Scholarship

The University of York is a host university for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Various opportunities are available throughout the year. The majority of awards are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

  • Funding: various
  • Open to: Students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize and more ( see eligibility )

Tan Kah Kee Scholarship

The Tan Kah Kee Scholarship offers postgraduate scholarships for Singapore citizens and permanent residents pursuing full-time PhD or Masters degrees.

  • Funding: $12,000
  • Application deadline: Friday 31 May 2024, 11.30am BST
  • Open to: Students from Singapore

John Monash Scholarship

The John Monash Scholarship provides yearly funding to outstanding postgraduate taught and research students from Australia.

  • Funding: $75,000 AUD for each year of study
  • Application deadline: Saturday 20 July 2024, 5pm BST
  • Open to: Students from Australia

Departmental opportunities

Many of our departments and centres offer additional opportunities and specialised guidance on funding your studies.

  • Centre for Applied Human Rights
  • Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies
  • Centre for Health Economics
  • Centre for Medieval Studies
  • Centre for Modern Studies
  • Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
  • Department of Archaeology
  • Department of Biology
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Economics and Related Studies
  • Department of Education
  • Department of English and Related Literature
  • Department of Environment and Geography
  • Department of Health Sciences
  • Department of History
  • Department of History of Art
  • Department of Language and Linguistic Science
  • Department of Mathematics
  • Department of Philosophy
  • Department of Politics and International Relations
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Sociology
  • Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre
  • School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • School for Business and Society
  • School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
  • York Law School

Other schemes and resources

External opportunities are not vetted or endorsed by the University.

  • Commonwealth Scholarships (cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk)
  • Open Society Foundations (opensocietyfoundations.org)
  • University Scholarship Search  (foreignstudents.com)
  • USA Direct Loans for postgraduates

Previous opportunities

Many funding opportunities are renewed annually. Some of those listed below may reopen for applications later in the year.

  • ‌Saïd Foundation Scholarship
  • Marshall Scholarship
  • NERC Panorama Doctoral Training Partnership
  • Snowdon Masters Scholarship
  • White Rose Arts and Humanities Doctoral Training Partnership
  • White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership
  • White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (collaborative)
  • Wolfson Humanities Scholarship
  • Postgraduate study
  • PhD scholarships

International student eligibility for PhD scholarships

Find out if you are eligible as an Overseas student for the University of Sheffield Scholarships, Research Council Scholarships and other potential projects and schemes.

University Scholarships

All international Students are entitled to apply for University of Sheffield Research Scholarships.   

Chinese applicants can apply for the  Joint China Scholarship Council - University of Sheffield Award .

Research Council (UKRI) scholarships

Overseas candidates are eligible to apply to Research Council schemes . UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) regulations allow these schemes to issue up to 30% of their awards to Overseas candidates.

PhD Projects Directory

Search for a University of Sheffield PhD via department, supervisor, discipline, research group, funding status or key words.

Other funding bodies

Many charities, foundations and trusts provide funding for postgraduate study, from small grants to full scholarships.  Some are for specific subject areas while others have more general eligibility criteria - see our list of  additional funding . 

Alumni Awards

The University is delighted to offer the Alumni Reward which provides a tuition fee discount to returning international students who have previously completed a full undergraduate degree, Masters or PhD programme at the University.

Further information and an application form can be found on the  Alumni rewards  web pages.

Further information

If you have any questions about scholarships please see our  FAQs  or email  [email protected] .

Apply for a PhD at Sheffield

Visit our Applying Essentials page for guidance on the application process and a link to our online application form.

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

The University of Manchester

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about this subject area

PhD Education / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

  • View full page
  • Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
  • Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 19 January 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

  • For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024

Programme options

Programme overview.

  • 2nd in the UK for Education (Complete University Guide 2024).  
  • The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK for Education research (overall GPA, REF2021).
  • Learn with research-active experts in the field of education and work with highly diverse cohorts of students and staff.
  • Contribute to improvements in the overall wellbeing of students, their families and communities throughout the world through research.

Please enable JavaScript to watch this video.

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and programmes. On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see Open days.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
  • PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £3,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Your fees will cover the cost of your study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation (excluding graduation robe hire).

Payment of tuition fees will also entitle you to membership of The University of Manchester library, the Students' Union and the Athletic Union.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Environment, Education and Development studentships is 19 January 2024.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

  • ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
  • School of Environment, Education and Development Postgraduate Research Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
  • China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
  • Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
  • President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
  • Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
  • Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
  • School of Environment, Education and Development Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Studentship - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
  • Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

phd funding in uk for international students

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

phd funding in uk for international students

  • Education and learning
  • Student finance

Postgraduate scholarships for international students

You can apply for a postgraduate scholarship from the UK government to cover things like course fees and the cost of living when you study in the UK.

International students from the EU aren’t eligible for these scholarships. If you’re from Malta or Cyprus you can still apply for Commonwealth Scholarships.

There are also undergraduate scholarships available if you’re from the Falkland Islands, St Helena or the Seychelles.

Apply for a scholarship to do a one-year taught masters

Check if your country is eligible for a Chevening Scholarship.

You can apply for a Chevening Scholarship if all of the following apply:

you have an undergraduate degree

you have at least 2 years’ eligible work experience

you meet the Chevening English language requirements

Check when you can apply for this scholarship.

If you’re from a Commonwealth country

If you’re from a developing Commonwealth country you can apply for funding for:

  • a split-site PhD

If you’re from a developed Commonwealth country you can only apply for funding for a PhD or a split-site PhD.

Check the eligibility for the different Commonwealth Scholarship schemes.

If you’re from the USA

You can apply for a Marshall Scholarship to do a masters or a PhD if all the following apply:

  • you graduated from a 4-year undergraduate course in the USA in the last 3 years
  • you got a GPA of 3.7 or more in your degree
  • you haven’t studied for a UK degree before

Related content

Is this page useful.

  • Yes this page is useful
  • No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab) .

Imperial College London Imperial College London

Latest news.

phd funding in uk for international students

US health research agency ARPA-H sets out funding vision during Imperial visit

phd funding in uk for international students

Seven Imperial scientists elected as Fellows of the Royal Society

phd funding in uk for international students

GSK backs Imperial’s Fleming Initiative with £45m pledge to fight AMR

  • Fees and funding
  • Postgraduate doctoral
  • Grants and scholarships

President's PhD scholarships

phd funding in uk for international students

  • What the scholarship covers

Check if you're eligible

How to apply, review and selection, when you'll hear, current scholar or imperial staff member.

If you have a question about the application process/application form, please speak with the relevant Admissions department and/or your department or supervisor.

If you have a question about our President's PhD Scholarships, please email the Student Financial Support team:  [email protected]

If you are a high performing undergraduate or Master's student and have a strong desire to undertake a PhD programme at a world-class research institution, a President's PhD Scholarship could provide you with the outstanding opportunity to receive full funding for tuition fees and a generous stipend for a 3.5 year PhD place at Imperial College London.

The President’s PhD Scholarships allow students to undertake a research project of their choosing with the support of an excellent supervisor, alongside cohort-building opportunities with other President's PhD Scholars.

Meet our scholars

Read stories of Imperial students who have received a President's PhD Scholarship.

What the scholarship covers

Each of the 50 scholarships available provides the following support during the 3.5 years of study:

  • Full funding for tuition fees
  • A stipend of £25,150 (2024-25 rate) per annum to assist with living costs 
  • A consumables fund of £2,000 per annum for the first 3 years of study
  • A programme of bespoke opportunities and events delivered by the Graduate School

You will also have access to the  full range of support available to postgraduates at Imperial, including tailored support for disabled and international students, and the wider Graduate School programme of professional skills courses.

This competitive scheme has higher than usual eligibility requirements, attracting candidates that show excellent academic performance and promising research potential. 

We accept applications from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide. There are no restrictions on nationality.

The scholarship applies to both full- and part-time study.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, as we recognise that diversity not only benefits Imperial but also helps the sector to better represent the communities that we serve.

Academic criteria

  • Candidates must be in receipt of, or due to receive, a  first class or equivalent  in an undergraduate or integrated Masters degree; or if this has not been achieved
  • Candidates must be in receipt of (or where this has yet to be received be able to provide evidence of high performance that will lead to) a distinction in a standalone Master’s qualification.

This allows candidates who have demonstrated excellence at Master's level, but not achieved a first class undergraduate degree, to be able to apply to the scheme.

Candidates with only a single undergraduate degree or integrated Master’s must still must be in receipt of, or due to receive, a first class or equivalent.

Other criteria

  • Applications are accepted from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide. There are no restrictions on nationality, although some departments may be unable to support international candidates.
  • The scheme is only open to new PhD applications. Current registered Imperial PhD students are  not eligible  to be considered for a President's PhD Scholarship.

Read our scholarships terms and conditions .

Applications for this scholarship scheme will be considered at three points throughout the academic year – see 'When you'll hear' below.

Before you apply

  • You must have made contact with a supervisor in an academic department at Imperial College London who has agreed to supervise your research project.
  • Supervisors are limited to supervise one scholar at any time. Please review the  President's PhD Scholarships - Unavailable Supervisors page for more information.

Application process

  • There isn't specific scholarship application form. 
  • You should submit your application for admission to study at Imperial through our  online admissions system  and your department will put you forward for the scholarship based on academic merit and potential.

Scholarship-specific instructions for the admissions process are below; you must also meet any additional application requirements stated by your department of choice.

Additional admissions instructions

  • For the 2024–25 academic year, the earliest start date for funded places is 1 August 2024, the latest start date is 1 November 2024.
  • the first page should be a personal statement (motivations for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, and any other supporting information not included elsewhere on the form that you feel will enhance your application)
  • the second page should be your research proposal. You may submit updated versions of this statement if required following application submission if your department shortlists you for the scholarship. You are encouraged to write in the first person. 
  • When prompted for the names of  two academic referees , these should be people who can provide an academic reference in support of your application (e.g. your personal tutor or yopur thesis supervisor). You should not include your proposed PhD supervisor. You are encouraged to share  this guidance  with your two referees, noting, in particular, the recommendation to use ‘they/them’ language (rather than gender pronouns).
  • To be considered for the President's PhD Scholarship scheme, you must select this option in the funding section of the additional questions tab within the online application form.

50 scholarship places are available. Applications will be reviewed by a two-stage process:

  • Candidates meeting or predicted to meet the eligibility criteria will be reviewed by the Department to which they have applied. Departments will select a shortlist of candidates to present to the College Selection Panel for consideration. 
  • A Faculty allocation stage will score and rank candidates in Departmental shortlists, making initial offers to the most promising candidates. Faculty Vice Deans present these candidates with justification for offers at the College Selection Panel.
  • The College Selection Panel makes additional offers from a ring-fenced allocation to candidates that meet widening participation or other strategic alignment goals. 

Assessment criteria

Candidates are assessed by the Faculties and College Selection Panel against the following criteria:

  • past academic results
  • transcripts
  • relative class position
  • distinctions
  • the candidate’s research experience to date
  • their interest in discovery
  • the research plan and its potential contribution as described in their research proposal
  • the departmental statement, which also reflects on performance at interview

Successful candidates will receive written confirmation of their scholarship. Any offer of a PhD place will be conditional on the candidate receiving the predicted qualifications.

Applicants not selected for the scholarship will automatically be considered for a standard PhD.

Successful candidates will receive written confirmation of their scholarship. Any offer of a PhD place will be conditional on the candidate receiving the predicted qualifications.

  • Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) 6 November 2023  and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by  end of  January 2024. 
  • Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time)  8 January 2024  and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by  end of  March 2024.
  • Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time)  4 March 2024  and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by end of  May 2024.

If you're a current Imperial President's PhD Scholar or Imperial staff member, please find information for you at the following links:

  • information for current scholars
  • information for Imperial staff

ukscholarships

Ph.D Scholarships UK - Ph.D Funding UK 2024-2025

If you want to take your Ph.D program in UK but you need financial support, below is a list of available Ph.D scholarships for International students in UK  2024-2025. These Ph.D grants uk are made available by universities in UK

  • Fully funded

phd funding in uk for international students

University Of Birmingham PhD Scholarship for Black British Researchers 2024

The PhD will provide a unique opportunity to engage with an under-researched collection of African art at the University of Birmingham (UoB), a discrete collection that is part of Research and Cultural Collections (RCC) - a university museum holding full Museum Accredited status from Arts Council En

Published: 2024-04-02 Type: PhD Study in: Birmingham Deadline: January 1, 1970

phd funding in uk for international students

City Law School PhD Law Scholarships for Black British Researchers 2024

The City Law School is offering a full-time, three-year doctoral scholarships (entry in September 2024) specifically addressed to Black British applicants. Applications are invited from exceptional and ambitious graduates wishing to pursue cutting-edge research in any of the School's key rese

Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: April 1, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

University of Sussex Peter Carpenter Africa Climate Scholarship for African PhD Students 2024

This prestigious fully-funded PhD Peter Carpenter Climate Change scholarship is awarded to African citizens with top level academic qualifications. The PhD programme is hosted within the Climate Science and Society Research (CSSR) group in the Department of Geography, where there is a v

Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: Brighton Deadline: April 15, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

University of Kent Law School PhD Research Studentship in UK 2024

This studentship is offered by Kent Law School in association with the UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship project led by Dr Connal Parsley, “The Future of Good Decisions: an Evolutionary Approach to Human-AI Government Administrative Decision-Making”. The project will take a new appro

Published: 2024-03-05 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 31, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

Newcastle University PhD Studentship in Skeletal Muscle (UK) 2024

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a motivated and talented individual to join our team. Our prior studies have revealed intriguing structural changes in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, a condition characterised by mitochondrial dysfunction. Specifically, we have observed an increased

Published: 2024-02-26 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: April 30, 2024

University of Kent Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Scholarship for PhD Students 2024

The University of Kent is pleased to offer four EPSRC studentships starting in September 2024 to exceptional students undertaking PhD study in the following schools on a full-time basis: School of Physics and Astronomy School of Chemistry and Forensic Sciences School of Computing School

Published: 2024-02-22 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 24, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

University of Southampton Horizon Europe Fee Waivers for Postgraduate Students 2024

The University of Southampton is introducing a new programme to support the reassociation of the UK with the Horizon Europe programme, and the University strategy to grow the international diversity of its doctoral cohort. The University will apply a fee waiver - equivalent to the diffe

Published: 2024-02-20 Type: PhD Study in: Southampton Deadline: Not Specified

phd funding in uk for international students

University Of Portsmouth PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Narcissus 2024

This Ph.D. project explores the rarely studied area of corona structures in Narcissus flowers, highlighting the striking species-to-species variation. To solve the puzzles surrounding corona development, the research combines cooperative efforts, high-throughput DNA sequencing, developmental genetic

Published: 2024-02-16 Type: PhD Study in: Portsmouth Deadline: March 1, 2024

Newcastle University Konishi Foundation Scholarship for PhD Students 2024

The Konishi Foundation Scholarship provides support to an excellent candidate who wishes to pursue a PhD in Politics in topics related to East Asian politics within the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University. For purposes of this call, East Asia includes China, Hong Kong

Published: 2024-02-16 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: February 19, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

King’s College CMCI London African Music PhD Scholarship 2024

The researcher will be based in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI),  King’s College London and co-supervised by Professor Roberta Comunian (Professor of Creative Economies in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) and&n

Published: 2024-02-15 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 19, 2024

King’s College London Afro Beats And Afro Bytes: PhD Studentship for African Students 2024

The researcher will be based in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI),  King’s College London and co-supervised by Professor Roberta Comunian (Professor of Creative Economies in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) and Dr Eka

Published: 2024-02-13 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 19, 2024

Newcastle University AHRC-funded PhD Studentship in Early Modern Studies 2024

Interested in early modern books, print culture and politics? This project investigates how the early modern English state used the book trade guild known as the Stationers’ Company to censor publications.  You will work with the Stationers’ Company’s extensive archive (in

Published: 2024-02-12 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: February 28, 2024

Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarships (NUORS) for International PhD Students 2024 entry

Newcastle University is committed to offering support to the very best international students hoping to pursue a programme of research. We are pleased to offer a small number of University funded NUORS awards for outstanding international students who apply to commence PhD studies in any subject in

Published: 2024-02-08 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: May 10, 2024

Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarships (NUORS) 2024 entry

Published: 2024-02-07 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: May 10, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

University of Bristol Black Heritage PhD Scholarships 2024

We welcome applications for full scholarships to postgraduate research programmes starting in 2024. As part of our commitment to the Black community, the University of Bristol has launched a number of postgraduate research scholarships exclusively for students of Black heritage for 2024/25 entry.

Published: 2024-02-02 Type: PhD Study in: Bristol Deadline: February 27, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

University of Leeds Business School Marketing Department Scholarship 2024

Doctoral research students in marketing will develop the ability to pursue research that advances the frontiers of the marketing discipline and solves business and marketing problems using advanced research tools and techniques. They will learn how to derive implications from their research results

Published: 2024-01-23 Type: PhD Study in: Leeds Deadline: April 26, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

University Of Manchester Dean's Doctoral Scholarship Award 2024

These scholarships are open to all nationalities and across all research areas, and will be of interest to students of the highest calibre who have the commitment and desire to work on challenging research projects in a world leading research environment.  

Published: 2024-01-18 Type: PhD Study in: Manchester Deadline: March 31, 2024

phd funding in uk for international students

Regent's University London PhD Progression Scholarship 2023

Regent's PhD Progression Scholarships reward the loyalty of undergraduate students or taught postgraduate students who progress to enrol on a PhD degree with us. It's our way of saying thank you.  

Published: 2024-01-18 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: Not Specified

phd funding in uk for international students

University of Edinburgh 2023 Informatics Global PhD Scholarship

If you have a strong academic record of accomplishment at undergraduate or Masters level, and are highly motivated to pursue a PhD programme in the School of Informatics at The University of Edinburgh, you could be selected to receive a full PhD scholarship.  Applicants who submit a programm

Published: 2024-01-12 Type: PhD Study in: Edinburgh Deadline: April 26, 2024

University of Edinburgh Law School & Cameron PhD Scholarship to Study In UK, 2024

Edinburgh Law School offers a number of full PhD studentships, one of which is provided through a generous bequest from alumnus Ewen Cameron in his name. These scholarships will pay tuition fees and an annual stipend in line with UKRI rates (approximately £18,662 per annum). The stipend wil

Published: 2024-01-11 Type: PhD Study in: Cardiff Deadline: February 1, 2024

Best UK Scholarships

  • Masters Scholarship at University of Birmingham 2024
  • British Council GREAT Scholarship at University of York 2024
  • University of East Angelia Black Scholarship for Undergraduate UK Students 2024
  • University of Leeds School of History International Excellence Scholarship for Postgraduate Students 2024
  • Swansea University Eira Francis Davies Scholarship for Female Students 2024
  • University of Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships 2024
  • British Council Research Fellowships at University of Edinburgh 2024
  • University of Leeds School of Media and Communication Excellence Scholarship for International Students 2024

Study in UK Tips

  • UK Education Grading System 2024
  • 20 Cheapest University in London for International Students 2024-2025
  • List of Nursing Salaries in UK 2024
  • 20 Top Law Universities UK 2024 - Best Law Degrees UK 2024
  • 27 Motivation Letter for Scholarship Samples / Templates (pdf)
  • 35 Interview Questions and Answers for UK Student Visa 2024 (PDF)
  • 13 UK International Student Loan 2024
  • 20 Top Universities in UK for masters in data science 2024-2025

Scholarships by UK City

  • Newcastle upon Tyne

Scholarships by Category

  • Postgraduate
  • Undergraduate
  • College School
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Women Scholarships
  • Best Scholarships
  • Fully Funded

Scholarships by Schools / Sponsors

  • City University London
  • Imperial College London
  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Leeds

Scholarships by Country of Origin

  • African Students
  • Developing Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Scholarships

  • Undergraduate Scholarships
  • Masters Scholarships
  • MBA Scholarships
  • Ph.D Scholarships
  • Fellowship Scholarships
  • Fully Funded Scholarships
  • UK Student Visa Application
  • Cheap Student Accommodation London
  • Reasons To Study In The UK
  • List of All UK Universities
  • How To Get Scholarship In The UK
  • Best Cities In UK For International Students

Other Locations

  • Scholarships for International Students
  • Scholarships in Canada
  • Scholarships for Nigerian Students
  • Scholarships for African Students
  • Study Abroad Community

X

UCL Scholarships and funding

  • Postgraduate research students

Menu

Funding for students on postgraduate research courses

There are loans and financial awards available to help pay for fees and living costs while your studying for your research degree.

Current scholarship spotlight

This guidance is for students studying for an MPhil, PhD or Doctorate at UCL and includes:

  • How much does a PhD cost?
  • UCL studentships and scholarships
  • Charities and trusts
  • Government loans

Funding for disabled students

Other sources of funding.

  • Current PhD Students

How much does a postgraduate research degree cost?

When calculating the cost of a postgraduate research degree there are two elements to consider - tuition fees and living costs.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees will vary from programme to programme and depend on your fee classification . Check the  Graduate Prospectus  for information on what your fees may be for any particular programme.

Living costs

The amount spent on living costs may vary greatly from student to student and depend on lifestyle and individual circumstances. Information on the cost of study can be found on  UCL's cost of study page .

UCL Studentships and Scholarships

Uk research and innovation (ukri) studentships.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are responsible for investing public money in research in the UK. UCL departments apply to specific Research Councils for funding and then nominate the students they believe should receive the awards.

Research Council studentships are open to UK and overseas residents. International students may also apply to a limited number of studentships with 'open eligibility'. This funding will usually pay your PhD fees and may also provide a stipend for living costs, depending on eligibility.

To apply for Research Council funding,   contact your UCL department directly   and they will confirm their application process.

For further information on eligibility and value, you can check the individual Research Councils' websites: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Biotechnology & 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)

UCL Studentships

Individual academic departments may offer their own awards (wholly funded by them or jointly funded with an industrial sponsor). You can do a search of the UCL studentships that are currently available by using the   UCL PhD Opportunties Search.

UCL's Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)   also provide research positions funded by the Research Councils.

You are also advised to check directly with your admitting department for the most up to date funding information.

If you receive a UCL studentship and have questions about how it is paid,   please read this page of information about your studentship .

UCL Scholarships

UCL also administers a range of scholarships for research students from the UK and overseas.   Use the scholarship finder to see what might be available .

Charities and Trusts

Some large research charities have substantial budgets for scholarships and grants.

Eligibility requirements for some of the major research charities are available through the links below:

  • Leverhulme Trust
  • Wellcome Trust

Many other smaller organisations provide funding to PhD students.   Turn 2 Us Grants Search   database contains information on over 3,000 charitable funds offering welfare and educational grants, as well as other support and services.

The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online   is a portal for alternative sources of funding - especially charities - which can make awards (fees, maintenance, research costs) to any student regardless of subject or nationality.  UCL has purchased a licence to the Guide so it’s free for all students and staff to use. If you are a prospective student who has applied to the university, please   contact the Student Funding team  to access the PIN.

Lists of charitable grants and awards are kept in the following directories which are held in UCL libraries - see references below:

Charities Digest: Selected charities & voluntary organisations

  • 1x Main Library - Reference R 20 CHA
  • 1x IOE Library - Reference Collection, Level 4, RF3 HEW CHA

Directory of Grant Making Trusts 

  • 2x Main Library - Reference R 20 DIR
  • 1x IOE Library - Reference Collection, Level 4, RF3 HEW DIR

Grants Register

  • 1x Main Library - Ref Collection M, Reference R 20 GRA
  • 1x School of Pharmacy Library - Reference Shelves, Pharmacy 378.3 GRA

Guide to Educational Grants

  • 1x Main Library - Reference R 20 GUI
  • 1x IOE Library -  Reference Collection, Level 4, RF3 EDU

Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need

Government Loans

Some governments provide loans or finanical support to students at PhD level, so it is worth checking with your home government whether there is any support available.

Below are the governmental loans that the UCL funding team help to administer. 

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan from Student Finance 

Some students may be eligible for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan from Student Finance. This loan acts as a contribution towards the cost of study. It is unlikely that it will cover the cost of both tuition fees and maintenance. Students can borrow up to £28,673 (2023/24 figure) for their whole course.

Eligibility

Information on the loan including full eligibility details can be found on the Student Finance Doctoral Loan  website.

Please note that you must be doing a full standalone doctoral degree to be eligible for the loan. You will not be eligible for the loan if you are studying on a modular/flexible mode of attendance, or if you enter the second or third year of a doctoral course using prior attainment from previous study towards your doctoral degree under UCL's Recognition of Prior Learning scheme .

How your Postgraduate Doctoral Loan might affect your benefits

If you receive means-tested benefits, 30% of the maximum Postgraduate Doctoral Loan that is available in a single academic year is treated by the Department for Work and Pensions as being for living costs and hence will be considered income when assessing any benefit award. For benefit purposes, you will be treated as having this amount, regardless of whether you actually take up the loan. 

Interest and Repayment

You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled. 

Find out more about interest and repayment of Student Finance loans on the  Student Finance repayment website .

YouTube Widget Placeholder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHUdbf2nFfU

Sharia-compliant loans

The government has been looking into the possibility of an alternative  Sharia-compliant funding system  which would be available alongside traditional student loans. However, at present, this system is not yet in place.

UCL participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans). This is the main U.S. Federal funding available to American students in the UK. 

The processing of loans at schools outside the US is different from the process when applying to a school inside the US. Students applying to Direct Loans for study at UCL should follow the instructions carefully as we will not be able to administer your loan unless you submit that application to the Student Funding Office as outlined in the guidance.

Find out more about US Loans

Canadian Loans

Students from Canada may be able to apply for Canada Student Loans and provincial or territorial student assistance. 

Find out more about Canadian Loans

Postgraduate research students who have a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty and are being funded by one of the seven UK Research Councils can apply for Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) to help with additional study-related requirements.

You should contact the Disability Adviser or named contact on disability matters at your Research Council for advice.

The UK Research and Innovation DSA Framework names the DSA contacts at each of the UK Research Councils .

If you have a disability, mental health problem, or specific learning difficulty and are   not   being funding by a UK Research Council, you may still be able to access some funding for additional study-related costs from   Student Support and Wellbeing .

Disabled students who are not awarded a Disabled Students’ Allowance may also be eligible for a  Student Health Association Bursary . 

As a student, it is unlikely you will be able to claim benefits unless you have a disability or have children.

The charity  Turn2Us  have guides on what benefits students may be eligible for. 

If you are experiencing problems with your benefits, contact the Student Union Advice Service .

Council tax

Full-time students do not need to pay for council tax

From time to time external organisations contact the UCL Funding team with funding opportunities. We place these on an online Hootboard notice board . UCL does not administer or take responsibility for any of these schemes. If you are unable to access the Hootboard when logged in to a Hootboard account, please sign out and refresh the page.

Some students choose to apply for personal loans provided by private finance companies. UCL is not affiliated with or able to endorse any private loan providers. 

The UCL Doctoral School list some scholarship and funding opportunities on their website.

Online aggregators like   Postgraduate Studentships ,   Scholarship Search   and   Postgraduate Funding   list schemes.

Find a PhD has a comprehensive   guide on funding a PhD

Find out more about external funding options

Current PhD students

There are a number of   sources of financial support   for PhD students who are currently enrolled at UCL.

The Doctoral School Fellowship

The   Doctoral School Fellowship   is for current research students who, due to unforeseen circumstances, have their funding interrupted or completely withdrawn.

To qualify candidates must be progressing well academically and demonstrate that without financial assistance they would not be able to complete their studies.

The Financial Assistance Fund

The   Financial Assistance Fund   is for UCL students who fall into unexpected financial hardship. 

Short term loans

Limited cash loans of up to £250   are available to students who have experienced a delay in their normal funding being paid.

External grants and funding

Some charities and organisations give financial support to current students studying particular subjects or in particular circumstances.

One of these is the  Funds for Women Graduates   who have a range of grants to help female PhD students with living costs.

Reduce costs and increase income

If you are struggling to cover the costs of study, you can   look at ways to reduce your costs and increase your income .

As a postgraduate student, you have the opportunity to become a   Student Residence Adviser   and eliminate your accommodation costs completely by living in UCL halls. In exchange, you work in a team supporting the undergraduates who live in halls, dealing with pastoral and disciplinary issues.

Student Residence Advisor positions are advertised on the   UCL Jobs site   in May each year.

For students

  • Current Students website
  • Email web access
  • Make a payment
  • iExeter (students)
  • Programme and module information
  • Current staff website
  • Room Bookings
  • iExeter (staff)
  • Finance Helpdesk
  • IT Service Desk

Popular links

  • Accommodation
  • Job vacancies
  • Temporary workers
  • Future Leaders & Innovators Graduate Scheme

New and returning students

  • New students website
  • Returning Students Guide

Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture

  • Wellbeing services for students
  • Wellbeing services for staff
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East

Postgraduate Study - PhD and Research Degrees

  • Postgraduate Research home

PhD funding

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

  • Funded centres
  • Funding by faculty
  • EPSRC Studentships
  • Black British Researchers Studentships
  • CSC Scholarships
  • Exeter Paris-Saclay Studentships
  • Alternative funding

How can I fund my PhD?

There are all sorts of ways to fund your research degree, including research council studentships, career development loans, and employer sponsorship. These web pages will help you understand what kinds of funding are available, when it is released and how you can apply for it.

Before you start looking into how to get funding, remember to consider   how much a research degree is likely to cost.

It is always a good idea to contact the Postgraduate Research team in the   Faculty or Academic department  you are interested in studying in for details of their specific funding opportunities.

Funding postgraduate research degrees

University funding for PhDs

Class of 2021 Postgraduate Progression Award

We are pleased to offer graduating University of Exeter students completing their degree this summer and progressing direct to a research degree (eg MPhil/PhD) with us in 2021/22 a scholarship towards the cost of their first year tuition fees. Please note that this award is not recurrent for postgraduate research students.

Please visit our   Class of 2021 Progression Award page   to learn more.

Terms and conditions apply .

University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship

We are pleased to offer other University of Exeter alumni beginning a research degree (eg MPhil/PhD) with us in 2021/22 a scholarship towards the cost of their first year tuition fees. Please note that this award is not recurrent for postgraduate research students. The scholarship is available to any University of Exeter graduate who has completed one of the following:

  • graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate degree awarded by the University of Exeter
  • completed an inbound Study Abroad semester/year at the University of Exeter
  • completed a credit-bearing University of Exeter International Summer School

Please visit our   Alumni Scholarship page   to learn more.

Alumni and Class of 2021 Progression Scholarship 2021 T&Cs 20 Oct 2020 .

QUEX Institute Partnership with The University of Queensland

The University of Exeter and The University of Queensland have partnered to establish the QUEX Institute, a multi-million pound partnership designed to bolster their joint global research impact.

The partnership will strengthen a joint commitment to co-produce research of the highest quality, boost industry and business collaboration, and publish high-level policy reports designed to inform and shape key government initiatives across the globe.

Each year, 6 generous, fully-funded studentships are available for the best applicants, 3 offered by the University of Exeter and 3 by the University of Queensland. This select group will have the chance to study in the UK and Australia, and will graduate with a double degree from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland.

How much?   Full tuition fees, stipend of £15,000 p.a, travel funds of up to £15,000, and RTSG of up to £15,000 are available over the 3 year programme

Who is eligible?  Applicants should be highly motivated and have, or expect to obtain, either a first or upper-second class BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline

When is it available?  Applications for 2022/23 entry are now closed. 

For more information about the partnership, please visit the   QUEX pages .

University of Exeter Sanctuary Scholarships

The Sanctuary Scholarship scheme enables individuals seeking asylum and refugees who are not able to access student finance to study at the University of Exeter.  To find out more, check eligibility and apply, please see the  Sanctuary Scholarships  page on our funding database.

Research council PhD studentships

How much?   Full tuition fees and a generous living allowance (approximate total £20,000 per year) 

Who is eligible?  Home and International students with outstanding academic records

When is it available?   Autumn to early spring

Research Council-funded PhD studentships generally pay your tuition fees (usually in the region of £4,500 to £5,000 per year) as well as providing a generous living allowance (approximately £17,668 per year) enabling you to concentrate fully on your research full-time. Because of this, Research Council studentships are very desirable and highly competitive.

There are seven research councils in the UK which distribute government funding for research. They are presided over by   Research Councils UK , and each one faces a different area of research. In alphabetical order, they are:

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

Please be aware that the specific subjects covered by each council can and do overlap in some instances, depending on specific topics, for instance, History can fall under both the ESRC and the AHRC depending on the precise topic.

Types of award

Research Council studentships generally come in three kinds: open awards; thematic awards; and project awards. Awards given in the humanities and social sciences are usually open or thematic, meaning they are open to any pitch relevant to the specific funding council, or else are tied to a specific research area within the funding council - for instance the medical humanities.

Awards given in the sciences are usually project-based, and can be highly specific; rather than applying for funding to research your own idea, you are essentially applying for a place working on a pre-defined research project, such as genome sequencing a specific organism.

Who is eligible?

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 fees at the UK research organisation rate.

This is a change in the criteria and will come into force for the start of the 2021 academic year.  Please note up to 30% of full studentships are also available to international students which are defined as EU (excluding Irish nationals), EEA, Swiss and all other non-UK nationals.

If you have any queries about your residency status, you should speak to the appointed contact for the individual studentship before applying.

For the academic criteria, applicants should have a first or 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Equivalence may be demonstrated by qualifications gained outside of the UK or an undergraduate degree plus relevant postgraduate study, or experience in their chosen field.

Where can I find PhD studentships?

Research Council studentships are listed on the relevant  Doctoral Training Partnership  and  research topic  pages. In addition, all our current PhD studentship opportunities are searchable via the search box available on every page of this Postgraduate Research site. You will find them listed in the 'PhD Projects' tab in the search results page.

When are studentships available? 

Research Council studentships are generally open for applications during   autumn and winter , although deadlines vary and some can be as late as April. Because they are competitive and attract the very best-qualified students, it is best to start looking, and be ready to apply, from September. This means you may need to start considering funding for your PhD before teaching for your Masters has even begun, if you wish to progress directly from a taught postgraduate programme to a research degree.

Doctoral Training Partnerships

The vast majority of funding for PhDs that comes from the research councils is via Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs). These are consortia of universities who together receive bulk funding for research into specific areas. By sharing resources, expertise, and facilities, Doctoral Training Partnerships can provide outstanding support and training for PhD candidates researching within them. Most Doctoral Training Partnership-funded PhDs work on a joint-supervision basis, where your primary supervisor is from one institution and your secondary supervisor is from another.

The University of Exeter is a partner in numerous  Doctoral Training Partnerships , and is one of very few universities to be part of partnerships facing every research council.

How much?   Up to £27,892 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2022

Who is eligible?   UK nationals and Irish citizens, or those with 'settled status'

How do I pay it back?  Once you are earning over £21,000 a year, you will pay back six percent of your income each year. If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of six percent covering both postgraduate loans.

Full information can be found at   Gov.uk .

Funding solely for international students

As an international student your first action when looking for PhD funding should be to check grant-awarding bodies in your own country (for instance the Ministry or Department of Education), and your local (or nearest) office of   the British Council . The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you.

As with anyone seeking funding for a PhD, it is also worth contacting the department you with to study within, to find out more about internal funding opportunities available to outstanding candidates.

Funding opportunities for international PhD students are subject to the usual rules regarding   immigration and visas .

All International Students

British Chevening Scholarships

For students wishing to follow full-time taught or research postgraduate-level courses in any subject at UK universities or colleges in the public sector. Most scholarships are mainly for one year, but awards are also occasionally given for shorter vocational courses/research attachments. Awards are given to cover all or part of the cost of the period of study. Contact the British Embassy, British High Commission or British Council Office in your own country.

British Council Fellowship Programmes

Full scholarships for professionals in fields considered by the British Council to be of special importance in the candidate's own country. Grants are for postgraduate study or research and range from short attachments to research leading to a PhD. Grants vary in size – from small grants to fellowships which will cover fees and living expenses. For details, contact the British Council in your own country, or write to: Fellows and Scholars Department, The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN (tel: 020 7930 8466) or International Student Services Unit, Regional Services Dept, The British Council, Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6BB (tel: 0161 957 7000).

Commonwealth Students

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)   is the world's first and oldest international university network, established in 1913.

A UK-registered charity, the ACU has over 500 member institutions in developed and developing countries across the Commonwealth. The ACU administers scholarships, provides academic research and leadership on issues in the sector, and promotes inter-university cooperation and the sharing of good practice – helping universities serve their communities, now and into the future.

Commonwealth Scholarship Plan

Full scholarships for Commonwealth students to enable them to study in other Commonwealth countries. Grants are for one to three years and usually cover the cost of travel, tuition fees and living expenses. In some cases, additional allowances may be available for help with books and clothes. For details, write to: Commonwealth Awards Division, Association of Commonwealth Universities, John Foster House, 36 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PF; [email protected]

For Commonwealth students specifically interested in PhD study in the UK and at the University of Exeter, Commonwealth Scholarships for PhD and split-site PhD study are available. These are aimed at talented graduates from selected countries and normally close in June for study commencing the following September. Please see the UK's   Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website   for details. 

DFID Shared Scholarship Scheme

Scholarships for students in developing Commonwealth countries for taught courses at postgraduate (or in certain cases undergraduate) level. Preferred subjects are those relevant to the economic and social development of your own country. For details, contact the British High Commission or British Council in your own country, or write to: Department for International Development, 94 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5JL (tel: 0300 200 3343 / +44 (0) 1355 84 3132)

Canadian students

The Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund   is a charity which provides funding for academically exceptional Canadian students already registered on a postgraduate programme in the UK. The programme has to be full-time and last longer than one year. For full details please   visit their website .

Chinese students

China Scholarship Council and   University of Exeter PhD Scholarships    

The Great Britain-China Educational Trust (GBCET)   administers its own awards, and also makes awards with funds contributed by the Sino-British Fellowship Trust, the Universities' China Committee in London, and the Han Suyin Trust. The awards are meant to contribute towards applicants' university tuition fees, and living expenses.

The British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS)   provides a detailed overview of the state of funding available to researchers and students for China-related studies in the UK.

European Students

European Union (EU) citizens can apply and qualify for a full award including fees and stipend for UK research council studentships.  Each consortium of UK research council studentships cannot allocate more than 30% of the total number of awards to International students, including EU citizens. 

The EU provides some grants to promote the exchange of students and academic staff within Europe, such as the SOCRATES and LEONARDO Programmes. The European Commission (EC) also makes some awards to students from developing countries. Contact the EC office in your own country or write to the European Commission, Directorate General III, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium. Further details can also be found on the   Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS) web site .

Research collaboration in Europe extends beyond the EU and residents of European countries with organisations affiliated to the European Science Foundation may also be eligible for certain schemes.

Indian Students

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation

The major objective of the Foundation is to identify exceptionally talented young Indian students and support them financially to develop their special skill and talents to the maximum. It achieves this by awarding scholarships to outstanding young students to continue their post-graduate study/research abroad. Over the last three decades, more than 350 scholars have benefited from these scholarships.

Pakistani Students

The   Higher Education Commission   is an excellent site detailing scholarships available to Pakistani students wishing to study abroad.

USA Students

Fulbright Scholarships

Full scholarships for United States graduates to enable them to study in the UK. Write to the Graduate Students Programs, Institute of International Education (IIE), 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017- 3580, USA

British Marshall Scholarships

Full scholarships for United States citizens, who are under 26 and are graduates of United States universities, to enable them to study for a degree in the UK. For details, write to: Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, John Foster House, 36 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PF; tel: 020 7387 8572;   [email protected] . Application forms are available from United States universities and colleges, British Consulates General in the United States, or British Information Services, 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA

Charities, trusts, foundations and philanthropy

How much?  Varies: from £10 to £10,000 or more 

Who is eligible?  Varies according to provider

When is it available?   Varies according to provider

If you are not one of the lucky few able to secure a fully-funded studentship, there are still lots of ways to fund your PhD. A 'portfolio funding' approach - using lots of different, small awards and sources of funding rather than relying on one source - can really help you. Applying to educational charities can be an effective way of building up a portfolio of funding.

There are all sorts of philanthropic organisations dedicated to helping people pay for educational pursuits. These vary from major charities with millions of pounds dedicated to specialist research, to small trusts offering modest grants to help pay for books or travel. Some are very niche in their remits (funding just research into specific topics, such as the   Research Society for Victorian Periodicals , or by people from specific places or social groups), and others are much more general. It is worth researching opportunities thoroughly, and writing speculative letters to appropriate bodies who may not have formal application processes.

Finding out about what opportunities are available can be tricky; many bodies have minimal websites that are not updated regularly, and some don't have websites at all. Writing, calling, or following potential funders on social media can help.

When applying, you will need to outline the case for why you deserve funding in much the same way as you would outline your academic case for being able to do a PhD. It is worthwhile mentioning if you have already secured any awards, as this demonstrates that organisations already think you are worth funding.

Print directories of funding bodies

The Grants Register is an annual publication listing charities and other bodies that provide grants, including for education. We have   copies in our libraries . We also have copies of   The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts , a similar publication.

Find out more about charities, foundations, and trusts on   our alternative funding page .

Employer sponsorship and industry funding

How much?  Varies according to sponsor 

Who is eligible?  Varies according to sponsor

When is it available?  Varies according to sponsor

Responsible employers are always keen to develop their employees through training. While a 3-4 year full-time PhD may seem like an extreme example of staff development, it’s not unheard of, especially in technology-driven businesses and the medical and legal professions. Museums and heritage groups, and tech industries working on cultural projects (such as mobile apps), are often open to funding / working with humanities researchers. We also offer specific   professional doctorates , which are studied for alongside work, in   education   and   engineering .

Getting the support of your employer is obviously key, and you’ll need to put together a proposal for your training in much the same way as you’d need to construct a business plan for any new commercial venture.

Likewise companies often approach the University of Exeter with proposals to fund research that can further their business, and often the best way of doing this is via PhD students. Specific opportunities that arise are listed in our   Postgraduate Research search  alongside other studentships, but it may be worth talking to relevant academics in your field to find out about other possibilities that could be created for outstanding candidates.

Working while studying

How much?  Varies 

Who is eligible?  Anyone

When is it available?  All year

Working full or part-time while studying for a research degree can be incredibly demanding, but is a possibility for the many academically-capable PhD candidates who just miss out on the limited funding available. Almost 90% of students funding a PhD in this way are studying part-time, for obvious reasons.

Working while studying can also help give you key work-related skills that might be quite different to those you gain as a researcher, but just as valuable to future employers. It can also, crucially, give you a much-needed break from the intensity of PhD research.

There are several things you will need to consider. For instance, the University has   regulations on how many hours you can work alongside your studies . You will also need to make sure your employer is understanding regarding the demands that your studies will make on your time; while some research degrees allow for great flexibility of time, others will demand your presence at specific times in laboratories or workshops.

There are several opportunities to work here at the University itself while studying for a PhD, such as being a   Residence Life Mentor , or through the   Temporary Staff Bank .

Private loan providers

Some financial institutions offer specialist loans for postgraduate students. An internet search may help you identify any potential schemes, but please be aware of the terms and conditions of the scheme and the annual percentage rate in order to identify the total cost of your loan.

Connect with us

Twitter link

Information for:

  • Current students
  • New students
  • Alumni and supporters

Quick links

Streatham Campus

St Luke's Campus

Penryn Campus

Truro Campus

  • Using our site
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Modern Slavery Act Statement
  • Data Protection
  • Copyright & disclaimer
  • Privacy & cookies

The University of Edinburgh home

  • Schools & departments

Literatures, Languages & Cultures

PhD students

Funding opportunities for PhD candidates in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Postgraduate study can be expensive, and the funding available is highly competitive.

Some scholarship schemes are open to candidates on PhDs in any subject in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. Others are only open to candidates in specific subjects. See individual scholarship listings for details.

The academic year for scholarships runs from August of one year to July of the next. Application processes and deadlines vary from scholarship to scholarship and you should carefully check the Terms and Conditions of any funding sources.

Generally speaking:

  • the scholarships we have listed on this page are for applicants starting in September 2024 and January 2025.
  • if you want to begin your programme earlier than August of a given academic year, then you are not eligible to apply for the scholarship relating to that year. For example, an applicant commencing their studies in January 2024 is not eligible for a 2024 to 2025 scholarship.
  • to increase your chances of being eligible for a range of scholarships and other awards, you are strongly encouraged to apply for your PhD by early December the year before you wish to start your PhD.

Where a deadline has passed, we have indicated this in our listings and tried to give you an idea of when the next application window will open. We have also indicated where a link to further information takes you to an external website, or to a different part of the University's website.

What's available?

Sgsah (ahrc) phd studentships.

The University of Edinburgh is part of a consortium of Scottish institutions awarded funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) via the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) to support postgraduate studentships and training in the Arts and Humanities in Scotland. The award on offer is a fully-funded PhD with stipend, a robust three-and-a-half year training programme, and access to Scotland's resources through SGSAH’s strong links and national networks.

The application window for 2024 entry has now closed.  Successful applicants can expect to hear the outcome in May 2024. The application window for 2025 entry is likely to open in late September 2024 and close in mid November 2024.

Find out more about SGSAH (AHRC) PhD studentships

SGSSS (ESRC) Scottish Doctoral Training Programme

We're part of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS), a consortium of 16 universities funded by the ESRC to support postgraduate studentships and training in the Social Sciences in Scotland. PhD studentships are typically available for candidates on our Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies PhD and Chinese PhD programmes within the SGSSS Language Based Area Studies and International Development Pathway . 

The application window for 2024 entry has now closed.  Successful applicants can expect to hear the outcome in May 2024.

Find out more about SGSSS (ESRC) PhD studentships 

College Research Student Awards at the University of Edinburgh

This scheme funds a limited, and highly competitive, number of awards in Literatures, Languages and Cultures covering full tuition fees with an annual stipend (set to the UKRI level) for a maximum of three years.

The application window for 2024 entry has now closed. Successful applicants will be advised by the end of June 2024.  The application window for 2025 entry is likely to open in late November 2024 and close in early February 2025. 

Find out more about the College Research Student Awards [University website]

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships

Awarded by the University of Edinburgh, these scholarships are for UK and overseas candidates applying to start their first year of on-campus PhD study. The scholarship covers tuition fees and provides a stipend for between three and four years as agreed by the School/Deanery (or pro-rata for part time).

Find out more about the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships [University website]

John Orr Research Award (Romance languages)

This award of £2,300 per annum is for PhD research in any Romance literature, language or dialect. Candidates must be a student or graduate of the University of Edinburgh.  Preference may be given to those working in language studies:  we can typically supervise research in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Italian.

The application window for 2024 entry has now closed. Successful applicants will be advised by the end of June 2024. The application window for 2025 entry is likely to open in October 2024 and close in early May 2025. 

Find out more about the John Orr Research Award [University website]

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies PhD Scholarship

There are two PhD scholarships in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) at the University of Edinburgh. Each covers UK tuition fees for the PhD programme in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and an annual stipend. The awards are open to UK and overseas students starting their PhD in the academic year 2024 to 2025. 

Find out more and apply for the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies PhD Scholarship [University website]

Korean Studies scholarships

For entry in September 2024 or January 2025, we are delighted to offer one student paying home (Scotland/UK) rates a scholarship covering full tuition fees for three years of PhD study. 

There are also scholarships for up to four students (PhD and MSc) covering £3,000 of tuition fees in the first year of study – home and international/EU rates.

These scholarships have been made possible by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS).

The consideration window for 2024 entry (and January 2025 entry) has now closed. Successful candidates will be advised by the end of June 2024. The consideration window for September 2025 entry is likely to open in October 2024 and close in early May 2025. 

Find out more about the PhD in Korean Studies

Take me to more information about PhDs in literatures, languages and cultures

What else is out there?

The University publishes details of other funding sources that may be of interest, including UK Government Loans and studentships sponsored by external organisations.

Find out about UK Government loans and other funding sources on the University's webpages

Related links

Take me to an A-Z list of prospective student awards on the University of Edinburgh's funding webpages

Take me to a list of awards by region on the University of Edinburgh's funding webpages

  • Work & Careers
  • Life & Arts

How graduate visa scheme helped attract foreign students to UK

phd funding in uk for international students

  • How graduate visa scheme helped attract foreign students to UK on x (opens in a new window)
  • How graduate visa scheme helped attract foreign students to UK on facebook (opens in a new window)
  • How graduate visa scheme helped attract foreign students to UK on linkedin (opens in a new window)
  • How graduate visa scheme helped attract foreign students to UK on whatsapp (opens in a new window)

Peter Foster , Delphine Strauss and Anna Gross in London

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The UK government’s independent adviser on migration concluded a 14-week investigation into the UK’s visa graduate programme on Tuesday and its findings were categorical: the scheme should remain in place.

The Migration Advisory Committee’s report was commissioned by home secretary James Cleverly in March in response to concerns that the route, which allows overseas students to stay in the UK for two years after graduation, was leading to politically unsustainable levels of immigration.

The MAC’s clear findings , including that there is “no evidence” of deliberate abuse of the scheme, have placed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a bind, forcing him to either confront those on the Conservative right who want it scrapped or ignore the advisory group.

Why the fuss over foreign graduate students?

Sunak has been under pressure over the levels of legal net migration into the UK after numbers last year showed a record 745,000 for the year to June 2022, and 670,000 in the year to June 2023.

The number of foreign students staying to work after graduation increased sharply after the “graduate visa route” was introduced in 2021. More than 114,000 people claimed a graduate visa last year, almost 18 times higher than those who stayed in the UK after being sponsored for a job in 2020, the last year before the scheme was introduced.

You are seeing a snapshot of an interactive graphic. This is most likely due to being offline or JavaScript being disabled in your browser.

phd funding in uk for international students

In response to the surge in net migration, Cleverly announced a package of reforms in December. These included removing the rights of students starting one-year masters courses to bring over family members, and sharply raising salary thresholds for employers sponsoring skilled workers’ visas.

Cleverly also asked the MAC to investigate the case for making changes to the graduate route. His letter to MAC chair Professor Brian Bell raised two chief concerns.

First, that the reputation of UK universities as high-quality providers of education was “at risk” if foreign students were coming “through a desire for immigration rather than education”.

The second concern — one directly addressed in the MAC report — was that too many international students were going into low-value occupations, such as social care, when switching from graduate to skilled visas.

Cleverly said this was not what the government intended when it reintroduced the graduate route in 2021 — an earlier version was abolished in 2012 — to “attract the best and brightest students”.

What did the MAC find?

The chief finding was clear: the graduate route was not being abused.

It found that the scheme worked as intended, attracting students to the UK and helping them stay with no evidence of significant rule-breaking. Graduate visa holders swiftly found similar jobs to those of British graduates, with similar earnings. 

phd funding in uk for international students

Application levels are already falling, in part because of changes on dependants and salary thresholds, on top of other issues such as a Nigerian currency crisis that made it more expensive for Nigerian students to fund places at UK universities.

A larger issue the report raised was that universities depend on international student fees to cross-subsidise domestic students, and any change would further exacerbate the funding crisis in the sector.

There were some caveats. The first was that there was some evidence that unscrupulous recruitment agents were mis-selling courses. It said these should be subject to tighter regulation.

Second, the majority of the growth in graduate visas is to lower-ranked universities outside the elite Russell Group, which might not fit with the idea of retaining the “brightest and best” students — even though this term is not clearly defined by ministers. 

Bell noted that some very able students from poorer countries might choose lower-ranked universities, which have lower fees, for cost reasons.

The MAC also said the data Cleverly previously cited — that about half of overseas graduates switched to social care — was wrong. The actual figure is about 20 per cent.

Bell said the skew towards care work was “almost inevitable”, given that the sector faces a lower salary threshold than other industries for students to remain after the two years.

phd funding in uk for international students

Some graduates interviewed by the committee were struggling to find work to fit their qualifications. The MAC said some employers were unaware of the route’s existence, and others might be reluctant to hire people who would need a large pay rise two years later in order to stay on.

International students could also be putting upward pressure on housing costs, the committee noted — echoing other economists who believe high net migration has been a big factor driving up rental prices over the past two years.

However, it added that migrants were also likely to pay more tax than they consumed in public services, especially given the rule changes that would prevent students bringing their children in future.

What will Sunak’s government do?

After the report, Downing Street and Cleverly are set to make a decision on whether to close or limit the graduate visa route in the coming weeks. They are under severe pressure from warring factions of their party.

“Any changes to the graduate visa route should be properly informed by the evidence and the review,” a Labour spokesperson said. The university sector has also lobbied furiously against any changes , and welcomed Tuesday’s report.

Cabinet ministers have long been divided over whether to restrict the route. Backers of the current scheme include education secretary Gillian Keegan and chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Despite support from cabinet heavyweights, Sunak faces opposition from the right of his party. Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister and a staunch critic of government immigration policy, has told colleagues that the MAC report was a “stitch-up”.

He said the body was not asked to review the government’s goal of attracting 600,000 foreign students per year, and was asked to assess the extent of abuse in the visa system, rather than the social and economic impact of this type of migration.

“The MAC’s conclusions have clearly been constrained by the narrow terms of reference deliberately set by the government,” Jenrick, who is seen as a potential future leadership candidate for the Tory party, wrote on Twitter. “If you order white paint, you get a whitewash.”

Promoted Content

Follow the topics in this article.

  • UK universities Add to myFT
  • UK immigration Add to myFT
  • UK Government Add to myFT
  • Anna Gross Add to myFT
  • Peter Foster Add to myFT

International Edition

  • Share on twitter
  • Share on facebook

Ill Nigerian PhD student who complained faces losing UK visa

Home office notification of sue agazie highlights ‘weaponisation of immigration status’ by universities when students complain, say critics.

  • Share on linkedin
  • Share on mail

phd funding in uk for international students

Supporters of a Nigerian PhD student facing potential deportation after her doctoral studies were halted by illness and a breakdown in relations with her supervisor have claimed her plight highlights the precarity of international students who complain about their course.

Sue Agazie, a copywriter from Lagos, moved to the UK in January 2023 to begin a PhD in marketing at Newcastle University Business School on the understanding, she claimed, that she was likely to receive a full scholarship for her studies or would gain enough part-time academic work to cover her living costs.

However, funding and paid work did not materialise in the way suggested, said Ms Agazie, who added that she has run up huge debts to finance her PhD.

Amid a breakdown in relations with her primary supervisor over her money troubles, Ms Agazie was then diagnosed with kidney failure in September 2023.

With a formal complaint launched against Newcastle and her supervisor over allegedly misleading her over funding, Ms Agazie has now been informed that Newcastle has contacted the Home Office over her absence from supervisions – a move that could see her visa revoked.

That would mean her husband and young child, who travelled with Ms Agazie to north-east England, would also be forced to leave the country.

Her case is now being championed by Unis Resist Border Controls, a campaign group that raises awareness of how migrant university staff have  been affected by the UK’s hostile environment policies.  More than 250 people – including many PhD students and scholars – have signed a  petition  urging the Home Office to stop any visa curtailment.

Its spokeswoman Sanaz Raji, a visiting researcher at Northumbria University , said the notification of the Home Office was an example of the “weaponisation of her immigration status” in a disputes process.

In a statement, Newcastle said “complaints are investigated following the university’s standard procedures”. “Where a complaint has been made by a postgraduate student about their supervisor, our normal practice would be to investigate the matter and explore arrangements for an alternative supervisor if that becomes necessary,” it continued.

“We can’t discuss individual cases, but we offer a range of support to postgraduate students including advice on visa issues, hardship funding, and support to have a break in study where there is an illness or other circumstances.”

Under Home Office rules, higher education institutions must notify authorities if students fail to attend class or discontinue their course, although Ms Agazie said she intends to finish her studies.

The lack of support for a “critically ill” student  also indicated how “universities instrumentalise migrant students from the Global South as sources of income that they can afterwards dispose of”, said Ms Raji in a reference to the multimillion-pound revenues received by universities from international postgraduates.

According to official statistics, Nigeria is the UK’s third largest source of international students behind China and India with about  44,000 studying in 2021-22,  mostly at postgraduate level.

According to Ms Raji, Ms Agazie was led to believe that many PhD students in her situation had found plentiful paid work and obtained scholarships, but these apparent success stories did not stand up once they were investigated.

With the threat of visa revocation looming, students would, however, be reluctant to complain if things go wrong, said Ms Agazie. “Forcing an international student into immigration problems while a complaint is under way…is basically telling international students not to complain,” she said.

[email protected]

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter

Or subscribe for unlimited access to:

  • Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
  • Digital editions
  • Digital access to THE’s university and college rankings analysis

Already registered or a current subscriber? Login

Related articles

An employee examines with magnifier glass counterfeit 200 Euro bank note to illustrate Problems with bank checks drive student visa refusals

Problems with bank checks drive student visa refusals

Applicants from countries without differentiation agreements with the UK face battle to show they can support their studies financially

Riham Sheble

‘Exit strategies’ needed in transnational education, experts say

Joint study by British Council and Universities UK International finds scale and significance of overseas delivery makes risk management increasingly important

University students queue

Australian international student caps ‘will skew enrolments’

‘Shockingly bad legislation’ gives ministers power to favour certain disciplines

John-Arne Røttingen

UK universities at risk as international student numbers plunge, report says

  • Medium Text

Students and visitors are seen walking around the main campus buildings of University College London (UCL) in London, Britain

Sign up here.

Additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kate Holton and William Maclean

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer walks with Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, at the Houses of Parliament

World Chevron

Aftermath of an Israeli strike in Jabalia refugee camp

Israel pushes further into parts of north Gaza; new cracks in Netanyahu coalition

Fighters attacked Israeli forces in Jabalia and Rafah with anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs, and explosive devices.

CHAIRMAN OF WATERFORD WEDGEWOOD TONY O'REILLY IS PICTURED IN LONDON.

Tunisia recovered the bodies of four migrants off the country's coast on Saturday, the national guard said, amid an increase in migrant boats heading from Tunisia toward Italy in recent weeks.

phd funding in uk for international students

Unis will shrink without graduate visa, report says

U niversities would have to cut courses if the government was to scrap a post-study visa for international students, a report has warned.

Science and technology degrees would be most at risk, according to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The government introduced tougher rules for international students this year, to help "slash migration".

But universities are increasingly dependent on international students, who pay higher fees than those from the UK.

And they are concerned further restrictions could put off applicants and leave universities without that funding.

The post-study visa, called the "graduate route", allows students to remain in the UK for up to three years after graduating.

The government said it was considering the review's findings "very closely".

Applicants to the visa are not required to have a job or earn a particular salary to qualify for the visa, introduced in 2021 as part of a plan to recruit the “brightest and best” students from around the world.

Last year, 114,000 graduate-route visas were granted for international students and a further 30,000 for their dependants, the report said.

Prof Brian Bell, who chairs the MAC, said the route was a "key" way of attracting international students and should remain as it is.

“The fees that these students pay helps universities to cover the losses they make in teaching British students and doing research,” he said.

“Without those students, many universities would need to shrink and less research would be done.”

Courses that cost the most to run, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects, would become "less financially viable", according to the report.

"This could impact the availability of these courses to domestic students," it said.

'Skilled roles'

The government has not said it is considering scrapping the visa but Home Secretary James Cleverly asked the MAC to review whether it was being "abused".

The MAC said there was no widespread evidence of this.

Mr Cleverly also asked the MAC to look at the types of job those on the graduate route go into, saying initial data suggested most of those who switched from the graduate visa to a skilled-worker visa went into care work, which was “clearly not what the government intended”.

But the MAC said that data was incorrect and about 20% went into care work.

About half the first lot of students to receive graduate visas had moved on to skilled-work visas, “primarily into skilled roles”.

And the visa helped the government meet its own target of 600,000 students per year studying in the UK.

'Serious mistake'

Universities UK, which represents more than 140 institutions, welcomed the report and called on the government to confirm the visa would stay.

Its chief executive, Vivienne Stern, said "we understand the political pressure to reduce migration" but recent restrictions had already had a "significant effect".

International students can no longer bring family members with them unless they are on research courses or have government-funded scholarships, which the report said would reduce the number coming to study in the UK this year.

"Going further would be a serious mistake," Ms Stern said.

University of Greenwich vice-chancellor Prof Jane Harrington, who chairs the University Alliance, said the MAC was "right to highlight the damage [the restrictions], and the freeze on home-student tuition fees, is doing to UK higher education".

The report also said there was concern agents recruiting international students may be “mis-selling UK higher education” .

One interviewee told the MAC she had been "led to believe" she would be studying in a large city, only to find her university was in a remote location.

The MAC recommended recruitment agents should be registered and universities required to publish how much they spend on them.

But this was a “separate issue” from the graduate route.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said international students were "critical to the financial sustainability" of top universities and he supported "targeted measures" to address "the behaviour of some agents".

The government said it was "committed to attracting the best and brightest to study at our world-class universities, whilst preventing abuse of our immigration system".

"We are considering the review’s findings very closely and we will respond fully in due course," it said.

  • Foreign states targeting UK universities, MI5 warns
  • How much does uni cost, and will I earn more if I go?

More on this story

  • International student admissions to be reviewed
  • Overseas student applications rise again in UK
  • Uni 'flexible' over grades for foreign students

Unis will shrink without graduate visa, report says

Opportunity Portal World Largest Platform for International Study Abroad Scholarship, International Internship Program, Summer School, Exchange Program And Much More.

  • List Of Scholarships
  • Study Abroad Guide
  • Internships
  • Summer School
  • Exchange Program

University of Sussex Graduate UK Scholarship 2025 (Funded)

The University of Sussex Graduate Scholarship 2025 is open for application. Sussex University one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom offers an international abroad scholarship for a master’s degree.

All international students of any nationality as well as domestic students are eligible to apply for a UK Scholarship 2025. If you are interested in studying in the UK with a scholarship this is a perfect abroad opportunity for you.

The University of Sussex offers two types of master’s scholarships full-time and part-time. The Full-time scholarship is for 1 year and the part-time scholarship is for 2 years. And the final masterstroke the University of Sussex offers unlimited UK scholarships, yes hear it right UNLIMITED .

Sussex Graduate Scholarship 2025

  • Country: Brighton, England
  • University : University of Sussex
  • Course Level:  Master’s Degree
  • Financial Coverage:  Partially Funded
  • Deadline :  30th September 2024

Financial Coverage

It is a scholarship for reducing tuition fees. You get £ 3,000, granted as a reduction in tuition.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

Be graduating from Sussex with a First Class or Upper Second Class Bachelor’s degree

Have accepted an offer of a place on an eligible Master, either part-time or full-time, to start in September 2024 

Also Check: University of California Merit Scholarships in USA 2025 (Funded)

Available fields and majors:

The following Fields & Majors are available to study a master’s degree in England for international students at the University of Sussex. You can also find detailed information on the courses at (CLICK HERE)

  • Accounting, Banking, and Finance
  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomedical Science
  • Business and Management
  • Childhood and Youth Studies
  • Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Development
  • Digital Media
  • Drama and Theatre
  • Ecology and Conservation
  • Education and Teaching
  • Energy Policy, Innovation, and Sustainability
  • Engineering and Robotics
  • English, Literature, and Creative Writing
  • Film Studies
  • Filmmaking and Media Production
  • Gender Studies
  • International Relations
  • Languages and Linguistics
  • Mathematics
  • Media and Communications
  • Neuroscience
  • PGCE courses
  • Photography
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Placement years and Sandwich Degrees
  • Product Design
  • Project Management
  • Psychology and Cognitive Science
  • Research Methods
  • Social Work and Care
  • Zoology and Animal Studies

Also Check: University of Derby International Scholarships In UK 2025 (Funded)

The application date for the University of Sussex Graduate Scholarships for International Students 2025 is 30 September 2024.

How to apply:

This scholarship is not automatic. Eligible applicants need to register interest in this scholarship through the postgraduate application system when they accept an offer of a place to study.

No confirmation will be sent, as the scholarship is awarded automatically to all eligible applicants who register for the scholarship on time.

International students with an offer to study at the University of Sussex Business School will be able to combine this award with the Business School International Masters Award (2025). 

International students with an offer to study in the School of Engineering & Informatics will be able to combine this award with the Engineering & Informatics International Masters Award (2025).

Click Here To View the Official Source :

Please Subscribe to Our Telegram Channel And WhatsApp Channel To Get The Latest Scholarship Updates.

Please Check Out Our LinkedIn Company Page And LinkedIn Group And Get All the Latest Scholarships Updates.

Also Check: Mälardalen University Scholarship In Sweden 2025 (100% Tuition Fee)

Type your email…

Related Articles

Yanbian University Jilin Government Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded)

  • Yanbian University Jilin Government Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded)

East China Normal University Shanghai Government Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)

  • East China Normal University Shanghai Government Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)

Qatar University Undergraduate Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)

  • Qatar University Undergraduate Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)

Aoyama Gakuin University Japan WCO Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded)

Aoyama Gakuin University Japan WCO Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded)

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

Recent Posts

Popular posts.

Boston University Scholarships In USA 2023 (Funded)

Boston University Scholarships In USA 2025 (Funded)

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship In USA 2024 (Fully Funded)

University of Miami Stamps Scholarship In USA 2024 (Fully Funded)

IMAGES

  1. How to Find PhD Funding in the UK

    phd funding in uk for international students

  2. PhD in UK: A Complete Guide to PhD in UK for International Students (2023)

    phd funding in uk for international students

  3. Fully Funded PhD In UK For International Students

    phd funding in uk for international students

  4. Fully-Funded PhD in UK for International Students

    phd funding in uk for international students

  5. How to get a PhD in the UK as an international student?

    phd funding in uk for international students

  6. PhD Funding Tips for International Students. PhD in the UK

    phd funding in uk for international students

VIDEO

  1. FINDING & FUNDING a PhD! UK University Lecturer tips and suggestions

  2. 5 Best Scholarships for applicants in UK

  3. 100% Fully Funded Masters And Bachelors Scholarship In UK 2024

  4. Fully Funded Scholarships at UAL (£50,000), Imperial College + Commonwealth Scholarships, UK

  5. PhD in India or Abroad ? Which is Better

  6. Fully-funded scholarships for international students

COMMENTS

  1. International PhD Funding for 2023

    International PhD Funding for 2023. There are lots of scholarships available for a PhD in UK for international students. Many funded projects are available to students of all nationalities. Government bodies, charities and universities also offer separate international PhD scholarships and grants. Our guide explains the best ways to fund a PhD ...

  2. Get a studentship to fund your doctorate

    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.

  3. International PhD Scholarships

    King's-China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarship programme (K-CSC) 2023-24. King's College London and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) hold an agreement to jointly fund PhD students to pursue research degrees at King's College London. As part of the agreement, successful students will receive a scholarship that covers the tuition fee, an ...

  4. 10 PhD scholarships in the UK for international students 2022

    Up to six fully-funded PhD studentships are available for application to any of these schools' programmes - the deadline is Feb. 28, 2022. You will get full tuition coverage at the international rate plus an annual maintenance grant of 15,840 pounds (2022-23 rate) throughout your three years. You should have obtained a merit for your master ...

  5. Scholarships and funding

    The UK government offers hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support to students from a large number of countries. You can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to find out more about the funding available if you are studying in the UK as a postgraduate student, including whether or not ...

  6. Funded PhD research programmes 2024 UK

    The University of Brighton offers doctoral studentships for phd study in the UK allowing fully-funded phd for UK postgraduates and international students. ... The funding for the PhD usually cover 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). ...

  7. COMMONWEALTH PHD SCHOLARSHIPS

    Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for applicants from least developed countries and fragile States, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. ... UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) - advice for international students on choosing a ...

  8. Get PhD funding in 2024

    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, a University of Manchester 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 ...

  9. LSE PhD Studentships

    Eligibility. LSE PhD Studentships are tenable for four years and cover full fees and an annual stipend, which for 2024 entry is £21,237. They are available for UK and international students undertaking research in any LSE discipline, with annual renewal subject to satisfactory academic performance. These awards will be made solely on the basis ...

  10. PhD funding : Fees and funding : Study with us : University of Sussex

    UKRI Food Systems. Our doctoral training partnerships and centres funded by the UK Research Councils (UK Research and Innovation) are open to UK and International students according to the UKRI student eligibility rules. Up to 30% of each cohort of students may be International, but International PhD fees are not covered by the scholarships.

  11. Fully Funded Ph.D Scholarships For International Students 2024-2025

    The President's PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London offer exceptional undergraduate and Master's students a remarkable opportunity to pursue a fully-funded 3.5-year PhD program at one of the world's renowned research institutions. This prestigious scholarship not only covers. Published: 2023-10-05 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline ...

  12. Postgraduate research funding for international (including EU) students

    We award over £7m of funding each year through UK Research and Innovation (ukri.org). These opportunities are open to students who pay tuition fees at the overseas rate. If you're unsure whether you're classed as a UK or international student for fee purposes, check your fee status. Funding for students with disabilities

  13. International student eligibility for PhD scholarships

    Find out if you are eligible as an Overseas student for the University of Sheffield Scholarships, Research Council Scholarships and other potential projects and schemes. Overseas candidates are eligible to apply to Research Council schemes. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) regulations allow these ...

  14. PhD Education (2024 entry)

    Finance and scholarships for international students; Arrival (international students) Study abroad and exchange; Country-specific information; Webinars (undergraduate) ... PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500 PhD (part-time)

  15. Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships

    Applicants on 3 year PhD programmes are eligible for 3.5 years of EDCS funding but the award holder would be funded by the Business School for an additional 6 months.*** Eligibility. The awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2024-2025.

  16. Postgraduate scholarships for international students

    a split-site PhD; If you're from a developed Commonwealth country you can only apply for funding for a PhD or a split-site PhD. Check the eligibility for the different Commonwealth Scholarship ...

  17. President's PhD scholarships

    Overview. If you are a high performing undergraduate or Master's student and have a strong desire to undertake a PhD programme at a world-class research institution, a President's PhD Scholarship could provide you with the outstanding opportunity to receive full funding for tuition fees and a generous stipend for a 3.5 year PhD place at Imperial College London.

  18. Ph.D Scholarships UK

    The City Law School is offering a full-time, three-year doctoral scholarships (entry in September 2024) specifically addressed to Black British applicants. Applications are invited from exceptional and ambitious graduates wishing to pursue cutting-edge research in any of the School's key rese. Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: London ...

  19. Funding for students on postgraduate research courses

    Research Council studentships are open to UK and overseas residents. International students may also apply to a limited number of studentships with 'open eligibility'. This funding will usually pay your PhD fees and may also provide a stipend for living costs, depending on eligibility. ... Many other smaller organisations provide funding to PhD ...

  20. PhD funding

    Funding opportunities for international PhD students are subject to the usual rules regarding immigration and visas. All International Students. British Chevening Scholarships. For students wishing to follow full-time taught or research postgraduate-level courses in any subject at UK universities or colleges in the public sector.

  21. Funding for international students

    This year, in partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, the University of Edinburgh will be offering five scholarships for students, across Mexico, Ghana, Malaysia, Turkey and Vietnam applying for an eligible one-year postgraduate Masters programme for the 2024-2025 academic session. This article was published on 17 ...

  22. Fully Funded Phd in UK for International Students with Scholarships

    Here are ten universities in the UK offering international students a fully-funded doctoral program in the country for your reference: 1. University College London. 2. University of Leeds. 3. University of Nottingham. 4. Imperial College London.

  23. PhD students

    For entry in September 2024 or January 2025, we are delighted to offer one student paying home (Scotland/UK) rates a scholarship covering full tuition fees for three years of PhD study. There are also scholarships for up to four students (PhD and MSc) covering £3,000 of tuition fees in the first year of study - home and international/EU rates.

  24. International Students in the UK: Inspiring Stories About ...

    The #WeAreInternational campaign showcases the study abroad opportunities available in the UK, and celebrates the fantastic contributions of international students across the country! As part of this year's campaign, we're taking a look at some inspiring stories from students who have come from around the world to study at a UK university.

  25. International student deposits in UK dive after graduate visas tightened

    Student migration to the UK reached a record high in 2022, with about 484,000 sponsored study visas issued, a 38 per cent increase from 2021 when the graduate visa route was reintroduced. A ...

  26. How graduate visa scheme helped attract foreign students to UK

    The number of foreign students staying to work after graduation increased sharply after the "graduate visa route" was introduced in 2021. More than 114,000 people claimed a graduate visa last ...

  27. Ill PhD student who complained faces losing UK visa

    More than 250 people - including many PhD students and scholars - have signed a petition urging the Home Office to stop any visa curtailment. Its spokeswoman Sanaz Raji, a visiting researcher at Northumbria University, said the notification of the Home Office was an example of the "weaponisation of her immigration status" in a disputes ...

  28. UK universities at risk as international student numbers plunge, report

    Item 1 of 2 Students and visitors are seen walking around the main campus buildings of University College London (UCL), part of the University of London, Britain, April 24, 2017.

  29. Unis will shrink without graduate visa, report says

    Last year, 114,000 graduate-route visas were granted for international students and a further 30,000 for their dependants, the report said. "The fees that these students pay helps universities ...

  30. University of Sussex Graduate UK Scholarship 2025 (Funded)

    The University of Sussex Graduate Scholarship 2025 is open for application. Sussex University one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom offers an international abroad scholarship for a master's degree. All international students of any nationality as well as domestic students are eligible to apply for a UK Scholarship 2025.