phd without funding uk

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

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

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

You could get:

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

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

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

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

Additional support for your doctoral studies

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

This could include:

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

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

Extra support if you have a disability

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

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

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

The allowance covers:

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

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

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

Who can apply

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

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

How to find opportunities

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

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

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

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

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

How to apply

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

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

Last updated: 14 February 2024

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

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 vulnerable 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 202 5 /2 6 academic year are now open . The deadline for submitting an application is 16:00 hours BST (15:00 GMT) on 1 5 October 202 4 . The s cholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2 02 5 .  

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 nominator.

There are three types of nominator invited to participate in the PhD scholarship programme:  

• 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 .

Participating n ominators put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC for consideration . The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.

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

Nominators may set their own closing dates for applications. They will nominate candidates to the CSC in December 2024.  

Selections are made from the pool of nominations. Candidates are asked to note that a nomination is no guarantee of selection.

Applicants can expect to hear the outcome of their applications by July 2025. 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 a candidate 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, either 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 either 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.
• 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 .

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 2025.
• By September 2025, 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 2025.
• 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 candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships .

Bangladesh Cameroon The Gambia Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Mozambique Nigeria Pakistan Rwanda Sierra Leone Solomon Islands Sri Lanka Tanzania 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 CS C does not support four-year PhDs.  

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.

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 £1,378 per month, or £1,690 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 £297 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 £297 per month and child allowance of £297 per month for the first child, and £146 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 £590 per month for the first child, and £146 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 and Fellows .  

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 .

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Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

• University Home

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.

Eligibility

o 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 2025.
• By September 2025, 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 2025.
• 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 .

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 .

Application Procedure

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 nominator.

There are three types of nominator invited to participate in the PhD scholarship programme:

• 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 .

Participating nominators put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.

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

Nominators may set their own closing dates for applications. They will nominate candidates to the CSC in December 2024.

15th of October 2024

Further Info

Further information can be found on the CSC's website: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (fcdo.gov.uk)

• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands

• Scholarships

University of Sussex PhD Commonwealth Scholarships

• September 28, 2024 September 28, 2024

The University of Sussex, in partnership with the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission, is offering Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for candidates from least developed and fragile states for the academic year starting September 2025. Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), these scholarships aim to support talented individuals from low-income Commonwealth countries in undertaking full-time doctoral studies in the UK.

The University of Sussex is a leading research institution founded in the 1960s, located close to the vibrant city of Brighton in southern England.  The university is highly ranked globally, placing in the top 250 universities worldwide. It is particularly renowned for development studies, ranked #1 in the world in this field. The university offers a range of scholarships to international students based on academic merit and financial need.

Table of Briefs

The PhD Commonwealth Scholarships 2025, offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission and the University of Sussex, provide a unique opportunity for students from low-income Commonwealth countries to pursue full-time doctoral studies in the UK. This program aims to support students who have the potential to make a significant impact in their home countries. The scholarships cover a wide range of research themes that align with the sustainable development goals and are structured to equip scholars with the knowledge and skills needed to address global challenges.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the PhD Commonwealth Scholarships 2025, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Nationality : Be a citizen or have refugee status in one of the eligible countries and be a permanent resident of that country.
• Academic Qualification : By October 2025, applicants must hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
• Registration : Applicants should NOT be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD at a UK university before September/October 2025.
• Financial Need : Applicants must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Availability : Must be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2025.

Eligible countries include: Bangladesh, Cameroon, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

The Commonwealth PhD Scholarship covers the following expenses:

• Full Overseas PhD Tuition Fees : Scholars will have their full tuition fees paid by the scholarship.
• Monthly Stipend : A stipend to cover living expenses while in the UK.
• Return Travel : Economy class airfare to and from the UK.
• Research Training Support Grant : Funding for research-related activities.
• Fieldwork Costs : Additional support for fieldwork if applicable.

Application Process

The application process for the PhD Commonwealth Scholarships involves several steps:

• Contact Sussex Supervisor : Reach out to a prospective supervisor at the University of Sussex for support in your application and to obtain a supervisor statement.
• Apply for a PhD Place at Sussex : Submit a formal application via the University of Sussex’s online application system . Include the following documents:
• Degree transcripts and certificates
• Statement of interest clearly stating the project title and name of the supervisor
• Names of two academic referees
• Valid IELTS certificate
• Apply for Commonwealth Scholarship : Submit your application through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s Electronic Application System (EAS). The application needs to include:
• A Development Impact Statement explaining how your proposed research links to development issues and how you will use the skills acquired post-scholarship.
• Submit Application to a Nominating Agency : Applicants must apply to one of the nominating agencies in their home countries. This agency will shortlist applications and forward the highest-ranked candidates to the Commission for consideration.

Important Dates

Application Deadline : 15 October 2024.

The PhD Commonwealth Scholarships 2025 offer an excellent platform for highly motivated students from least developed and fragile Commonwealth countries to pursue advanced research in the UK. With comprehensive funding and support, recipients of this scholarship will be well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the development of their home countries upon completing their studies. Apply early, prepare thoroughly, and best of luck with your application!

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Home > Research > Research degrees > Funding > PhD Studentships 2025

PhD Studentships for October 2025 start

Deadline to be confirmed soon.

Kingston University has established an international reputation for high quality, innovative research. Our research degree students are a core part of this.

We are again seeking to make a substantial investment in up to 20 new PhD studentships enrolling in late September 2025. These include targeted awards for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students and for Kingston alumni.

We are looking for students with expertise that matches our areas of research excellence. Application for these highly competitive research studentships is now open.

Deadline: TBC 

More information on the research areas can be found by following the faculty links below:

Kingston School of Art

• Business and Social Sciences
• Engineering, Computing and the Environment

Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education

Learn more about:

• the University's research.
• support available for students with disabilities .

Funding available

There are three different levels of funding available for new students: fully funded, partially funded, and fees only, all at the home fee rate.

• Full-time and Part-time applications are welcome : Funding for part-time study will be pro rata at 50% of the full-time rate.
• Overseas fee-paying candidates:  Applicants must be intending to study in the UK, not be based in their home country. These awards will cover Home fees only. If you are selected for interview you will need to demonstrate that you can fund the difference in fees for each year of your registration. For the academic year 2025/26, international fees are £17,300. Home fees have not yet been confirmed but are likely to be around £5,000. The difference between home fees and international fees is £11,814 for the academic year 2024/25 and it should be noted that tuition fees increase slightly each year. You would therefore need to find at least £35,442 over the 3 years, plus the yearly increase. Note that the Immigration Health (NHS) Surcharge must be paid before arrival in the UK and has recently increased. You can use the UK Government calculator to determine how much you will need to pay.

Note that if you were shortlisted for the Techne 2024 funding competition but were unsuccessful you will automatically be considered for these awards.

Fully-funded studentships

Up to 15 awards are available.

Fees: Home tuition fees only for 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time. For 2023/24 this is £4,712 full-time or £2,356 part-time.

Stipend: 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.

The full-time doctoral stipend for 2023/24 is £20,622 per year; levels are likely to rise slightly for the following years but have not yet been confirmed.

Applications for part-time study are welcomed and will receive pro-rata funding for both tuition fees and stipend.

Race Equality studentships

Fully-funded studentships for black, asian and minority ethnic applicants (home students only).

We encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students and have set aside a number of the studentships listed above for applicants who identify as having these ethnic backgrounds. In addition to the funding, there will be a programme of support and mentoring available to you.

Successful applicants will be offered a place on our RISE Research Leadership Academy , which is designed to develop candidates' leadership skills within academia.

Note that these awards are open to Home fee-paying students only.  Read more about who is eligible for home fee status .

To apply, please follow the process listed below and state ‘Race Equality Studentship' at the top of your Studentship Application Statement.

Once we have confirmed the availability of a potential supervisory team, we will offer application and interview support through a faculty mentor who will be a member of academic staff. To access support in advance of submitting your application please email the relevant Research Student Coordinator (listed below) and ask to be put in touch with a mentor in your subject area.

We are also hoping to have current research students with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds available to discuss their experiences with you. If you would like to take up this opportunity, please email [email protected] to arrange an informal online meeting or phone call.

Note that a representative from the Kingston University People of Colour Staff Network will be part of the awarding panel.

Unsuccessful applicants who reach the interview stage will be offered a feedback meeting to assist with future applications.

Watch a video from one of our current award holders, Salema Foot, whose research focuses on the academic lived experiences of Black postgraduate students in the UK.

Read more about Kingston's approach to reducing the degree awarding gap .

Kingston Alumni studentships

At least one of the fully-funded PhD studentships listed above will be awarded to a Kingston Alumni who has completed an undergraduate and/or masters level degree course at Kingston University or its predecessor institutions. Please note 'KU Alumni application' on your Studentship Application Statement.

Partial studentships

Up to 5 awards are available.

Total contribution to fees and stipend: £11,000 per year for three years full-time or £5,500 per year for six years part-time. Payments will be made towards tuition fees and any remaining funds will be paid as a stipend.

Tuition Fees only studentships

Fees: UK Home tuition fees only for 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.

Awards will cover UK Home tuition fees for three years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. For 2023/24 this is £4,712 full-time or £2,356 part-time.

• How to apply

If you would like to apply for a Studentship at Kingston University, please follow the steps below.

Academic and administrative staff will be happy to help with queries but please note that they are available during working hours only and some staff work part time, so please give yourself plenty of time to complete the application.

Apply by: Wednesday 6 March 2024 (GMT midnight). Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• have (or expect to have by 30 September 2024) a postgraduate masters degree or a first/upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed research project. Equivalent professional experience may also be accepted.
• be intending to research in an area that is covered by Kingston University research expertise.
• if you are not from an English-speaking country or have not studied at a UK university before, you must provide proof of Internet-based IELTS at a minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7 (or equivalent qualification). The requirement varies by subject, so please see our English Language Requirements for further details. Note that the qualification must be dated no earlier than 30 September 2021.

Please note that:

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Current doctoral students are not eligible to apply.
• Tuition fees will be paid at Home level only for 3 years. Overseas fee-paying students may apply but, if short-listed, will be required to provide evidence of how the remaining part of their fees will be paid.
• You should allow plenty of time to apply. Academic and administrative staff will be happy to help but are not able to answer queries outside the working week; some staff also work part time.

Step 1 – Write a research proposal

You will need to write a research proposal to support your Studentship application. For guidance on how to put together a research proposal, please visit the faculty pages:

• Health, Science, Social Care and Education  (note this faculty accepts applications for projects devised by applicants themselves and specific  pre-approved projects ).
• Engineering, Computing and the Environment  (note this faculty only accepts applications for specific pre-approved projects ).

You may want to discuss your research proposal with potential supervisors before you submit your application.

Please explore our staff profiles to find information on University staff and their research interests.

Advertised projects

If you are applying to an advertised project in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment  or the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education , when you submit your online application please include a separate document stating the advertised project title and name of supervisor. You do not need to include the full project proposal.

Step 2 – Write a Studentship Application Statement

You must write a Studentship Application Statement and submit it with your online application. The statement should cover the points listed below. Maximum 500 words. Note that you do not also need to include a personal statement, unless you wish to.

Please save your statement as ' KU Studentship Application Statement YOUR NAME ' and attach it to your online application at the point where you are asked to include a personal statement. You do not need to include an additional personal statement.

If you would like to apply for a Race Equality Studentship, or a KU Alumni Studentship, please note this clearly at the top of your statement.

In your Studentship Application Statement, please cover these points:

1. Why do you want to do a PhD?

Signing up for a PhD is a big undertaking. We need to know that you understand the commitment required for research and have a passion for your subject.

2. Why Kingston University?

What makes you keen to study with us at Kingston?

3. Why this subject area?

What is it about the area you have chosen that inspires you?

4. What will be the impact of your research and who will be reading it?

The impact of your research is how it will bring change to the wider society beyond academia (e.g. economy, society, culture, public policy, health, the environment and quality of life – both within the UK and overseas).

Who are the wider audiences for your research, perhaps in professional practice, policy-making, popular culture?

Who do you want to reach with your research?

How might you do so?

5. Your academic and/or professional background

How will your skills and expertise help you successfully complete your research project?

6. What personal qualities do you have that make you suited to PhD research?

For example: resilience and tenacity.

7. Assessment of personal development needs

A PhD is all about training to be a researcher. What knowledge and skills will you need to develop to conduct the proposed research?

How can we support your personal development?

Step 3 – Apply online

You should submit your application, research proposal and Studentship Application Statement online.

Please note , there are different application links for each faculty, so please make sure you use the correct apply link.

Make your application using our online portal

Include with your application:

• Your research proposal or information about your chosen advertised project (see Step 1).
• A KU Studentship Application Statement. Please follow our template and guidance outlined in Step 2. If you do not include this statement your application will not be considered for a studentship.
• Copies of your transcripts and/or degree certificates, or partial transcripts if you have not yet completed the degree (you will be required to provide the originals for verification at a later date).
• English language qualification, if applicable (see above).
• CV, including publications (if relevant).
• As part of the online application, under the Finance heading you will be asked to indicate how you will be paying your fees. Please select 'KU Studentship'.

If you have already applied to Kingston University for October 2024 and wish to be considered for a studentship, please email the appropriate faculty listed below with your application reference number and attach your Studentship Application Statement. Please also complete the Equal Opportunities Form .

Step 4 – Complete the equal opportunities form

Kingston University is committed to ensuring that students are selected on the basis of merit. Completion of the equal opportunities form will help us to ensure that our policies and procedures are effective in avoiding discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in awarding studentships.

Your answers will not affect your application in any way. The information will not be seen by your potential supervisors, your referees, or the reviewers assessing your application.

Complete the equal opportunities form . 

Step 5 – Provide references

References are not required with the application but will be required for shortlisted applicants and must be provided by the applicant before their interview .

Shortlisted applicants will be notified and must ensure references are submitted to the relevant Faculty by 19 April 2024.  The applicant is responsible for ensuring that references are submitted to the relevant Faculty.

Referees should be asked to complete the Reference Form .

Who can provide a reference?

References should be from professional or academic contacts and cannot be from family members or friends. At least one reference should be from someone who knows you from your most recent academic qualification.

Step 6 – Attend an interview

You may be invited to attend an interview as part of your Studentship application.

Applicants invited for interview will be informed as soon as possible after the closing date. If you have not heard from us by 6 April, your application has been unsuccessful.

Need more information?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions – KU Doctoral Studentships 2024 (Doc) .

Read about our past and current research students and their research projects:

• Research student case studies
• Current research student profiles

For more information about research degree programmes at Kingston University .

For faculty-specific enquiries please contact the relevant Research Student Coordinator listed below.

Visit Kingston School of Art's research webpage for more information.

For enquiries please email the research student coordinator at  [email protected] .

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

Visit the Faculty's research webpage for more information.

For enquiries please email the research student coordinator at  [email protected] .

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment

Please see the Faculty's research degree webpage for more information.

For enquiries please email the research student coordinator at  [email protected]

Please visit the Faculty's research degree webpage for more information.

For enquiries please email the research student coordinator at  [email protected] .

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PhD studentships

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

Who awards PhD studentships?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How much can I receive?

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

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

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

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

Is my programme eligible for a PhD studentship?

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

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

Am I eligible?

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

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

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

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can improve your chances of success by:

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

What other PhD funding is available?

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

• crowdfunding
• employer sponsorship
• PhD loans .

Find out more

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

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How to Fund a PhD in the UK if You Can't Afford to Do it Yourself

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Table of contents

• Introduction

Regularly search university job websites for available positions

Explore your funding options both at home and abroad, shoot a promotional video and set up a campaign on hubbub, apply for charity awards, consider taking out a postgraduate loan, apply for a qs scholarship.

First of all, congratulations! If you’re reading this, we’re assuming you’ve received an offer for a place on a PhD program in the UK. It’s not everyday you get to be rewarded for the ingenuity and feasibility of your research project, and finding a PhD supervisor to agree to mentor your project is definitely a step ahead in the right direction. If the elation you first felt when hearing the news has already given way to worry over money, hopefully we can help to ward off some of those concerns for you. If you can’t afford to pay for your fees out of your own pocket and haven’t received a university scholarship, here are some other ways to pay the fees.

Often universities will advertise research posts on specialist jobs websites like UniversityJobs.com or Jobs.ac.uk, so it’s a good idea to check these daily to find out about any part-time or full-time openings on campus that may contribute toward your fees, rent and living costs. Whether it’s a research post, or even just an admin job, being able to say you study and work “at the university”, especially if it’s in your research department, could open doors for you, in addition to being a convenient arrangement.

You may be eligible for funding opportunities both at home and in the country of study, so if you’re coming to the UK from abroad then explore all of your options. If you’re from the US, for example, you could apply for a Fulbright grant. European Union residents could always try to apply for an ERASMUS overseas placement or get funding for a joint degree through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) . Explore other funding opportunities here . 

If you’re thinking of going down the crowdfunding route, Hubbub.org is a good place to start. Set up an account either through your university if they subscribe to the site or individually. It’s much more geared toward education than other sites like Kickstarter so your campaign won’t get lost among a sea of artists and entrepreneurs. To promote your campaign, film a promotional video with your smartphone and offer symbolic gifts to donors, keeping them updated on your project. Share a link to your campaign on a dedicated Facebook and Twitter page, with your own hashtag, asking your friends and relatives to share on their accounts. You could also try to contact your local newspaper, like Oxford University student Genevieve Richardson , who raised over £2,000 for her MPhil in Development Studies after appearing on the Yorkshire Evening Post and BBC Radio Leeds’ Breakfast Show. Depending on the newspaper’s news agenda at the time, they might want to slot you in for an interview and get your crowdfunding campaign lots of extra clicks.

Did you know charities funded PhDs? Well, they do, and you might be able to get a charity or trust to contribute toward your living costs, fees, research expenses, conferences and/or travel. In the UK, there are thousands of organisations offering grants to projects they find interesting or even to students from certain demographics, such as the Vegetarian Charity, who give grants to vegan and vegetarian students, or the Leverhulme Trades Charities Trust, who help students whose parents are grocers, chemists, and commercial travellers.

If you’re from the EU or the UK, you’re eligible to take out a PhD loan of up to £25,000 from the UK government. Repayments are 6% of your annual income when it reaches £21,000.  You would get £8,300 a year on average if your PhD takes three years, less if it takes longer. Obviously, this won’t be enough to cover all your fees and living costs, so you’ll need to consider the full cost of study and where the rest of your money will be coming from.

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Top Universities offers a US$10,000 PhD scholarship to applicants who attended a QS World Grad School Tour event and completed a QS Graduate Applicant Survey by April 30 2018. To apply, you would also need to write a short essay about how the PhD will help your career ambitions. More information can be found on the QS events pages.

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I'm originally French but I grew up in Casablanca, Kuala Lumpur and Geneva. When I'm not writing for QS, you'll usually find me sipping espresso(s) with a good paperback.

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Phd-Study-In-Uk

• International PhD Funding for 2024

Written by Mark Bennett

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 in the UK for international students, with information on all the main options available to you.

PhD projects with international funding

Many UK PhDs are advertised as specific projects with funding already attached. This is very common in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) but some Arts, Humanities and Social Science doctorates also work this way.

Applying for one of these PhDs is a lot like applying for a job : if you are accepted to do the 'work' (the research) you will also get the 'salary' (the funding) which normally covers fees, research expenses and a grant for living costs.

You can use FindAPhD to browse all of our current PhD projects with international funding , or start a different PhD search and filter the results yourself.

International students are eligible for PhD funding through Research Council studentships , a generous form of financial support from an organisation called UK Research and Innovation.

These scholarships provide PhD students with a monthly stipend for living costs, as well as a tuition fee waiver at the domestic rate. You can find out more in our guides to the different Research Councils:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Biotechnology and Bioscience 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)

New projects are being added to FindAPhD all the time, so keep checking back. Or just sign up for our free newsletter and we'll send you the latest projects in your subject, each week.

Finding PhDs with international funding

You can use FindAPhD to search for advertised PhDs with international funding. The simple walkthrough on our blog explains how.

UK PhD scholarships for international students

Separate international PhD scholarships for interntational students are available if you're proposing your own PhD, or applying for a project that doesn't have funding available to you.

Lots of different organisations offer these. This section covers general international PhD scholarships from the UK Government as well as large independent charities and trusts . There's information on funding for specific nationalities or for specific universities, further down this page.

Commonwealth PhD scholarships

Commonwealth scholarships are provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations.

There are three main Commonwealth PhD scholarships. Which one you apply for depends on where you are from and where you wish to study your PhD.

Commonwealth scholarships (least developed countries)

These scholarships are for citizens of economically underdeveloped or politically unstable Commonwealth countries to benefit from international PhD study in the UK.

• Value – Full PhD fees, plus return airfare, monthly living stipend and funding other approved expenses.
• Eligibility – Citizens of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
• Other criteria – You must be a resident in your home country (not already living in the UK) beginning a new full-time PhD in the UK without other means of funding it. Applicants should also hold an undergraduate degree of 2.1 standard (or above) or 2.2. standard plus a relevant Masters.
• Application deadline – Applications normally close in October for PhD study beginning the following academic year.
• Find out more – Visit the Commonwealth Scholarships website.

Commonwealth Scholarships (high income countries)

These scholarships are for citizens of wealthier Commonwealth countries to benefit from international PhD study in the UK.

• Eligibility – Citizens of Anguilla, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Malta, New Zealand, Seychelles, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Application deadline – Applications normally close in September for PhD study beginning the following academic year.

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (low and middle income countries)

These scholarships are for international PhD students from specific Commonwealth countries to spend up to 12 months of their doctorate based at a UK university. They don't offer full funding for a PhD in the UK, but can be a way of accessing specific equipment and expertise for your research, as well as gaining new networking opportunities in your field.

• Value – Full PhD fees at the UK host, plus return airfare, monthly living stipend and funding other approved expenses during your 12 month placement.
• Eligibility – Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India , Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
• Other criteria – You must be currently registered for a PhD in an eligible country at a university with links to a UK partner.
• Application deadline – Applications normally close in November for PhD placements during the following academic year.
• Find out more – Visit the Commonwealth Scholarships website or read our guide to Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Indian students .

Other UK PhD scholarships

There are a number of general funding schemes for PhD study in the UK. Some are specific to international students; others are available to all nationalities.

Newton PhD Scholarships

The Newton Fund is a UK Government scheme to help develop research expertise and infrastructure in 18 partner countries. It is managed by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), with PhD funding supported by Universities UK (UUK).

Newton Fund PhD scholarships operate as separate national schemes, with their own application processes.

• Value – Usually full funding, including tuition, living costs, visa fees and other expenses.
• Eligibility – Citizens of Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
• Other criteria – Funding is primarily available for STEM subjects. Candidates should be accepted for an appropriate project at a UK university.
• Application deadline – Depends on national scheme and university.
• Find out more – Visit the Newton PhD scholarships website.

Wellcome Trust Doctoral Studentships in Science

The Wellcome Trust is a charity that funds Social Science or Humanities research related to health (including public health and social or cultural responses to disease).

• Value – Awards cover PhD fees at the domestic rate. Studentships also include an annual stipend (rising each year) plus money for additional research expenses and training during your PhD.
• Eligibility – All nationalities may apply.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be accepted onto an eligible Wellcome-affiliated PhD programme and have a degree in a relevant subject.
• Application deadline – Deadlines vary by programnme, but applications open in autumn each year.
• Find out more – Visit the Wellcome Trust website.

Gen Foundation grants

The Gen Foundation is a charity set up to promote cross-cultural exchange between Japan and the rest of the world. It funds PhD research in Food Science and Technology, as well as related areas of the Natural Sciences.

• Value – The value of each grant is decided per application, but is usually between £500 and £5,000.
• Eligibility – All nationalities may apply (Gen Foundation grants are not restricted to Japanese or UK students).
• Other criteria – Applicants must be accepted to study for a PhD in the Natural Sciences, particularly Food Science and Technology.
• Application deadline – Applications usually take place between November and February.
• Find out more – Visit the Gen Foundation website.

The Gen Foundation is reviewing its charitable activities and so the 2022 application period is currently suspended.

In most cases you can only apply for one of these PhD scholarships after your main PhD application is successful (funding won't usually be available to someone who hasn't been offered a PhD place yet).

PhD funding for EU/EEA students

Since 2021, EU/EEA students are considered ‘international’ students. If you don’t already have settled or pre-settled status in the UK you might have to pay the increased international fee and you may no longer be eligible for the UK Government Doctoral loans.

You can still access the UKRI Research Council Studentships, however, you’ll only be eligible for a fee waiver till the domestic rate. You’ll still be eligible for the monthly stipend for living costs. You can find out more in our guide to the Research Council Studentships .

There are some other ways you can fund your UK PhD including international schemes, country-specific scholarships and university scholarships. Here’s some PhD funding available for European students in the UK.

Horizon Europe

The UK has rejoined EU’s flagship funding programme for scientific innovation, Horizon Europe . This means UK-based institutions now have access to funding available under the Horizon Europe scheme.

The scheme has £81 billion (€95 billion) available for universities, research consortia and individual academics to apply for which means there is likely to be more fully funded PhD programmes up for grabs!

PhD students can’t apply for Horizon funding directly, but universities and research institutions can apply for grants to set up projects and recruit students. This means the funding gets given to the institution and then gets divided among the students. If you’re enrolled onto a Horizon Europe funded PhD programme, talk to your university about how that funding actually gets to you.

Country specific scholarships

Governments, international organisations, charities and trusts often have international PhD scholarships designed for certain nationalities.

For example, French students can access the Entente Cordiale for the Climate scholarship aimed at research in environmental studies. The scholarship offers €10,000 per student covering one whole year of studies.

There are scholarships available for most EU nationalities, so it is worth doing a quick search to see what you have access to!

Country-specific funding

A large number of international PhD scholarships are designed for students of certain nationalities.

Often these are exchange schemes, established to send PhD students from a partner country to the UK (and sometimes vice versa). Some are charitable initiatives intended to expand education in specific countries. Others are set up by national governments or education ministries to help their citizens receive international research and training opportunities.

Either way, often the best way to look for international PhD funding is to explore scholarships for your specific nationality.

Here are some PhD funding courses for international students from different countries:

PhD scholarships for Australian students

Australia day foundation uk trust.

The Australia Day Foundation promotes strong links between Australia and the UK. It offers grants to young Australians studying at UK universities.

• Value – The maximum value for each grant is £10,000, to be used for fees and course materials, but not living expenses.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be young Australian citizens, studying in the UK.
• Application deadline – Applications are usually open between November and April.
• Find out more – Visit the Australia Day Foundation website.

PhD scholarships for Bangladeshi students

Cwbt doctoral bursaries.

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust (CWBT) is part of the wider Charles Wallace Trust, a charity funded by the legacy of a nineteenth-century Anglo-Indian businessman. Its doctoral bursaries are available to Bangldeshi students in the final year of a UK doctorate.

• Value – Up to £1,000
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Bangladeshi citizens in the final year of a UK doctoral degree.
• Application deadline – Applications must normally be made by mid-November each year.
• Find out more – Visit the Charles Wallace Trust website.

PhD scholarships for Burmese students

Cwbt academic grants.

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust (CWBT) is part of the wider Charles Wallace Trust, a charity funded by the legacy of a nineteenth-century Anglo-Indian businessman. Its academic grants provide funding for students from Burma / Myanmar during a PhD in the UK.

• Other criteria – Applicants must be Burmese citizens enrolled on a postgraduate course (including PhD study) at a UK university.
• Application deadline – Varies.

PhD scholarships for Canadian students

Canadian centennial scholarship fund.

The Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF) supports Canadian students to study postgraduate courses in the UK.

• Value – £2,000-5,000
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Canadian citizens enrolled for at least two years of postgraduate study at a UK university (including PhD research).
• Application deadline – Applications usually close in March for awards in the following academic year.
• Find out more – Visit the CCSF website.

Canada-UK Foundation UK Doctoral Studentships

The Canada-UK Foundation supports research on topics of Canadian interest at UK universities. Students of all nationalities may apply, but the awards may be particularly relevant to Canadian PhD researchers.

• Value – £2,000 per year towards full-time tuition fees (pro rata equivalent available for part-time students)
• Other criteria – Nominated students must be researching topics with a substantial Canadian element. Topics are typically in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences areas, but relevant STEM research may also be supported.
• Application deadline – Your university must nominate you for an award and apply to the Canada-UK Foundation for support with your PhD.
• Find out more – Visit the Canada-UK Foundation website.

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships

Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides funding for PhD research at universities around the world.

• Value – Up to CAD $20,000 per year, for up to four years.
• Other criteria – Students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, without other PhD funding from the Canadian Government.
• Application deadline – Applications made directly to SSHRC must normally be completed by mid-October.
• Find out more – Visit the SSHRC website.

PhD scholarships for Chinese students

Gbcet chinese students awards.

The Great Britain-China Educational Trust (GBCET) is a charity set up to support Chinese students studying in Britain and British students studying in China. They offer Chinese Student Awards for the final year of PhD study in the UK.

• Value – £1,500-3,000.
• Other criteria – Students must be Chinese citizens in the third year of a PhD at a UK university.
• Application deadline – Applications must be made in time for one of the GBCET's two annual meetings in May and November.
• Find out more – Visit the GBCET website.

China Scholarship Council

The China Scholarship Council (CBC) is the main source of government funding for Chinese citizens to study a PhD abroad. Awards are usually offered jointly with universities and targeted at specific research areas.

• Value – Varies, but will normally cover tuition fees, living costs and return travel.
• Other criteria – Students must be accepted for PhD study at a parter university and intending to return to China once their degree is complete.
• Application deadline – Universities must nominate students for CSC awards, applications for funding must then be made to the CSC in April.
• Find out more – Visit the CSC website.

PhD scholarships for Indian students

Cwit long-term grants.

The Charles Wallace India Trust (CWIT) is part of the wider Charles Wallace Trust, a charity funded by the legacy of a nineteenth-century Anglo-Indian businessman. Its long-term grants provide funding to Indian students for up to a year of study in the UK, usually in Arts and Heritage Conservation fields.

• Value – Funding covers accommodation and living costs, as well as contributing towards international tuition fees.
• Other criteria – Students must be Indian citizens, aged between 35 and 38 and living in India. Your PhD must relate to Arts Heritage and Conservation.
• Application deadline – Applications must usually be made by the end of December, with interviews taking place in the following February.
• Find out more – Information on CWIT funding is managed on the British Council website.

CWIT Final Year Doctoral Grants

The Charles Wallace India Trust (CWIT) is part of the wider Charles Wallace Trust, a charity funded by the legacy of a nineteenth-century Anglo-Indian businessman. Its final year doctoral grants provide support for Indian students completing a UK PhD.

• Value – Roughly £500-600
• Other criteria – Students must be Indian citizens, aged between 25-38, in the final year of a UK PhD related to Arts, Heritage Conservation and general Humanities (particularly History and Literature). You must also be normally resident in India and planning to return there after your PhD.
• Application deadline – You should apply by email with an explanation of your situation and need for the grant.

Inlaks Scholarships

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is a philanthropic body that funds educational opportunities for young Indians. Its scholarships are available for PhD study in selected fields at selected institutions.

• Value – Full tuition fees, plus travel, health and living expenses.
• Other criteria – Students must be Indian citizens, aged under 30, who have been continuously resident in India for six months prior to their scholarship application, and who will be studying their PhD at an eligible university.
• Application deadline – Applications are open between January and March.
• Find out more – Visit the Inlaks Foundation website.

PhD scholarships for Israeli students

Kenneth lindsay scholarship trust.

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarships are offered by the Anglo-Israel association to support students from Israel for one year of academic study in the UK.

• Value – £500-2,000.
• Other criteria – Students must be Israeli citizens, studying full-time in the UK.
• Application deadline – Applications must be made by the end of April each year.
• Find out more – Visit the Anglo Israel Association website.

Jewish Widows' and Students' Aid Trust

The JWSAT provides funding for Jewish students to study a Masters or PhD in the UK.

• Value – Support for one year of study per award, but students may reapply later in their degree.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Jewish Israeli students, aged under 30.
• Application deadline – NA.
• Find out more – Information on JWSAT funding is available on the Anglo-Jewish Association website.

PhD scholarships for Japanese students

Japan imf scholarship program for advanced studies.

The Japan IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies (JISP) is provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It supports Japanese citizens for up to two years of PhD study in Macroeconomics.

• Value – The JISP covers tuition fees, health insurance, living costs and other expenses (including travel) for up to two years.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Japanese citizens who will be 34 or younger on completion of their PhD. Your research must be in Microeconomics and you must apply to work at the IMF once your doctorate is completed.
• Application deadline – Applications must be made by the end of December in the year prior to your PhD beginning.
• Find out more – Visit the IMF website.

JSPS Overseas Challenge Program for Young Researchers

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It provides some funding for Japanese researchers to spend time abroad during a PhD.

• Value – The JISP covers travel and maintenance support for 3-12 months of PhD study in the UK (or elsewhere abroad).
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Japanese citizens, working towards a PhD at a Japanese university.
• Application deadline – There are calls for applications in September and April.
• Find out more – Visit the JSPS website.

PhD scholarships for Mexican students

Postgraduate scholarships abroad.

The Mexican Government provides some scholarship funding for citizens to complete a postgraduate degree abroad.

• Value – Funding for tuition fees up to ₱300,000 (roughly £11,000) per year, along with support for living costs and medical insurance.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Mexican citizens studying a PhD abroad for up to 48 months at a recognised university.
• Find out more – Visit the Conacyt website.

PhD scholarships for Pakistani students

Hec overseas scholarships.

Pakistan's Higher Education Commission provides funding for citizens to study abroad in the UK and elsewhere.

• Value – Varies.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Pakistani citizens, accepted for either a PhD or an MPhil leading to PhD in the UK (or other host country). Your research should normally be in a subject related to Engineering or Technology.
• Find out more – Visit the HEC Pakistan website.

Punjab CMMS PhD Foreign Scholarships

The Punjab Educational Endownment Fund (PEEF) administers scholarships on behalf of the Government of the Punjab, 10% of which are reserved for Pakistani citizens.

• Value – Full funding, covering tuition fees, living costs, healthcare and travel.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be accepted for a PhD at one of the top 50 world universities according to the latest QS rankings. You must also be aged under 35 with grades exceeding 60% in your undergraduate programme.
• Application deadline – Applications should normally be made by mid-May.
• Find out more – Visit the PEEF website.

CWPT Doctoral Bursaries

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust (CWPT) is part of the wider Charles Wallace Trust, a charity funded by the legacy of a nineteenth-century Anglo-Indian businessman. Its doctoral bursaries provide additional support to Pakistani students completing a PhD in the UK.

• Other criteria – Students must be Pakistani citizens, currently completing a UK PhD in Humanities, Arts, Creative Industries, Social Sciences, Life Sciences or Medicine.
• Application deadline – There are two annual deadlines in May and November. You must be within 15 months of the completion date for your PhD.

PhD scholarships for Palestinian students

Higher education scholarship palestine.

The Higher Education Scholarship Palestine (HESPAL) supports Palestinian citizens to gain postgraduate Masters or PhD qualifications in a range of subjects.

• Value – Funding for tuition fees and living costs, as well as expenses whilst studying in the UK. Scholarships do not cover visa and language test fees, or air travel to and from the UK.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be resident citizens of the Palestinian Occupied Territories, employed and nominated by a Palestinian university to which they intend to return to work following their PhD.
• Find out more – Information on HESPAL funding is available on the British Council website.

PhD scholarships for Russian students

Global education program.

The Global Education Program (GEP) is a Russian Government initiative to support international educational opportunities for Russian citizens.

• Value – ₽2,76m (approximately £30,000) per year.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be Russian citizens studying at an approved university.
• Application deadline – Several per year.
• Find out more – Information on GEP funding is available on the Russian Global Education website.

PhD scholarships for Sudanese students

Gordon memorial college trust fund.

The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund awards grants for Sudanese and South Sudanese citizens to study postgraduate courses in the UK.

• Other criteria – Applicants must be Sudanese or South Sudanese citizens, who have recieved an offer of a place on a UK postgraduate programme and intend to return home after their studies.
• Application deadline – Applications must be submitted online between December and February.
• Find out more – Visit the Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund website.

PhD scholarships for Thai students

Oea scholarships.

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs (OEA) provides some funding for Thai citizens to study postgraduate courses in the UK.

• Other criteria – Applicants must be suitably qualified Thai citizens, willing to work for the Thai Government for at least two years following their PhD.
• Find out more – Information on OEA funding is available on the Thai Royal Embassy website.

PhD scholarships for American students

Marshall scholarships.

The Marshall Scholarships were established by the British Foreign Office to recognise aid received from the USA following the Second World War. They offer a flagship scholarship scheme that provides funding for American students to study any postgraduate subject in the UK.

• Value – Scholarships cover tuition fees, living costs and other routine study expenses for either one or two years (awards may be extended).
• Other criteria – Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America and have graduated from their first degree after April 2018 with a minimum GPA of 3.7.
• Application deadline – Applications, including endoresements from your UK university, must normally be submitted by early October.
• Find out more – Visit the Marshall Commission website.

Fulbright Postgraduate Student All Disciplines Award

The US-UK Fulbright Commission encourages and supports cultural exchange between the USA and UK. Its postgraduate funding assists American students to study Masters or PhD qualifications at British universities.

• Value – Awards provide a full tuition fee waiver, plus living cost stipends and funds for other expenses.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America (including those with dual citizenship) who do not currently live in the UK and hold a relevant Bachelors degree.
• Application deadline – Applications for Fulbright funding must be made by October. You will need to have been accepted for PhD study at a UK university in order to apply.
• Find out more – Visit the Fulbright Commission website.

Can't see a scholarship for your country in the list above? That doesn't necessarily mean support isn't available. It might be a good idea to contact your own Ministry of Education and see if they offer funding for you to study a PhD abroad.

University-specific scholarships

Individual UK universities often provide their own postgraduate grants and scholarships.

These may be provided by the universities themselves, in which case you should check out our guide to PhD funding from UK universities . Other funding is offerd by external charities for study at specific universities. Some of the biggest are listed below.

Saïd Foundation PhD Scholarships

The Saïd Foundation is an independent charity supporting educational opportunities for young people.

• Universities – University of Cambridge, University of Oxford
• Value – Scholarships cover full fees, plus maintenance grant and travel expenses.
• Eligibility – Citizens of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon or Palestine.
• Other criteria – Applicants must hold a teaching post at a university in their home country and have applied for a PhD or DPhil at the University of Cambridge or University of Oxford.
• Application deadline – Applications open between August and November.
• Find out more – Visit the Saïd Foundation website.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funds an international PhD scholarship at the University of Cambridge.

• Universities – University of Cambridge
• Value – Covers the composition (tuition) fee and provides a maintenance allowance of £17,500 per year for up to four years. Awards also cover travel to and from the UK as well as visa and healthcare expenses.
• Eligibility – Citizens of any country outside the UK.
• Other criteria – Applicants must be applying to study a full-time PhD (or other eligible postgraduate degree) at the University of Cambridge.
• Application deadline – Applications open annually in September.
• Find out more – Visit the Gates Cambridge website.

Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities

The Wolfson Foundation is a UK charity that supports research in History, Literature, Languages and related subjects.

• Universities – University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, University College London, Durham University, University of Oxford, University of Southampton, University of St Andrews, University of Warwick, University of York
• Value – Funding for full fees and living costs, plus an additional travel allowance.
• Eligibility – Citizens of any country.
• Other criteria – Students should apply to participating universities and follow their selection process.
• Application deadline – March.
• Find out more – Visit the Wolfson Foundation website.

Other options

All of the funding covered on this page is specifically for international students, but you may also be able to apply for other sources of support. Examples include:

• Funding from charities and trusts – many independent funders support PhD students from all countries
• Funding from universities – we've covered some of the 'big' university scholarships, above, but there are lots of others available at specific universities

Finally, PhD funding options change a lot more regularly than you probably realise. Follow our blog and newsletter for the latest updates.

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Mark bennett.

Mark joined FindAPhD to develop our first ever advice articles in 2013 and now serves as our Director of Audience & Editorial, making sure our websites and information are as useful as possible for people thinking about Masters and PhD study. He has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Sheffield, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Kent and the University of South Wales.

You may also like...

The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate from Student Finance. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) or Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs) provide UK Research Council funded PhD studentships to postgraduate students

The Graduate Route allows international students to stay in the UK for at least two years after graduating. This guide covers everything you need to know, including who is eligible and how to apply.

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PhD Education / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

• 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 20 January 2025.

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 2025 entry: 30 June 2025

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.

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Want to find out more about what PhD study really involves, the application process and funding options for 2025? The Humanities Doctoral Academy will be conducting a range of sessions for potential PhD students across our Virtual Open Week (14 – 18 October 2024) across all four academic schools for anyone considering postgraduate research study for 2025/2026.

Register for your session here.

Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were 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 20 January 2025.

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.

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

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 2025 Entry
• School of Environment, Education and Development Postgraduate Research Studentships 2025 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme 2025 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2025 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards 2025 Entry
• School of Environment, Education and Development Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Studentship 2025 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 .

Research opportunities

Stanley burton research scholarship 2025.

The Stanley Burton Scholarship was established in 2000. The fund was bequeathed by Mr Stanley Burton, who took an interest in the University of Leeds for over forty years. From 1952 to 1987 he was a member of Council, and from 1987 up to the time of his death he served on the Court. The purpose of these Scholarships is to assist Home-rated postgraduate researchers to undertake research study in the School of Music at the University of Leeds.

<p><strong>Closing Date for Application forms 17:00 (UK time) Monday 2 June 2025.</strong></p> <h4>Duration of award</h4> <ul> <li> <div>Full-time (3.5 years) or pro-rata for part-time. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up tp two years (pro-rata for part-time), subject to satisfactory academic progress.</div> </li> </ul> <div> <ul> <li>The award provides full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£19,237 in Session 2024/25) for full-time study, part-time will be pro-rata at 60%.  This amount increases per annum in line with the UKRI rate. Full-time awards provide full fees for 3 years and a maintenance award for 3.5 years (Part-time awards are pro-rata).</li> </ul> <ul> <li>There are no other allowances.</li> </ul> </div> <h4>Other conditions</h4> <ul> <li> <div>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree </div> </li> <li> <div>These awards must normally be taken up by 1 October 2025</div> </li> <li> <div>The awards are available for new Postgraduate Researchers undertaking full-time or part-time research study leading to the degree of PhD. PGRs who are already registered for PhD research study are excluded from applying</div> </li> <li> <div>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Scholarship.</div> </li> <li> <div>One award available  </div> </li> </ul> <h4>Selection Process</h4> <p>The Admissions Team selects a shortlist of applicants who they wish to nominate for the award. The University of Leeds PGR Recruitment Group selects the final list of awards based on academic merit and no other factors such as financial hardship are taken into account.</p> <p>The Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any communication regarding the progress of your application form.  Unsuccessful applicants will be informed of their application outcome approximately 4 weeks after the application closing date.  Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 10 weeks of the application closing date.</p>

<div><strong>Stage 1</strong> - First of all apply for <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/130206/applying/91/applying_for_research_degrees" target="_blank">a research place of study</a> by completing a study application form.</div> <div> <p>In order to be considered for the scholarship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for study*. Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the scholarship deadline will not be considered for the award.<br /> Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds.</p> <p>*The supporting documents you need to provide with your study application are listed on website for the School/Faculty in which you are applying to study.</p> </div> <div><strong>Stage 2</strong> – Once you are in receipt of your 9 digit Student Application ID, <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/centrally-funded-home-research-scholarships-2025" target="_blank">complete the online application form</a>.</div> <p>Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known.</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education.  Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+; and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability. </em></p>

Applicants must hold a First Degree at undergraduate level equivalent to at least a UK Upper Second Class Honours degree. Applicants should either have graduated with the appropriate First Degree or be in their final year of study.

The minimum English language requirements for Schools in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component. (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p>For further information please contact <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Stanley%20Burton%20Research%20Scholarship%202024">the Admissions Team</a> in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures</p> <p>OR <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Stanley%20Burton%20Research%20Scholarship%202024">Postgraduate Scholarships</a> </p>

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• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

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

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

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

Please visit our PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

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

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

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

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

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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?

When funding schemes are open, the application will usually involve:  

• submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal; you will upload your research proposal as part of this process.
• The submission will typically require two references, academic qualifications, a proposed project approach and a personal statement.
• Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview.

Please note, funding schemes are only open at specific times of year. Applications for funding outside of these timeframes will not be considered. See our  PhD funding opportunities page  for details of any current funding calls.

What does PhD funding include?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

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

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

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

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

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

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

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

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

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

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

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

The Gen Foundation

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

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

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

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

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

The Open Society Foundations

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

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

International Education and Financial Aid

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

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

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

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

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

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

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

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

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

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

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

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

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

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

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

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

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

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

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

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

The Inlaks India Foundation

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

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

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

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

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

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

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

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

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

Saudi Arabia

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

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

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

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

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• Waiting it Out

Would you do a PhD without funding?

By katiegud December 16, 2013 in Waiting it Out

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I'm still waiting to hear from 3 programs I applied to, I have an interview at another, and two have accepted me. Of the offers though, one is almost definitely unfunded and the other I won't find out until March (arg!). The ones I'm waiting to hear from have potential funding (I applied for scholarships), but in the UK funded PhDs are very competitive. My fear is that my only offers will be without funding. 

I can defer for a year to reapply for scholarships, so that is my first option, but what if I still don't get anything? Would you fund yourself? Or would you take that as a rejection? Just looking for some outside opinions. 

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DirtyLabCoat

IMHO, I would never pay for a PhD. There are more than enough schools with funding available. Many mentors have told me the same.

• thegraydude , rising_star , LeoBixby and 2 others

I would not go to a PhD program without funding either. In fact, I would not have gone to a PhD program if I did not think their funding was enough for me to do my part in supporting my spouse and I (it worked out in the end, but at first it wasn't clear if my spouse would be able to work in the US even). 

• somebloke and socioholic

Maleficent999

I've been advised the same.

No...but it's easier for those of us in the sciences to say this. You may be able to get a TA or RA once you are on campus. I have even heard of students looking for them shortly after being admitted, as the fall they start tends to be too late (At least for that first semester/year).

I would never do a PhD without full funding. If for some reason I don't get funded offers I am going to work as a research assistant for a year or two. This is incredibly unlikely as I only applied to schools that have a history or statement that says they fully fund admitted PhD students.

Adenine_Monarch

Nope. Wouldn't pay either. There are too many schools out there that fully fund their students.

I got accepted into a PhD program in the UK as well, and won't know of funding until March/April. If I was doing my PhD here in the US, I will definitely NOT do a PhD without funding. That said, I heard from a few friends who did their doctorates in the UK that guaranteed funding (i'm in the social sciences) is extremely competitive the first first year, but gets easier to get once you are already in the program. So even if you "self-fund" (thru FAFSA, etc) the first year, there is a strong chance you'll get funding for the remaining 2 years, so the personal expense is mitigated somewhat. The way I see it, self-funding on my first year and studentships for the remaining two years is better than 5-6 years of (near poverty) wages from a funded US program. Hope this helps.

• istanbulnotconstantinople

Guest Gnome Chomsky

Personally, not a chance. It's too long. It's like 5 years. I can't afford that. I could afford a year or two of loans for a master's program, but definitely not 5 years for a PhD. 

Flandre Scarlet

Hell emphatically no.

I did private undergrad with a combination of scholarships, grants, and student loans and if I have to add another loan, I'm not going to do it. Jobs aren't just falling from the sky, so taking on 50-100k worth of debt over a 5-7 year span is not worth it. Nope, too many out there willing to pay for people to go.

http://www.memecenter.com/fun/2214947/godzilla-nope-nope-nope

^^^ That's how I feel about doing a PhD program without funding.

juilletmercredi

Hell to the no!

And I don't think it's "easier" for those in the sciences to say that.  In fact, I think it's even more important for humanities and arts hopefuls to not pay for PhDs, since their job markets are tougher.

would I pay tens of thousands of dollars each year to be somebody else's bitch?

But then again, it's one thing to go 5 years without funding. But entirely different if your intent is to pay for the first year in the hopes of walking on in case your professor gets more funding, or walking out with a masters.  

anthropologygeek

Wow, in the real world a lot of people go without funding. Hard sciences give funding to everyone soft sciences don't. I started without funding, got funding within a month of the semester starting, gave it up a year later due to fellowships and been doing fellowships since. If your confident in yourself being able to not have to rely on the department for funding why not go?

When I use the word "funding" in the context of graduate school education, I mean a "guaranteed" source of income to cover tuition and standard living expenses for the duration of my studies. I say "guaranteed" because few schools will actually promise money for X years, but they will usually say "up to X years, as long as the student makes satisfactory progress", which is good enough (usually unsatisfactory progress = expulsion from program). 

So, in the past, there were some years of grad school where the department provided only the tiny bit of funding needed to cover costs above my external fellowships. I have not ever gone into a program without a certain source of funding though because I had won the fellowship before I started the program (I found out shortly after I heard from grad school decisions). I agree that if, for some reason, you are 95% sure that you can get your own funding and there will be no or manageable gaps, then it might be worth it to go. However, there are non-monetary reasons to want funding, primarily because when a department spends money on you and pays you, it's an implicit recognition that what we are doing is actual work and that our time is valuable and not an limitless resource.

Also, I don't know what you mean by "in the real world a lot of people go without funding". Do you mean the non-academic real world? Everyone else in my family and my spouse's family is not in academia and not one of them have ever gone "without funding" which would be the equivalent of working in a job for no pay. Or do you mean in reality, many graduate students do not have funding and have to pay for their own programs? If so, then I agree, but it's really field dependent as you say. In professional fields, the expectation is that your eventual income will pay for your schooling later on. I think that if your field is one where the norm is not to receive funding, then it's perfectly acceptable for someone who is thinking about grad school to make that part of their decision on whether or not to go to grad school. I love doing my research and science but I will never do it for free--if for some reason, my field's norm became unfunded PhD programs, I would rather do pretty much anything else!

It depends upon the country.

In the North America and in Australia, it's the norm to get funded for PhD and one shouldn't go for a PhD program that doesn't offer funding.

But in the UK and in the rest of Europe, funding probabilities are mixed. Some top-ranked universities have almost guaranteed funding (also shorter PhD), but there are many universities that don't guarantee funding if you are not from the EU.

The question is how badly you want this unfunded PhD from the UK. If you can wait for another cycle and apply for PhDs with guaranteed funding, I think it's better to take that option. If you can't wait, then you need to think how competitive this PhD will be in the job market against similar PhDs from other institutions and whether you feel confident about getting the kind of job you want with this PhD.

From your list of Universities, Edinburgh was the best option, but since it's no longer an option, I think Manchester is the other competitive PhD and my guess is that Manchester will most likely give you at least partial funding. So, worth waiting to hear from them.

I'm not sure about the unfunded PhDs from the rest. You know best about their potential to get you success in the kind of job you want to do.

I would suggest wait to see what kind of funding you get from the rest. If you don't get funding this year, apply next cycle to funded PhDs across UK, EU, Canada and if possible, US.

i wonder how much is the tuition you have to pay each year for the PHD?

Absolutely not. I only have one school on my list with a possibility of not having full funding -- and that's an MA program. Every single professor I spoke to (including my recommenders), all insisted that I not enter any program that didn't have funding. It's a detriment to go into further into debt in my field. It's a detriment in most fields and to be honest, why would you want to? 

If you can afford it, it's up to you. I eliminated any school that wouldn't fund, or did not have a high chance of funding from my list because I can't afford it, and an acceptance without money would essentially be a rejection for me. I knew I would have to eliminate any UK programs when I looked at the costs and the chances of scholarships. But you must have felt you could still afford it somehow? Perhaps taking the year to apply to fellowships + funding would at least give you an opportunity to see if you can afford to go  and/or apply to programs that would fund you. 

Your profile says you're in the US, so applying to US schools that would fund you would be more beneficial to your wallet. 

• 2 weeks later...

Yes, if I were vastly independently wealthy and doing it just for my own personal enjoyment. Otherwise, clearly not - because of the practical reasons cited before and because securing funding and working as a TA/RA is an integral part of the doctoral experience, and a signal in the job search process that happens at the end.

Panama Slim

Not happening.

Brisingamen

I do know someone who did a UK PhD without funding -- at least, she paid her way through the first year and then got a job on campus to cover some of it. It worked out for her because she used an inheritance to pay. Can't imagine going into debt for that, however... 

I'm fairly certain that, at least in the Humanities and Social Sciences, paying for your own PhD is a job application kiss of death. While the saying 'funding begets funding' is pithy and annoying, I think it's worth thinking about in the long run. If no one was willing to pay you to do your research as a PhD, why would anyone pay you as a post-doctoral researcher/prof/whatever?

For the record, I would never, ever pay for a PhD. I'd even be (and am) a bit nervous about programs that offer fewer years of guaranteed funding than they project their PhDs to take to finish (i.e. offer 4 years funding when the average finishing time is 5-6 years).

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Got into a PhD program but no funding?

I got accepted into a PhD program, but I wasn't offered any funding through assistantships. I emailed a person in charge, and I was told that if I receive good grades in the first semester, it would be possible to get funding. The email also seemed to suggest that there is still a chance that I could receive funding, but it's hard to understand since the email was strangely written.

I really want to go through with this, but I need to eat. Not only will I be out of state, but I need to start living like a human being. I don't even have a car for goodness sake. I finished paying off my undergraduate loans, which were significantly smaller because my family helped me out with that. But no one will help me with the graduate program.

What do I do? Do I be really upfront and clear that I need funding? I emailed the person back to make sure that if I get good grades that I'll get funded, and not just a vague potential of it. But I haven't asked about the possibility of getting some funding right off the bat (since they said I haven't been considered yet for it, and I don't want to be a nuisance).

• graduate-school

• 12 Don't accept a PhD position without funding (unless you are independently wealthy and are self-funding your PhD). –  Bryan Krause ♦ Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 19:37
• 4 grades hardly mater in PhD programs. This is very weird. Don't go. –  Azor Ahai -him- Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 19:42
• Ok, so it sounds weird, not just me? I'm hoping they promise me some, but we will see... Would it be a bad idea to ask them about it? –  etfhan Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 19:50
• 3 I have heard of situations like this, but it seems like a lousy bet. Once you've shown that you're willing to enroll without a guarantee of funding, you lose your leverage in the future. If you can't get some sort of clearly articulated commitment to funding, take a pass. –  Elizabeth Henning Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 21:46
• A bad bet. You're already willing to enroll for free? ... It's maybe not the individual faculty, but the administrative set-up, that will find no reason to pay you and not collect tuition from you if you're already willing to pay tuition... –  paul garrett Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 23:05

4 Answers 4

My advice for "typical" students seeking a Ph.D. degree is that you should not pay tuition for the degree and that you should receive assistantship or fellowship funding to compensate you for the time you spend working as a research/teaching trainee with a faculty advisor or advisors.

Reputable doctoral programs have access to one or both of the following types of assistantship funding: teaching assistantships funded by the department, college, or university; and/or research assistantships funded by individual faculty or sometimes by the department. Fellowship funding might come from the university or from external sources.

If a department or faculty advisor has not committed funding for your Ph.D., then this means that other students (new or continuing) have been selected for funding ahead of you. When they tell you that you might receive funding if things go well, it usually also means that either someone else must leave the program unexpectedly early or that they will commit some of next year's funding to you instead of to an applicant in next year's cycle. This sometimes does work out but puts all of the financial risk on you, the student. This is not fair. For this reason, my department does not allow unfunded Ph.D. students. Do not take an unfunded offer of Ph.D. admission.

• How do I go about stating my case? At the same time, I don't want to sound too annoying or pushy, but I definitely need funding. –  etfhan Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 23:06
• 4 @etfhan I'm sorry, but you don't have a case. They offered you it, you can't afford it. Attend another university –  Azor Ahai -him- Commented Apr 23, 2019 at 23:24
• 1 My advice to you is to let them know that you will not attend without a funded offer. If you are willing to wait for a final decision, let them know your deadline. –  alerera Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 1:40
• 1 you should not pay tuition for the degree - for STEM in the US, I agree, but I think standards can vary quite a bit with the area (both academic and geographic). –  Kimball Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 3:07

In the U.S., in mathematics, if you are accepted to a Ph.D. program without funding, there's already something suspicious... Most good places do not do this any more, though 30-40 years ago it was more common.

At best, if you enter that program, you've already been appraised as not as promising as the people who are funded. Given the limited staffing for advising/mentoring and supervising research, you're starting out at the very back of the line. And, indeed, staffing for scientifically expert mentors and so on is one of the not-so-publicized difficulties in graduate programs.

At least in mathematics... absolutely only go to a PhD program that will pay your tuition and give you a stipend. Even if you're "accepted" to an allegedly better program without funding, the odds are strongly against your coming out of that stronger program in a good situation.

I'm going to have to guess that it might be best to consider taking a pass on the offer. The possibility of funding under these circumstances seems slim, and aren't likely to improve.

If you are willing to take the risk, you could just inform them that you would be unable to accept their offer without adequate funding. They might well withdraw the offer and you would need to look elsewhere.

But, unless you think this is the best offer you are going to get, it might be time to reassess, look elsewhere, and try to build up your finances. It might be a longer, but possible, path to your goals.

But if you start and don't get funded, then you are already on the longer path. Think carefully about the risk and the options.

I have some experience: I got into a PhD program in mathematics without funding (this was in 2006). I had a bad undergrad GPA, mediocre subject GRE scores, but good grades in my math courses and some strong letters of recommendation. So they were willing to take a chance by admitting me, but I had to "prove myself" to get funding. I was able to impress some people with my work, and pass preliminary exams quickly, so was offered support in my second semester.

As far as whether you should: This is a really big risk. You need to think carefully about what your chances of success are, and what financial possibilities your degree will open for you. Are there well-paying jobs available outside of academia? Also, if you don't get offered support your second semester, do you stay one more? What if you don't get offered support in your second year? When do you cut your losses?

I would really only do this if you feel like you have not been performing up to your full potential for some reason leading into grad school (health problems, youthful mistakes, etc.). In this case you have a good chance to prove that you are in fact capable of being a successful student worthy of funding. Otherwise, I would pass.

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Is it a bad idea to do a PhD without funding?

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