PhD Scholarships in the UK: Funding Options & How to Win Them (2025) -

PhD Scholarships in the UK Most UK PhD students aren’t funded by a single “scholarship” the way taught Master’s students are. Instead, they’re funded through studentships (tuition + a tax‑free stipend, often plus a research or travel allowance), or a bundle of fee waivers, university awards, and external support. This guide explains the UK funding ecosystem, where to find live opportunities, how eligibility works for home vs. international students, and how to assemble applications that actually win.

The UK PhD funding landscape

Think in three pillars:

UKRI‑funded studentships delivered via Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs), Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), or a supervisor’s project grant. These typically cover tuition (home or sometimes international rate) and a stipend indexed annually, plus a small Research Training Support Grant (RTSG).
University scholarships: university‑wide flagship schemes (merit‑based doctoral awards, for example), faculty or departmental scholarships, and fee waivers. Some are fees‑only; others include stipends or top‑ups.
External/country/charity funding: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, China Scholarship Council (CSC), government or agency funding (HEC Pakistan, TETFund Nigeria, CONAHCYT Mexico, CAPES/CNPq Brazil, Saudi or other Gulf schemes), and charities and trusts (Wellcome, Leverhulme, etc.). These often pair with a university fee waiver.

Funding can be project‑led (the advert already includes funding) or applicant‑led (you bring a proposal + supervisor + scholarship application).

UKRI studentships explained

What a studentship usually covers

Tuition fees: at the home rate; some schemes also pay the international rate or let departments “top up” the difference for selected candidates
Stipend: tax‑free maintenance allowance (paid monthly). Amounts are updated annually.
RTSG/consumables: small budget for training, fieldwork, or conference travel. In lab‑based subjects, there might be additional bench fees.

Routes into UKRI funding

DTP/CDT cohort calls: You apply to a training centre or partnership aligned to a theme (AI, health data, environmental sciences, social science, for example). You might pick from a list of funded projects or propose your own within the theme.
Project‑led studentships: A supervisor has a grant and advertises a fully funded PhD project. You apply to that exact project.
Departmental allocations: Some departments hold a small pool of studentships to allocate to top applicants each year.

Eligibility & competition

Schemes specify who counts as home vs. international and how many international awards are available (sometimes capped). Some centres explicitly welcome international applicants and will fund international fees; others fund home fees only.
Selection balances academic excellence, proposal fit, supervisory capacity, and diversity objectives. Expect interviews and a scored panel process.

Timing

Most calls open between October and March for an October start. Some centres run rolling or January/April starts. Preparing a competitive application typically takes 12–18 months (reading, proposal, supervisor alignment, English tests, references).

PhD Scholarships: University scholarships & flagship awards

Universities offer layers of support. Shortlist both university‑wide and faculty/department awards.

Examples of university‑wide flagship awards (illustrative):

Oxford Clarendon Scholarships: fees + stipend for outstanding students across divisions
Cambridge International/Trust awards: a portfolio of funds; some pair with college scholarships or CSC joint awards
Imperial President’s PhD Scholarships: full funding for high‑achieving applicants in STEM and beyond
UCL Graduate Research Scholarships / Overseas Research Scholarships: fee and stipend packages with competition across faculties
Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarships: competitive awards open to all disciplines
Edinburgh Global PhD Scholarships and college‑specific funds
Other well‑known schemes at King’s, Manchester, Durham, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow, Queen Mary, and more

Faculty/departmental awards

Many schools run studentship competitions tied to strategic priorities (health inequalities, climate adaptation, computational social science, for example). Some convert top applicants to GTA/GRA roles with fee waivers.

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Terminology cheatsheet

Fees‑only: pays tuition; you must secure a stipend elsewhere (GTA, external funder, self‑support)
Stipend‑only: you have to cover fees (when you hold a country scholarship paying living costs only, for example)
Top‑up: adds money to an existing award (industry co‑funding or a competitive augmentation for London costs, for example)

PhD Scholarships: External & country funding

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

Support citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries for PhD study in the UK. Often includes tuition, stipend, travel, and arrival allowances. Requires a UK university’s support and a developmental impact case.

China Scholarship Council (CSC)

Funds Chinese citizens for PhD and joint PhD routes. Many UK universities run CSC joint schemes (the university covers fees, CSC covers stipend and return flights). Expect early internal deadlines (Jan–Feb) for nomination.

Government/agency schemes (examples)

HEC Pakistan, TETFund Nigeria, CONAHCYT Mexico, CAPES/CNPq Brazil, Saudi government or agency awards, Turkey YÖK, and others. These might be split‑site or full PhDs. Universities often have dedicated pages explaining how they pair such funding with fee discounts.

Charities & foundations

Wellcome (biomed and health, some humanities of health), Leverhulme Trust (humanities and social sciences), disease‑specific charities, learned societies, regional trusts. These vary widely in scope and deadlines.

Tip: External funding often demands a host support letter and a university acceptance. Work with your prospective supervisor early so internal sign‑offs are ready.

Eligibility: who counts as “home” vs. “international”

Fee status affects eligibility and fee level:

Home: usually based on citizenship or settled status and residency length in the UK. Home‑fee students pay the regulated or home rate; many UKRI awards cover only this rate.
International: everyone else. International fees are higher; some scholarships pay the full international rate; others cover home fees only, with departments required to top up or the student to secure the difference.

Universities publish detailed fee‑status rules. Read them early if your status is complex (UK citizen living abroad, EU with or without settled status, for example).

Deadlines: when to start

Back‑plan from a September/October start:

18–12 months out

Map possible supervisors and centres (DTP/CDT). Read 10–20 recent papers to refine your idea. Prepare a 1‑page concept note.

12–9 months out

Email supervisors; get feedback; iterate your proposal (1,000–2,500 words). Collect references, transcripts, and start English testing if needed.

9–6 months out

Submit university apps and scholarship forms. Many flagship scholarships close Dec–Feb; DTP or CDT deadlines often run Jan–March. Request internal ranking or nomination where required.

6–3 months out

Interviews and panel decisions. If successful, convert to a CAS (for visa), prepare financial evidence, and arrange housing. Apply for ATAS if your field needs it.

<3 months

Visa, travel, accommodation, and pre‑arrival onboarding.

PhD Scholarships: How to make a fundable application

Start with a supervisor

Funding panels back projects with evident supervisory fit. Your target supervisor should have relevant publications, capacity to supervise, and (ideally) grant alignment with your topic.

Write the proposal funders like

Problem & gap: What’s not known or solved? Why now? Why here?
Questions/hypotheses & contribution: What new knowledge or tool will your thesis produce?
Methods & data: Be precise (design, sampling, instruments, analysis). Name datasets or access agreements if relevant. Include a feasibility paragraph.
Ethics & risk: Human participants? Sensitive data? Fieldwork? State approvals and contingencies.
Training plan: What methods or skills will you gain at this university (courses, labs, cohorts)?
Timeline: A 36–48 month Gantt (milestones: literature, methods build, data collection, analysis, writing, submission).

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Prove track record & potential

Share outputs: dissertation, preprints, posters, talks, datasets or code, or policy briefs. Panels want evidence of follow‑through and communication ability.

Statement of purpose

Link your background to the project, name the centre or theme, and show you understand impact (who benefits, how). Mention EDI commitments and open research practices where relevant.

References that work

Choose referees who can attest to methods, independence, and writing. Provide them your proposal and bullet points with your top 5 achievements so their letters are specific.

Interview: 10–15 minutes to convince

5‑minute pitch (problem → method → contribution)
Anticipate feasibility questions (data access, visas, ethics, fieldwork risk)
Show you understand the centre’s training and how you’ll contribute to its community

Budgeting: what the money actually covers

Income vs. expenses

Stipend is meant to cover living costs. Reality varies by city (London vs. elsewhere). Model rent, utilities, food, transport, books or software, and childcare if relevant.
Fees: paid annually; expect inflationary increases. Some awards escalate stipends yearly; check if fees do too.
IHS & visa: the Immigration Health Surcharge and visa fees are significant and usually not covered by stipends. Plan for them up front.
Bench fees/RTSG: in lab fields, ask about bench fees. Use RTSG for conferences, training, transcription, or field travel—learn the claim rules early.

Hidden costs

Laptop or software, society memberships, open‑access publishing fees (if required), moving costs, and deposits for accommodation. Budget a 5–10% contingency.

PhD Scholarships: Common pitfalls & how to avoid them

No named supervisor: Panels rarely back orphan proposals. Secure supervisor buy‑in first.
Generic proposal: It reads like a term paper, not a plan to execute. Add methods detail and feasibility.
Missed eligibility: You applied to a home‑fee‑only scheme as an international student. Always check fee status rules and quotas.
Late English/ATAS: You pass the academic review but miss administrative gates. Start tests and ATAS early.
Under‑costed fieldwork: International travel, transcription, or incentives not budgeted; panel doubts feasibility. Add a realistic budget and a back‑up plan.
Weak references: Choose referees who know your research, not just your attendance.

Shortlists: where to search today

FindAPhD: filter by funded PhD and by council (ESRC/EPSRC/etc.)
University scholarship hubs: search “[University] + PhD scholarships”
CDT/DTP websites: look up centres in your discipline and check their “studentships” pages
UKRI council pages: ESRC (social sciences), EPSRC (engineering/physical sciences), AHRC (arts/humanities), BBSRC, MRC, NERC
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: PhD awards & deadlines
CSC (China): joint calls listed on UK university pages (internal nomination required)
Country embassies/education ministries: outward mobility schemes and bilateral funding

FAQs

Can international students get UKRI funding?

Sometimes, yes. Many DTPs or CDTs have limited international places or require a department to cover the fee difference. Read each call closely.

What stipend should I expect?

Universities publish their annual stipend rate; it increases most years. London might have higher rates or top‑ups. Check the current figure before applying.

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Are there fully funded humanities PhDs?

Yes, through AHRC DTPs, university scholarships, and external funds (Leverhulme, for example). Competition is intense—your proposal and supervisor fit must be sharp.

Do I need a supervisor before applying?

Nearly always. Even cohort programmes expect a fit conversation before or during application.

Can I hold two awards?

You generally can’t double‑fund the same costs. You can combine fees‑only with a stipend‑only award. Disclose all funding to avoid conflicts.

What if I’m self‑funding—can I add a part‑time job?

Often yes, within student visa limits and university rules. But research timelines suffer if work hours are too high. Budget realistically.

What is ATAS and do funders care?

ATAS is a security clearance for specific STEM subjects. Panels care indirectly: if you’ll need ATAS, they expect you to plan the timeline.

Is Chevening for PhDs?

Chevening is primarily for taught Master’s. Some doctoral exceptions exist (Chevening Clore, for example), but don’t plan your PhD around Chevening.

Can I start in January and still get funding?

Some projects and centres allow January/April starts, but most scholarships target October. Ask early.

How competitive are Russell Group scholarships?

Very. A strong case at a non‑RG university can be more realistic than a weak case at a RG. Follow the funding, not just the brand.

Do I need the GRE?

Rarely in the UK; only if a department explicitly asks.

What happens if I miss the English‑test deadline?

Your offer or scholarship can lapse. Book early, consider multiple test dates, and keep a retake buffer.

PhD Scholarships: Templates & tools

Supervisor outreach email (≤180 words)

Subject: Prospective PhD — [Your Topic] — [Your Name]

Dear Dr/Prof [Surname],

I’m preparing a PhD application on [one‑line topic]. My recent work [1 line: dissertation/paper/RA experience] points to a gap in [area]. I propose to [method/approach in one line], using [data/site], to contribute [1–2 outcomes]. Your work on [specific paper/project] aligns closely.

Would you be available to supervise, or to advise whether this fits your group/CDT/DTP themes? I’m targeting [funding route: DTP/CDT/university scholarship/CSC/Commonwealth] and can share a 1‑page concept and CV.

Kind regards, [Your Name] [Programme/University or Employer] [Link to profile/preprint/portfolio]

Funding shortlist worksheet (columns)

Scheme name | Level (fees/stipend/top‑up) | Eligible (Home/Intl) | Discipline fit | Deadline | Internal nomination? | Documents needed | Supervisor confirmed? | Status/Notes

PhD Scholardhips: Funding source vs. what it pays (quick table)

Source	Fees	Stipend	Extras
UKRI DTP/CDT	Yes (home; sometimes international)	Yes	RTSG; sometimes travel/placement
Supervisor’s project grant	Usually	Yes	Project‑specific resources
University flagship scholarship	Often	Often	Varies; sometimes top‑ups
Faculty/department award	Often (partial/full)	Sometimes	Teaching/GRA opportunities
Commonwealth PhD	Yes	Yes	Travel; arrival; fieldwork (scheme‑dependent)
CSC (China) joint	University fee waiver/discount	Yes (by CSC)	Flights; visa/medical (scheme‑dependent)
Country agency (HEC/TETFund/etc.)	Often	Often	Travel/settlement; varies
Charity/foundation (Wellcome/Leverhulme)	Sometimes	Sometimes	Project costs; subject‑dependent

Final word

Winning UK PhD scholarships is about fit + feasibility + timing. Pair a sharp, doable proposal with the right supervisor and centre, start 12–18 months ahead, and target schemes that actually allow your fee status. Build a small portfolio of evidence (dissertation, code or data, poster, preprint) and practise a concise funding pitch. With those pieces in place, the odds move in your favour.