highest phd stipend uk

• PhD Salary in UK – Explained
• Funding a PhD

What Are PhD Salaries?

The average cost of undertaking a PhD in the UK is approximately £20,000 per academic year for UK students and £40,000 for international students. To help offset the cost of this, many students question whether undertaking a doctorate comes with a PhD salary.

The salary of a PhD student is governed by three factors: whether they’re assisting in undergraduate teaching, assisting in research, or have secured a PhD with a stipend. Depending on which of the three categories a student falls within, they will receive an income during their studies, however, the amount will differ by a substantial amount.

To help show you how you can fund your postgraduate degree and how much you can expect to earn whilst doing so, carry on reading below.

Types of PhD Salaries

There are three types of PhD degree salaries:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) . In exchange for a salary, you’ll be required to assist in the delivery of one or more courses over a number of years. This includes, but is not limited to, marking student tutorials, supervising lab experiments and providing support to undergraduates during office hours. Besides this, you may have to teach a small section of the course itself. You can discover more about GTAs on King’s College London’s website.
• Research Assistantships (RAs) . In exchange for a salary, you assist a departmental professor with their research. In the ideal scenario, the professor you work with should also be your PhD supervisor and the research you’re asked to support with relates to your own doctoral project.
• Stipend via Studentship: A stipend is a non-repayable grant provided to doctoral students to help support their studies. A studentship covers a student’s tuition fees whilst a stipend covers a PhD student’s living costs. This includes outgoings such as rent, food, bills and basic travel. Unlike Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships, stipends rarely have duties attached to them. The only expectation of receiving a stipend will be that you maintain continuous progress within your degree.

It’s worth noting these earning opportunities can be also be combined. For example, it’s possible to be a research assistant whilst also committing time to teach undergraduate students.

Average PhD Salary in UK

The average PhD student salary for teaching assistantships will vary depending on the level of responsibility you’re taking. However, to provide figures, past doctoral students have reported receiving approx. £10/hr for marking tutorials, £15/hr for leading laboratory sessions and up to £20/hr for leading undergraduate classes and tutorials.

The actual amount you can earn from teaching assistance will depend on the rate your department offers and the hours you can realistically take on. If you’re on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship programme, they will require you to dedicate a set number of hours per week. If you’re not on a GTA but would still like to earn an income through this scheme, you will likely need to commit several hours per week consistently. Although this can be a great way to earn whilst you study, you need to make sure you manage your time effectively as to not become overwhelmed by taking on an additional commitment.

The average salary for research assistantships will vary depending on the field of the doctoral degree you are enrolled in. Usually, these positions pay between £25,000 to £30,000 per year, however, it’s possible to come across positions which sit slightly outside of this. As a general rule of thumb, STEM assistors are paid more than non-STEM assistors.

In the UK, PhD students can receive a stipend which varies between £15,000 and £18,000 per annum. As part of the studentship your stipend is provided under, your tuition fees will also be paid for. UK tuition fees will vary between universities but are approximately £4,500 per year for doctoral courses starting in 2021/22 as per the UKRI recommendations .

Although £15,000 to £18,000 per year is the typical range for a stipend, some can be far greater than this. For example, Wellcome Trust , a research-charity based in London, offers an annual stipend of up to £23,300 and £26,000 for doctoral students located outside and within London, respectively.

Are PhD Salaries Taxed?

PhD stipends are tax free. Therefore, you don’t need to pay any income tax nor do you need to make any national insurance contributions. This means you’ll keep all the money you receive from an annual stipend. However, this is not the case for Research Assistants.

In the UK, Research Assistants are employed as university staff members and are paid a direct salary as opposed to a stipend. As a result, it will require you to pay tax on your earnings and make national insurance contributions.

To put this into perspective, for the 2019/20 UK tax year, you’re required to pay a 20% tax on any income above £12,500 but less than £50,000. You’re also required to make national insurance contributions of 12% of your weekly earnings over £166 but less than £962. This means that an annual Research Assistantship salary of £30,000 will equate to a take-home salary of £23,938 per year.

How to Get a PhD Stipend

To find research positions which offer stipends, we recommend you search our PhD database and filter by ‘funded’ positions.

Besides this, you can also secure a studentship from UK Research Councils or directly from your university as a scholarship. Independent organisations, such as charities and research trusts, and innovative firms within your industry also offer funding. You can read our PhD studentship guide to see how these work or our Where to find a PhD guide for further ideas.

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

How to Get a Research Assistantship PhD

Unfortunately, research assistantships opportunities aren’t as common to come across compared to PhD stipends. Besides this, when they are available, they’re predominantly in STEM subjects such as computer science and engineering. The reason for this is these subjects usually have access to greater research grants and have a greater volume of practical work available.

To find a research assistantship, we recommend that you contact the university departments who host the courses you’re interested in directly. This is because research assistantships help professors with their research, and while they may require help, they may not be openly advertising for it. They may, therefore, be able to create a role for you within their department or put you into contact with one of their colleagues who already has an open position.

International Students

It’s worth noting that international students will have a harder time securing a funded PhD position than UK ‘home’ students will. This is largely because there are usually fewer funding opportunities available to international students, which as a result also attract significant competition.

Besides this, if you’re an international student studying in the UK you will most likely than not be on a Tier 4 visa. Although a Tier 4 visa will allow you to work to earn an additional income alongside any studentship you may have, there will be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do. For example, during term-time, you won’t be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. For a full list of restrictions, please refer to the government website.

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PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid Compared to Graduates?

Considering whether to stay in university as a PhD student or to leave and get a job? If so, you may be wondering “How much do PhD student get paid?” and “How does a UK PhD salary compare to a graduate salary?” .

In this post I delve into the details and reveal that the difference in take home pay between a UK PhD stipend and a grad position can actually be much lower than it first appears!

If you’re looking to know how much a PhD could boost your career and salary after finishing your doctoral degree I’d suggest checking out my post: Is a PhD Worth It ?

I also have a complementary post covering my monthly expenses as a PhD student. You may also wish to check out my guide to the application process , PhD FAQs and article on how I got a PhD scholarship .

February 2024 : This post has been updated to include figures for the 2023/24 academic year.

Do PhD students get paid in the UK? If so, how much do PhD students get paid?

Before we delve into the details let’s first cover whether PhD students get paid in the UK. Generally, yes, most PhD students get what is called a PhD stipend to support themselves during their PhD. Importantly, a PhD stipend (in the UK at least) is tax free .

It is worth noting though that not all PhD projects automatically include funding. Funding may also not be applicable for every applicant. For example sometimes it may only be available to home students i.e. those from the UK.

Therefore some students may resort to self funding their PhD. In STEM subjects self funding a PhD is pretty rare and often only happens because of limitations in funding eligibility. I’ve personally worked with a mix of funded and self-funded (often by parents) PhD students, though most are certainly funded by grants and scholarships.

If your project doesn’t already include funding, for most people I strongly advise trying to find funding rather than considering self funding. For more information on this check out my post on PhD Funding in the UK.

2023/24 UK PhD Salary

• PhD salary outside of London: In 2023/24 most new PhD students in the UK will receive a PhD stipend worth at least £18,622 per year .
• PhD salary in London : In 2023/24 most new PhD students in London will receive an increased stipend to account for cost of living , which is typically around £20,622 per year .

Notice that the PhD stipend for outside of London is at least £18,622 per year. I’ve seen several advertised at the London rate. There are also some available at an even higher rate. For example I know of CDTs in Bristol paying more like £24,000 tax-free.

Your PhD stipend will usually provide funding for 3.5 years, although it can occasionally be for 3 or 4 years.

These values are for most PhD studentships including those awarded by all UK research councils following the UKRI guidelines .

Certain scholarship schemes pay upwards of £25,000 per year, such as the £25,150 (2024/25 rate) President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial. For details on how to get such a scholarship, check out this article where I go over how I got awarded my own PhD scholarship.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN)  runs all across the EU. As well as nice training and exchange opportunities it pays a staggering stipend of approx £40,000 – £45,000 . The grant level is reviewed each year and increases if you have family dependents. I personally wish I’d known about it earlier and highly recommend anyone interested puts a reminder in their diary for when the next call opens!

Is a UK PhD stipend taxable?

Here is what PhD stipends look like compared to some fairly typical starting grad salaries in the UK:

At first glance a PhD stipend doesn’t stack up well against the higher wages of a graduate salary which can sometimes be twice this amount or more. But crucially PhD stipends for students are tax free !

There are a few other financial perks that come with being a student so I was intrigued to find out how the two salaries really compared. The results may surprise you!

Below is a high level overview and I’ll delve into each of the numbers in depth later in the post.

Grad salary vs PhD salary starting numbers

As mentioned earlier, in 2023/24 a typical PhD stipend outside of London is at least £18,622 . Within London this will typically increase slightly to account for cost of living to around £20,622 . These rates rise every year for new students, but do not rise for each year of the PhD. So for new students considering starting in 2024/25 a UK PhD salary will likely be around £19,100 outside of London. 

For the sake of simplifying the comparison I averaged the 2023/24 PhD stipend to £19,622 for all PhD students studying in the UK.

A fairly typical grad salary, for someone qualified enough to be considering a science PhD, is around £30,000 . Of course this is an average salary so needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. As the number can vary dramatically it may be considered too low by some, but I think it’s a good benchmark accounting for different regions of the UK.

I’ve included higher and lower graduate salaries too in the summary charts for this post.

Salary Gap: £10,378

On the face of it the PhD student would be earning £10,378 less per year: around 35% lower! This is enough of a difference to put off a lot of potential PhD candidates who’ve likely spent the last few years building up student loans.

But unlike normal wages, PhD stipends are tax free so maybe things aren’t as bleak for PhD students as it seems? Let’s explore how they really compare.

Income Tax & National Insurance Contributions

The 2023/24 Personal Income Allowance is £12,570. This means that you can earn up to this amount and not pay any income tax. Earnings from £12,571 up to £50,270 fall into the basic rate bracket of 20% tax.

PhD Student Salary: PhD stipends are tax free and incur no income tax or national insurance contributions. Remaining stipend: £19,622

Professional Salary: On £30,000 you’d pay £ 3486 in income tax and NI contributions of £2004 . Remaining wage:  £24,510

Salary Gap: £4888 Income tax and national insurance contributions have immediately almost halved the difference in take-home pay from £10,378 down to £4888!

Student Loan Repayment

PhD Student Salary: Even with a PhD stipend you are officially an unwaged student so you won’t make student loan repayments as a PhD student. Remaining stipend: £19,622 [see footnote 1]

Professional Salary: The amount you may have to pay for student loan repayments depends upon when you started your undergraduate course. If you started your undergraduate course since 2012 you pay student loan repayments on earnings above £27,295. Meaning on a salary of £30,000 you’d pay £243 a year on student loan repayments. If you began your undergraduate course before 2012, repayments start on salaries above £22,015 and would be £541 a year . Most of you likely completed your undergrad degree recently so we’ll go with the more recent, lower, repayments. Remaining wage:  £24,267

Salary Gap: £4645

Council Tax

PhD Student Salary: Another cost that students are exempt from is council tax. Though be careful if you share a house with non-students since council tax must then be paid on the property. [2] Remaining stipend:  £19,622

Professional Salary: Council tax varies greatly between council boroughs, and depends on the property you live in. For example in Cardiff I lived in a one bed flat and the annual council tax was £1050 per year. During my PhD in London council tax for a lovely three bed house  in Clapham it was £1000! Now that I live in Bristol it is over £2000 per year for a three bed house. I’ll go to the liberty of saying on average it would be £1150 per year and would be divided between two people: -£575 each. Total: £23,692

Salary Gap: £4070

Private Pension Contributions

PhD Student Salary: Although universities pay a PhD stipend to students, you are not a member of staff and hence do not make private pension contributions. Remaining stipend:  £19,622

Professional Salary: Legislation has been phasing in making contribution to private pensions mandatory. The upside is that employers match your contribution up to varying percentages: sometimes up to about 10% of your salary. Additionally there are tax benefits to contributing so overall you could see it as boosting your salary looking at the longer term view. [3]

I believe there are troubling times ahead for 20-somethings and personally am not relying on a state pension existing by the time we all reach retirement age. Therefore I wholeheartedly recommend making a decently sized contribution at least up to the same amount that your employer matches. For the purposes of this comparison I won’t deduct anything for private pension since it’s not really being deducted so I’ll call this one a draw.  Total: £23,692

Student Discount

Ah the obvious one! Student discount may have been the first thing you thought of when you saw this article, but I’m not going to include it in this analysis.

A student card does allow a significant amount to be saved, not only on luxuries such as entry to attractions and deals in shops but also travel. For example in London, an 18+ student oystercard gets you 30% off travelcards. For a monthly zones 1-3 ticket this would save about £50 a month: over £600 a year!

The reason I’ve not included it? How much you use student discount depends on your circumstances and lifestyle and I wanted to keep the analysis widely applicable. Also, there are ways around needing to pay for travel at all: I started cycling to university every day in London .

Curveball: the £12,570 Tax-Free Personal Income Allowance

So far the recent grad is still earning an additional £4842 per year: almost a third more than the PhD student. Owing to the fact that PhD students are exempt from income tax, national insurance contributions, council tax and student loan repayments the gap in earnings has shrunk considerably.

One last calculation I wanted to try was to consider the scenario of a student earning some additional money on the side. It is a common thing to make extra money with teaching assistant, tutoring and consultancy opportunities. In fact I think every PhD student I know does at least a little. There are of course non-academic routes to make additional money too.

I have written a post about some of the ways that I make extra money , many of which are in fact available to non-students. Do be careful to check that this is acceptable at your institution. My favourite way to make extra money is matched betting which is tax-free for everybody. You can find my complete guide to matched betting here .

Tax-free side-hustle

Currently you can earn £12,570 tax free in the UK . Given that the PhD stipend itself is tax free, unlike an equivalent worker you wouldn’t pay any tax on extra earnings up to this threshold. This might sound insignificant but it’s not.

Admittedly, unless you’re very entrepreneurial, it is unlikely that you would make use of the whole tax-free opportunity. But earning several thousand pounds per year on top of the stipend is certainly common.

As pointed out by a reader, John, in the comments below: a consideration should be that that some universities limit how much paid work you can do per month. Even so, there are lots of ways to make money and your time as a student could even be a great time to start your own business .

I’ve been paid more than £25 an hour doing pretty simple work for the university , so these earnings can mount up quickly.

To illustrate the extra earning potential afforded to PhD students, let’s consider the most extreme case where the tax-free earnings are maximised.

Since 2017 there has been a £1000 tax-free trading allowance for workers in the UK , meaning even those in a normal taxable job can earn £1000 on top of their salary from side-hustle jobs. Therefore the grad will pay additional taxes on £11,570 instead of £12,570.

PhD Student Salary: An enterprising student maxing out the tax-free allowance could earn £12,570 a year and pay no national insurance either, leaving additional take-home pay of  £12,570 . With a PhD stipend of £17,062 the student would in total earn £32,192 for the year. They’d keep 100% of those extra earnings.

Again, yes it is unlikely that someone would really earn this much on the side but it is common to make at least several thousand throughout the year.

Professional Salary: As a grad on £30,000 per year in your main job, to have an equivalent side-hustle earning £12,570, in total you’d pay tax on £41,570. Income tax would be £5800: £2314 higher than on their base salary of £30,000. NI contributions would be £3335: £1331 higher. Plus student loan repayments would be £1284: £1041 higher. Student loan repayments really start increasing considerably when you’re earning more. These additional taxes and costs total deductions of £4686,  leaving the professional with extra take-home pay of  £7884 . Including their day-job the total they’d be left with is £31,576 .

For this extra £12,570 of work, the student would pocket 100% of it and the professional would keep £7884 ( 63% ). Looking at the pre-tax difference in their earnings: at face value the student would be earning £32,192 and the grad £41,570: a difference of £9378. Yet once taxes are considered the final result is two people with remarkably similar take-home pays: a difference of £616 in favour of the student!

Check it out:

Under these circumstances the student would in fact take home £616 more per year than the professional! I used the maximum tax-free allowance to highlight the point and yes it’s unlikely that many students will fully utilise it. Yet the point stands that any additional earnings are much better retained by PhD students.

If someone was running a fully-fledged business on the side then the difference becomes even bigger as the grad salary approaches the next tax bracket for earnings of £50,271 and above, at which point the rate of income tax doubles.

There are very few legal ways of making money which are tax-exempt for everyone. One of these rare cases is also my favourite way to make money on the side: matched betting. Intrigued? I’ve written a huge guide to it here . In this rare instance none of the grad’s extra earnings get eroded by tax.

Grad salary vs PhD student salary conclusion

Starting from a difference of £10,378 in salary, taxes and other outgoings have knocked £6308 off the graduate’s wage. This brings the difference in earnings down to £4070. This equates to £339 per month. More than nothing, but not a huge difference. And this doesn’t include any extra earnings on the side which the student can do a much better job of retaining.

Surprised how small the difference is? I certainly was whilst I was writing this.

Here is a chart for comparing a wider range of salaries:

This analysis doesn’t take in to account the extra earning power that gaining a PhD could bring, nor the potential lifestyle benefits of being a student such as autonomy and flexible working hours which it could be argued level the playing field even further. Plus the opportunities afforded to PhD students, which everyone should seize. And yes, student discount if you use it.

Furthermore if you consider the opportunity to make an additional £12k+ per year before incurring tax  any difference in earnings can become close to negligible!

I hope that this post has helped explain that the wage gap between UK PhD stipends and grad salaries is not as dramatic it first seems. Perhaps it’s even encouraged you to consider a PhD. If so I’ve written posts to help with your application and an article on how to improve your chances of securing a PhD scholarship . Also if you’re curious you can read about life as a PhD student along with profiles of PhD students around the world .

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

What do you think about this comparison between a UK PhD stipend and grad salary? Do you think there are any additional factors that I have overlooked? Please share your thoughts in the comments below and if you’ve enjoyed this post you can subscribe to hear about more content:

[1] Some people might say that by continuing studying you’re simply delaying your student loan repayment.  Considering most people don’t pay it off in the 30 odd years until any outstanding balance is wiped I think it’s fair to say that this doesn’t ring true.

[2] No council tax is paid on a property if all occupants are students. If you live with one professional they can claim the single occupancy discount of 25% but with two or more professionals the full council tax amount must be paid. If you share in a mixed group it is up to you how you divide it within the group. Ironically given the spirit of this post, last year I voluntarily did pay an equal (third) share of council tax given that my partner was moving to London specifically to live with me…

[3] If you go on to work for a university after your PhD you’ll be enrolled in the USS pension scheme where you’ll usually pay in 9% of your salary and your employer pays in 19%: yes, nineteen! For comparison most often the best private companies may match contributions up to 10%. Pension contributions are often removed from your pay packet before taxes. This effectively leaves you with a smaller salary and hence pay less taxes and national insurance contributions. Between this and your employer’s contributions overall your salary could be “boosted” by quite a bit, around 20% in the USS example, if you consider the pension as part of your long-term salary.

All calculations were carried out using the tax calculator on Martin’s Money Saving Expert. A fantastic website for all things personal finance.

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17 Comments on “PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid Compared to Graduates?”

It’s probably worth factoring in that most HEIs limit PhD students to a maximum I’m of 10hours pw of external work. By my rough estimate, the student would have to earn £25 an hour to make the money you’ve described here. The side hustle, should probably be halved to reflect a more typical salary. Still a fair whack though.

Hi John, yes that’s a good point and I’ll update the post to reflect this. In my experience £25/hour is realistic, at least here at Imperial, though I appreciate it would rarely get fully utilised. Thanks again

Hello Jeff! I am a Sustainability Consultant from India, looking at PhD opportunities in UK. It would be great if we can connect and discuss a bit about your experience and journey. Looking forward!

Hey Akhyata! Great, yes let’s have a chat. I’ve emailed you to arrange it. Best wishes, Jeff

Hi Jeff! I love your article, I’m a pharmacist juggling the idea of a PhD. I would love to take up on your offer to connect.

Hey Kai! Great, I’ll email you now to arrange it.

Hi Jeff, I am a law grad very interested in further study and pursuing a PhD.

I would love the chance to chat to you further about this article and your experience!

Thanks in advance

Hey Clara, Yeah no worries. I’ll send you an email now to discuss.

Hi Jeff, I’m putting together a PhD proposal at the moment and would really appreciate your input on a few things about the process when you have some free time. Cheers, Ben

Hi Ben, sure no problem, I’m happy to try and help. Let’s discuss over email.

Hi Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to write the articles you do. On this particular article, you have saved us all quite a lot of time. With such a minimal difference even without an additional income, it makes a lot of sense, especially with an increase when you graduate.

Those from the UK can take a £24k loan from the Gov (as if they didn’t have enough debt already). Still, it could enable a student to focus more on academia, speeding up the process and increasing the quality of work.

Apologies Jeff, the stipend and student loan are not available at the same time.

Thanks very much for your comments Tyrone. I’m pleased you find the website useful!

If you can get funding, I agree that there isn’t much of a reason to not do a PhD.

I must admit I’ve never looked much at postgraduate loans, in part because I encourage everyone doing a PhD (in STEM at least) to pursue funding. We’re doing PhDs which can help wider society and it doesn’t make sense for people to have to sacrifice even more by adding extra debt if they can avoid it. Interesting to hear that you can’t take out a loan if you have a stipend, thanks for letting me know.

Perhaps of interest to you, there is a post going live tomorrow which should put the length of a PhD in context of someone’s whole career. In short it doesn’t sacrifice much of a career but of course but make a very useful addition!

If there are any other topics you want to see covered please do let me know.

Best wishes.

Tax Free is not a perk. If you are not paying tax in the UK you cannot contribute to your pension. This may not seem important now, but it will later. This is especially important for mature students who can really lose out if there is a break in their NI contributions.

Thanks for your comment Marie.

The point is that normal tax-paying jobs don’t actually pay quite as much more than PhD stipends once you consider tax. I agree that over the long term avoiding paying taxes is neither a good idea because of things like pensions, nor is it socially ethical. But I don’t think there is any harm in taking 3-4 years out for a PhD:

You have to pay NI for a minimum of only 10 years to qualify for some level of state pension in the UK. After this the pension received simply increases linearly with the number of years of contributions, up to a max of 35 years. With retirement age edging up to 70 that gives at least 45 years between undergrad and retirement so most people will comfortably qualify (for now) for the full state pension. I’d argue that there is ample time to earn some tax free money as a PhD student without having to worry about making enough NI contributions. You can even voluntarily pay NI to gain additional qualifying years on your record. More generally I’d suggest also to not rely on receiving the state pension, I’m not personally betting on there even being a state pension by my own retirement (nor do I want to retire at 70+) so it’s always a good idea to build up your own private pension and savings too!

Hi Jeff, I was looking for funded PhD projects in the Marie Curie network and found a few on the EURAXESS website, but they all require a Master’s degree to apply. I was wondering if there is something I am missing or if you know where to find PhD funding opportunities in the Marie Curie network with only a bachelor’s degree. Thank you.

Hi Alex, thanks for your comment. I must admit I’m not an expert on all of the different Marie Curie funding routes available. If you’ve already done an extensive search then it sounds like yes they all may require a Master’s. By the way, when I first wrote this post I believed that all PhDs funded by UK research councils (UKRI) were at the very specific levels as mentioned in the post. However, I now know that there are some exceptions. For example, the Interactive AI CDT here at Bristol pays a stipend of £22,106: quite a bit higher than the standard non-London rate. CDTs such as this one include a foundation year and not everyone has a Master’s, so it may be worth considering schemes such as this. Best wishes, Jeff.

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UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) typically increases its stipend and fee levels annually in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator. The University of East Anglia always uses at least the minimum fee level recommended by UKRI when setting its Home tuition fees for postgraduate research. The UKRI minimum stipend level is frequently used as a guide by other studentship providers.

UKRI Studentship rates and minimum doctoral stipend

Further information can be found on the UKRI website .

What is UKRI? - About UK Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has been created as a result of the 2017 Higher Education and Research Bill. UKRI brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and a new organisation, Research England. Research England is formed of the Research and Knowledge Exchange functions of the former HEFCE and its remit includes oversight of the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Need more help with UKRI?

If you have any questions, please contact Postgraduate Research Admissions Enquiries by email or call us on   +44 (0)1603 59 1709 .

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LSE PhD Studentships

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

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

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

Eligibility

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

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

How to apply

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

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

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

Find out about ESRC Studentships .

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

Student stories

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

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

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UKRI increases stipend for PhD students by £2,000

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Funder increases stipend by further 10 per cent to £17,668 amid cost of living crisis

UK Research and Innovation has announced it is increasing the minimum PhD stipend by 10 per cent for the 2022-23 academic year, following a backlash from students over the previously announced, lower, rise.

From 1 October, the minimum stipend for UKRI-funded PhD students will be £17,668—a 10 per cent increase on the previously announced 2022-23 level.

This means the minimum stipend level will be over £2,000 more in 2022-23 than in 2021-22, UKRI said on 2 September.

‘UKRI committed to reviewing its funding offer’

“I am pleased to announce this increase in stipend levels as a result of our review this summer of the support we provide our postgraduate research students,” said Melanie Welham, UKRI champion for people, culture and talent.

“As well as raising the minimum stipend now, UKRI is committed to further reviewing its funding offer as part of its current work on the new deal for postgraduate research.”

The increased amount will be provided to students in receipt of a UKRI stipend from 1 October 2022.

The announcement follows a consultation with the research community earlier this year considering the cost of living crisis, which has seen inflation and energy prices soar.

During the consultation, thousands of postgraduate researchers urged the national funder to increase the support further.

The funder had initially planned to increase the stipend from £15,609 to £16,062, an increase of just 2.9 per cent.

‘Work on stipends had to be prioritised’

In a statement published alongside the announcement on the UKRI website, Welham said: “The response from the community to our call for input and the messages we received from students, supervisors, research organisations and mission groups directly and via social media, made it clear that the work on stipends had to be prioritised ahead of other elements of the new deal for postgraduate research.”

She added that the funder’s initial plan had been to provide a “smaller one-off payment to students”.

“However, we have listened to your feedback and worked up our more substantive proposal.”

As part of its work on the new deal for postgraduate research, Welham said the funder was considering the principles by which UKRI funds postgraduate students, as well as how it determines the amount it will pay them in future and how its policies interact with the activities of other government departments.

‘Positive step’

Rory Duncan, former UKRI director of talent and skills and pro-vice-chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, told Research Professional News it was a “positive step” to see UKRI provide the additional support.

“I know a lot of people have worked behind the scenes to make this happen,” he said. “I hope that other funders and hosts can match this commitment for the majority of [postgraduate researchers] who aren’t funded directly by UKRI.”

Alex Kirby-Reynolds and Ellie Munro, co-leads of the University and College Union’s Postgraduate Researchers as Staff campaign, who have campaigned for a stipend increase, told Research Professional News: “We are relieved that UKRI has finally announced an initial pay rise for its funded researchers, but we know it will still leave many PGRs struggling to make ends meet.

“Disabled PGRs, those with caring responsibilities and those without independent income will continue to be hit hardest, and face tough choices about whether they can continue their research.

“Now it’s up to universities to ensure at least the same support is extended to all PGRs, regardless of funding source, and to make sure self-funded researchers and international PGRs aren’t left picking up the tab through fees.”

A spokesperson for the Russell Group of research-intensive universities said: “We’re pleased to see UKRI taking the lead in helping the research community deal with the rising cost of living by increasing the minimum student stipend, which will provide much needed financial support to the next generation of researchers and innovators.”

But they also called for more support for undergraduates.

“While this is a welcome move for postgraduate researchers, most of the measures the government has announced so far to address the cost-of-living crisis will not benefit undergraduate students,” they said.

“Universities are therefore stepping up support for their students ahead of the start of the new term, including boosting financial aid and other support programmes.”

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• CAREER NEWS
• 13 July 2022
• Correction 13 July 2022

UK graduate students demand pay rise from nation’s largest research funder

• Chris Woolston 0

Chris Woolston is a freelance journalist in Billings, Montana.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

An open letter to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the country’s largest public funder of research, is calling for immediate increases in stipends for postgraduate researchers, to keep pace with inflation.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01934-2

Updates & Corrections

Correction 13 July 2022 : PhD student Hannah Franklin works within the Francis Crick Institute in London and is funded by the Medical Research Council. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that she is funded by the Crick and did not say that she works there.

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Studentships and doctoral training

London weighting, enhanced stipends and co-funding.

Some students receive a stipend that is above the minimum level set by us.  It is up to your university to determine how stipends above the UKRI minimum will be adjusted.

If you are a student and need more information on your stipend, contact your research organisation.

Co-funders should account for the annual stipend increase in the usual manner. We expect co-funders to play their full role in supporting students. We will continue to support with our contribution towards a student’s stipend.

For more information on our approach, read the UKRI terms and conditions for training funding .

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 .

Highest Paid Graduate Schemes

Time moves quickly when you’re at uni and, as you have probably realised by now, you’re going to have to move quickly too if you want to bag one of the best post-grad jobs for when you finish..

It could almost seem like only a few weeks ago that you were unpacking your bags in first-year halls, sorting your student utility bills and attending Fresher’s activities, except for the fact that you’re now frantically writing your final dissertation and hunting for the best graduate scheme to give you your first leg-up after Uni.

It’s a truth universally understood that, if you want to be in a high-paying job in the future, the best place to start is in a high-paying graduate scheme.

Really, we hope that money isn’t your only motivation when it comes to choosing a grad-scheme (it’s usually best to choose something you will enjoy too); but if you want to get your foot on that penthouse ladder, then why not aim for those ‘big bucks’ as soon as possible.

Even if you’re a graduate who is more interested in challenge and professional development than money, the highest paying graduate schemes are going to come with an exciting level of demand and professional reward.

What Is A Graduate Scheme?

Graduate schemes are structured employment programmes which are run by graduate employers to train up graduates for future leadership posts within their companies. These schemes usually run over one to two years (though they can be as long as 4-5 years).

There will often be a range of different specialisms which you can apply for (such as finance, HR, management, legal, retail or marketing) within a graduate scheme, however, the business can use their own prerogative to move you into or across departments as they choose. As long as you’re determined, willing to be flexible and enthusiastic about new challenges, this needn’t be a problem. In fact, this is how many graduates discover their proficiency for and enjoyment of working in fields they would have otherwise never thought of.

One of the best things about graduate schemes is that you don’t start at the bottom. You are given responsibility within an organisation straight away – hence why they can pay so well – and get a head-start in your professional career.

Due to all of this, grad schemes tend to be extremely popular and are often over-subscribed. This makes it extremely important to get your application in quickly, and to ensure your application stands out .

12 Highly Paid Graduate Schemes

Although the median graduate starting salary among the UK’s top graduate scheme employers is £30,000, according to The Graduate Market 2022 , the top graduate schemes can get much, much higher.

The most generous of these salaries come from investment banks, law firms, consulting firms and oil & energy companies and retail giants. Below, we’ve revealed 10 of the top-paying grad schemes in the UK, giving you details about the upper salaries available for graduates on their schemes, the kind of work graduates are expected to do, as well as what these companies are looking for in their graduates.

1.Rothschilds – Private Finance – £65,000

The Rothschild & Co graduate scheme in the UK is based in London and offers positions for Global Financial Advisory and Wealth Management & Trust. The most essential skills they are looking for in their graduates are: good communication, drive and ambition, and sound judgement. They also state that they prioritise diversity and want creative thinkers who can bring new ideas in. Surprisingly, for such a top payer, they don’t seem too bothered about top grades; applications are open for any graduates who have achieved at least a 2:1.

Though if you’re thinking of applying for this, the highest paying grad scheme in the country, you’d better make sure your application shines.

2. P. Morgan – Investment Banking – £58,000

P. Morgan’s grad scheme is a hugely popular one, more widely known about than many others. Similar to the above, this company want to see your creativity, communication skills and drive. They are motivated more by your passion and personality than your academic prowess because they want graduates who will work well in their collaborative team environment. They are offering positions in Asset Management, Finance, IB Risk, Investment Banking, Operations, Private Banking, Sales, Trading & research, Securities Servicing and Clearing, Technology and Treasury Services.

3.Goldman Sachs – Investment Banking – £52,000

The New Analyst Programme offered by Goldman Sachs is a graduate scheme which allows you to learn how to be a financial analyst, developing your pre-existing skills, and build a strong professional network. Their graduate scheme is open to graduates from any field of study, and they don’t expect you to have had any previous work experience in the field.

4. Civil Services – £45,000-£55,000

With 15 different leadership and specialist development schemes at Civil Service Fast Stream to choose from, and opportunities nationwide, you’ll find a scheme that’s right for you – whatever your degree subject.

Whether you’re a final year undergraduate, an existing graduate or a degree apprentice, you’ll find you qualify for many of our schemes. Most are open to graduates with a 2:2. With real responsibility across a variety of rewarding government department roles, each scheme provides structured learning, on-the-job coaching and mentoring, and a career path in a government profession. Many of them offer the chance to study for a professional qualification.

5.RBS – Investment Banking – £54,000

None of the graduate schemes listed so far offer quite such a wide range of opportunities as those offered by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS). They offer programmes in: Business & Commercial Banking, Chief Operating Office (COO), Corporate & Institutional Banking, Global Transaction Services (GTS), GBM Banking, Operations, Marketing and Technology. What is more, they are open to applicants with a 2:2 degree. This is because what they are looking for is entrepreneurial flair, drive and a natural feel for business, and they know that you can’t learn those from a book.

6.Barclays Capital – Investment Banking – £50,000

Barclays pride themselves on offering graduate opportunities which will help you to ‘think bigger and learn to create smarter solutions’. With a range of business areas to explore, including banking, HR, cyber & security, operations, marketing, auditing and more, Barclays wants to help you find a path that’s right for you, so that you can make a valued contribution to their business.

7. White & Chase – Law – £50,000

Offering a guaranteed 6 month placement in one of their overseas offices, White and Chase’s Training Contract for graduates is a highly desirable one. They have 14 ‘seats’ or sectors, of which you will choose 4 during the two-year scheme. These ‘seats’ are varied and include opportunities to gain contentious experience in Dispute Resolution, Employment and Benefits, IP, or Construction and Engineering or Litigation Training. They are looking for ‘globally minded’ graduates who are ready for responsibility and are ready to learn. Since most of their work is cross-border (they have offices in 38 countries), their employees need to be mobile and, ideally, with experience of international travel.

8. BP – Oil & Energy – £49,000

British Petroleum (BP) claim to offer the ‘best-in-class graduate programme’, and – if their graduate scheme salary is anything to go by – we don’t doubt it. Recruiting graduates into engineering, science and business posts, BP have opportunities for graduates from any degree specialism, but they do require that you have an MENg if you want to apply for their engineering graduate scheme. They provide graduates with a lot of freedom to choose the career path they want.

9. Baker McKenzie – Law – £48,000

A self-proclaimed ‘ambitious and welcoming’ firm, Baker McKenzie wants to make their graduates feel empowered to succeed, regardless of their academic or socio-economic background. The law firm is proud of it’s history for retaining and promoting it’s trainees who entered on the graduate scheme, boasting that 33 of its 117 partners entered the company this way. If you’ve got passion for innovation and a taste for challenging, high-profile work, then they would urge you to apply. Other requirements are that you ideally will have at least a 2:1 degree and that you demonstrate potential.

10. TPP – IT – £45,000

This global digital health company are giants in the industry, processing over a billion transactions every single day and support the biggest digital healthcare solution in the world. For the last two years, TTP have been featured in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list . In their graduate applicants, they are looking for enthusiasm, natural ability and potential. With benefits like a £200 birthday meal allowance, a free bar on Fridays and a smart casual dress code, its unsurprising that their graduate employees recommend them so highly.

11. McKinsey- Advisor – £45,000

McKinsey & Company – Advanced Professional Degrees candidates typically join us as associates or junior associate consultants (positions vary based on office and experience), or in more specialized positions in analytics, digital, or other technology sectors. Our roles include generalist consulting, practice consulting – focused on a specific function or industry (e.g., digital ,  implementation ,  operations ), and  technology roles  such as data scientists, software engineers, product managers, data engineers, designers, agile coaches, or digital marketers.

12. Aldi – Retail – £44,000

The Aldi graduate scheme allows you to fast-track to the rank of area-manager, a role which comes with a company car and a competitive salary.  On the scheme, you will be trained up in everything from store operations and financial administration to logistics and property management. Aldi wants graduates who are self-motivated, driven, positive in their approach and who will have a 2:1 degree. Applicants are expected to get themselves around, so you will also need a full driver’s licence and a willingness to relocate.

PhD Handbook

Jobs After PhD ...

Jobs After PhD in UK: Know About PhD Stipend in UK for International Students

UK as a study destination is one of the most prominent in the world due to the presence of research-intensive universities and quality education. UK universities offer an extensive ground for students to pursue their research in different fields of science, humanities, technology, etc. Some of the best PhD institutes in UK are University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, Coventry University.

Graduates from the PhD programs can go ahead and make wonderful careers for themselves in the future. On average, a PhD student salary UK is around 35000 – 48000 GBP per year. Apart from that, students are also provided with monthly stipends and maintenance fees during their PhD program. This article shares some insights about the stipend, jobs, and salary outcomes for PhD students in UK.

Benefits of Studying PhD in UK?

The UK PhD program has a lot of benefits to offer for PhD students. Home to more than 150 different PhD universities, UK is considered to be one of the most sought-after destinations for international students seeking a PhD. Here are some benefits of pursuing a PhD in UK.

• Research Structure : The entire research structure for PhD courses in UK is extremely beneficial for students. The PhD duration is shorter (typically taking about 3-4 years). Also, there is an excellent ground for stellar interdisciplinary research imitated by some dedicated research-intensive institutions.
• Industry Experience : Some of the most prestigious institutions offer academic research training along with industry experience. This can be profitable for international students who want to build a career in different fields of science, commerce, management, and arts after the completion of their PhD.
• Tax-Free Stipend : The average stipend for PhD in UK for international students is around 25,000-30,200 GBP. The PhD stipends and studentships are tax-free which means students are given the full amount that they earn as their monthly stipend.
• Financial Support : International students studying PhD in UK can have financial support from different government organisations, independent grant providers, university scholarships, and industry funding. Students can rely on financial support to get their tuition fees covered or some other expenses as well.

Know About PhD Fees in UK for Indian & International Students

Types of PhD Stipend in UK For International Students: Roles of a PhD Student

There are basically three different types of stipend PhD UK. The students can get their stipends or salaries if they are doing a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship, or via a studentship.

1.  Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The GTAs or Graduate Teaching Assistantship require the PhD students to assist in the delivery of different courses over their course duration. This can include marking some student tutorials, supervising different lab experiments, and also providing some support to different undergraduate students during their office hours. If you apply for a graduate student assistantship, you will also have to teach a particular section of the course on your own.

2.  Research Assistantships

The students who are pursuing a research assistantship in UK will assist the professor of their department with their research to earn UK PhD salary. In general, the professor that students are working for will also be their PhD supervisor. Also, the research that the students do will be related to the doctoral project of your own.

3.  Stipend/Studentship

A stipend is considered to be a non-repayable grant that is offered to doctoral students in order to support their studies. The studentship will cover a certain amount of the tuition fee for students. On the other hand, a stipend is meant to cover the living costs of the student. This can include the expenses for rent, bills, food, basic travelling, etc. Unlike Research and Graduate Teaching Assistantships, stipends don’t have any duties or taxes attached to them.

An important note to keep in mind is that one can actually combine these duties. For instance, students can be a part of the research assistantship program and still teach some undergraduate students at the university.

Know How to Apply for PhD in UK from India

Job Opportunities for PhD Students in UK

PhD graduates in UK can look forward to interesting and lucrative careers after the completion of their course. PhD graduates in UK are seen performing appreciable tasks in the commercial and research-based sectors such as education, technology, medicine, science, etc. For a better understanding of the average PhD student salary UK, we have tabulated the job roles for PhD graduates in UK and their respective average salaries.

Highest Paying Job Opportunities After PhD in UK

Here we are also providing a list of highest paying job roles after PhD in UK. Let us look at the career opportunities and salary scope in detail.

Find Most Paid Jobs In UK in 2022

Top Recruiters for PhD Graduates in UK

A lot of new opportunities for UK PhD jobs wait in line for qualified graduates from UK universities. Top recruiters are always on the lookout for expert professionals who can change the face of the industry with new research-based methodologies and concepts. Here we are mentioning the top recruiters that offer reputable jobs for PhD graduates UK and the salary packages they offer.

A Complete Guide to PhD in UK for International Students

How to Find a Job After PhD in UK

After completing the PhD in UK, students have a lot of opportunities in line. They can go for a teaching profession in the academic line or they can get a job in any particular field or industry that they want. It is important for students to find a job in a specific area that they are interested in.

They can work as historians, statisticians, professors, and much more. Also, many research-based companies are looking for graduates with professional experience. Finding a job after PhD requires a lot of research. Students can go ahead and join the field of science, arts, technology, management, business administration, etc. after their PhD.

With an average PhD salary UK being more than 45000 GBP, the country offers a bright future for graduates. This article provides a detailed account of the PhD stipend, job roles, and salary estimates in UK. For more information about jobs for PhD graduates UK connect with our Yocket Professionals and clear all your doubts easily. 

Frequently Asked Questions About PhD Stipend in UK

Can I earn money while pursuing a PhD in UK?

Yes, a monthly stipend is provided to PhD students in UK based on the role that they have in the project.

What are the different types of stipends offered to PhD students in UK?

Students can get stipend in the form of: Graduate Teaching Assistantship Research Assistantship Studentship

What career roles can I pursue after PhD in UK?

The best career roles that students can pursue after PhD in UK are: Research Associate Software Engineer Data Scientist Professor

Which institutions in UK offer PhD programs?

Some of the top universities offering PhD courses in UK are University of Cambridge University of Oxford Imperial College London University College London

How much does a PhD program cost in UK?

The average annual cost for PhD programs in UK is somewhere between 15000 GBP to 38000 GBP.

Rohan Deshmukh

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What do graduates do and earn?

Have a look at what you can do and earn after graduation..

What do graduates do?

What do graduates earn.

For many prospective university students, graduate prospects and salaries are top priorities when it comes to choosing a degree.

We've compiled data to help you understand the world of work after graduation – from job prospects to starting salaries. We also have data on the graduate gender pay gap .

We’ve broken down the destinations of graduates from over 100 subject areas into four categories – employed, self employed, in further study and unemployed.  To see a guide to studying the subject, simply click on the link.

*Prosthetics currently has no data due to having too few respondents.

Money shouldn't be the only factor to consider when choosing a degree. However, with universities charging up to £9,250 per year, it's worth thinking about potential starting salaries.

Use the table below to see the average starting salaries for graduates from more than 100 subject areas.

It shows shows the average salaries of undergraduate students from each subject area entering employment. The three skill levels – high, medium and low – reflect the UK's Standard Occupational Classification's major groups 1–3, 4–6 and 7–9 respectively.

Full table of average graduate salaries

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10 PhD scholarships in the UK for international students 2022

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

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

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

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

Leeds University Business School: International Business Department Scholarship

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

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

University of Cambridge: Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme

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

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

SOAS University of London CHASE

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

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

Aston University College of Business and Social Sciences

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

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

University of St Andrews: Doctoral Scholarship in Biology and Statistics

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

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

University of Liverpool: Accounting and Finance Subject Group

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

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

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

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

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

University of Exeter – PhD Scholarship

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

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

Imperial College London: Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarship

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

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

Oxford University – Clarendon Scholarship

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

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

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

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Careers advice and planning

What are the best paying jobs for graduates.

Abigail Lewis

27 Feb 2024, 13:44

Find out the UK’s average graduate salary, the highest paying graduate jobs and how your degree discipline could affect your earning potential.

Supported by:

The average (median) graduate salary in the UK is £35,170, according to an annual salary survey conducted by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) in 2023. One sector it surveyed offers pay head and shoulders above that: the average graduate salary at law firms comes in at £47,000.

However, the ISE’s student recruitment survey comprises findings from its member employers, which are typically the largest employers with structured graduate programmes, and so might not be representative of salaries across the entire early careers market; in fact, just 131 organisations provided salary information. In this article, therefore, we will report on the findings from the ISE to capture the picture at the largest graduate employers before investigating the salaries across employers of other sizes. Along with salary information officially published by employers, we have also referred to data from recruitment agencies and anonymous salary survey sites. Just keep in mind that, while these figures are useful as an indication of what is on offer, they are only representative of what others have been paid in the past, not what be on the table for you.

Go straight to graduate job salaries in different career sector and profession:

• at a glance: highest graduate salaries overall
• 'competitive' salaries
• salary negotiations
• accountancy
• investment banking
• financial services
• engineering
• civil and structural engineering, construction and quantity surveying
• property surveying
• public sector
• event management and hospitality

What are the highest paying graduate jobs and employers?

The highest paying graduate jobs are typically, as the ISE suggests, trainee solicitor posts with commercial law firms (with most City law firms paying between £40,000 and £60,000) or pupil barrister positions with commercial and chancery chambers (which pay as much as £85,000). To give you a flavour of high payers in other sectors, the healthcare technology specialist TPP offers £60,000 for some roles, Aldi’s area manager programme pays £50,000+, and the consultancy Newton Europe offers £49,000 to £53,000.

The ISE breaks down the average (median) salary by business sector as follows:

• Legal: £47,000
• Digital & IT: £33,000
• Finance & professional services: £33,500
• Health & pharmaceuticals: £31,250
• Energy, engineering & industry: £31,000
• Charity & public sector £28,000
• Built environment £29,500
• Retail & FMCG: £32,000.

As noted above, these salaries from the ISE are not necessarily representative of graduate salaries across the board, so in the next sections we will look in more detail at pay in different sectors. When comparing careers and employers, however, it is wise to look at the whole compensation package , as there may be significant benefits that supplement a headline salary figure.

What does 'competitive' salary mean?

The above selection of salaries and sector averages are based on salary information officially provided by employers, but it is hard to say definitively which employers and careers offer the highest pay because many employers say that they offer a 'competitive' salary. Sometimes an employer will only disclose salary information at the point of offering you a job. There are multiple reasons why employers might do this – including to be sure that applicants are focused on more than just the money, and to avoid other organisations in their area 'one upping them', so to speak.

If you are motivated by having a high salary, you shouldn't overlook employers you're interested in that don't state a salary or list the salary as 'competitive'. This doesn't mean that the salary they're going to offer is lower than other employers. In fact, it could be the opposite.

Can you negotiate a graduate salary?

The rates of pay offered by employers for graduate programmes are usually fixed, with no or little room for negotiation. There may be more opportunity to negotiate a higher starting salary for an individual graduate job, especially at a smaller employer, if they indicate a range or suggest remuneration depends on experience. Find out more about how to negotiate your starting salary and how to answer the interview question ‘What are your salary expectations?’ to make sure you are prepared.

How much can you earn as a trainee solicitor?

Graduates who join large commercial firms tend to earn the highest solicitors’ starting salaries. Most City law firms offer between £40,000 and £60,000 to first-year trainees. Benefits offered by these large recruiters often include season ticket loans, private healthcare, life assurance and gym memberships. The salary package offered by regional and high street firms, and in the public sector, will be lower; the Government Legal Department, for example, pays £31,696 to its trainee solicitors and pupil barristers.

How much can you earn as a barrister?

The largest pupillage awards can be found with commercial and chancery sets, which typically offer between £40,000 and £85,000 for 12 months. Sets carrying out publicly funded work (for example, criminal or family law) are likely to offer significantly less, but all pupillages must offer an award of £21,060 for pupillages outside of London and £23,078 for those in London for 12 months. If you are successful in establishing your practice after obtaining tenancy, you are likely to see a substantial increase in your earnings, whatever area of law you have chosen to specialise in.

What are the typical salaries and benefits in accounting?

Most accountancy employers are likely to say that their graduate starting salaries are 'highly competitive' rather than publishing an exact figure. The public sector is an exception to this:

• The National Audit Office: over £26,000 in Newcastle; over £32,000 in London
• The Civil Service Fast Stream (finance stream): £31,186 (when open for applications)
• The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (finance stream): £27,701.

Data from recruitment agencies and anonymised salary surveys suggest that the typical salary for a trainee accountant in the private sector falls in the range of £21,000 to £25,000. This will vary depending on the employer and the location. According to the Hays UK Salary and Recruiting Trends 2024 report, the following are typical salary ranges for trainee accountants:

• trainee ACA accountants: £20,000 to £31,000 (lowest in Northern Ireland and highest in London)
• trainee ACCA accountants: £23,000 to £30,000 (lowest in Wales and highest in London)
• trainee CIMA accountants: £24,000 to £30,000 (lowest in Wales and highest in London)
• trainee CIPFA accountants: £21,000 to £29,000 (lowest in Northern Ireland and highest in London).

Larger employers, especially the Big 4 professional services firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC) may pay at the top end of these ranges or more. Anonymous survey sites suggest that graduate-level pay at the Big 4 is around £30,000. The Big 4 firms are all members of the ISE, with the institute's average graduate salary with professional services and finance employers being £33,500. However, individual salaries may be lower than this, depending on the role and the location.

Qualifying with a professional body usually takes three to four years and most accountancy employers will pay for your exam fees and give you time off to study. You may be offered a graduate loan as part of your overall package of pay and benefits. There are good prospects for future wage increases as you progress.

Pay and perks in investment banking

Investment banks usually state that their pay is competitive or highly competitive, so you have to turn to anonymous salary surveys and recruitment agency reports to get an understanding of what is on offer.

A typical graduate programme lasts for two or three years, with pay rises based on performance over the course of the programme. The average UK starting salary for graduate analysts (a typical graduate role) is around £52,000. This could rise up to £70,000 by your final year.

Potential future earnings are high. The 2023 salary survey from specialist recruiters Pearse Partners reports that the median salary for investment banking analysts is around £85,000, rising to £140,000 for associates.

All of the figures mentioned do not take bonuses into account. These are generally linked to fund performance and can be up to 200% of your salary at management level.

Salaries in financial services and insurance

targetjobs uses ‘financial services’ as an umbrella term for careers in insurance, retail banking, actuarial work, risk and regulation. Graduate starting salaries vary according to the role, location and employer, and are not always made public.

According to the Hays UK Salary and Recruitment Trends 2024 report, the following are typical salaries for graduates in actuarial jobs:

• general insurance: £30,750 to £37,500 (lowest in north-west England and highest in London)
• life insurance: £27,250 to £38,000 (lowest in Scotland and highest in London).

Below are some of the big employers who publish starting salaries for their graduate schemes:

• Aviva: £33,500 (finance)
• Bank of England: £31,000 (graduate development programme and actuarial programme)
• Lloyd's: £32,000 (insurance); £36,000 (actuarial)
• Lloyds Banking Group: £42,000 (finance and actuarial); £45,000 (business and commercial banking, corporate banking and markets)
• NatWest Group: £33,500 (internal audit)
• Santander: £35,000 (retail banking); £38,000 (corporate and commercial banking)
• Zurich Insurance Group: £32,550 (actuarial)

What salary and benefits can you expect in consulting?

Most consulting employers are tight-lipped about their salaries until they offer you a job. Anonymous salary surveys suggest that the average salary for a graduate management consultant is £30,000 to £35,000 but that many established graduate consulting employers pay £40,000 or more. Consulting firms typically offer a wide range of benefits, most notably MBA programme sponsorship, and some of the consulting firms offering slightly lower salaries may have more generous benefits than those offering more on paper. This is a profession in which it is worth considering the entire compensation package.

A few consultancy firms publish salaries for their graduate consultant, analyst and associate jobs. For 2024, starting salaries include:

• Accenture: £33,500, plus a £10,000 sign-on bonus
• Alfa: £40,000, plus a £5,000 sign-on bonus
• Newton Europe; £49,000 to £53,000, plus a £2,500 sign-on bonus.

How much can you earn in IT?

A graduate salary in IT could be under £24,000 or over £30,000 – it all depends on the employer you choose. According to IT Jobs Watch, the median salary for an IT graduate was £28,500 in the six months running up to 2 February 2024. For a graduate developer, it was £31,500; for a graduate tester, it was £25,000; for a graduate IT analyst, it was £22,500; and for a graduate in IT support, it was £27,500. All of these figures take into account salaries with employers of all shapes and sizes.

As the examples below show, starting salaries for IT jobs tend to be highest at big employers that run IT or technology graduate programmes. All figures refer to 2024 start dates, unless otherwise stated.

• Alfa: £40,000 (software engineering)
• Aviva: £33,500 (technology)
• BAE Systems: £34,000 (technology)
• Babcock International Group: at least £31,000 (IT and digital engineering)
• Bank of England: £35,000 (technology)
• Lloyds Banking Group: £45,000 (data science and analytics and technology engineering)
• MI5: £33,000 (technology)
• NATS: £30,000 (engineering and technology)
• Softwire: £42,000 (software developer)
• TPP: £60,000 (software developer and technical engineer)
• Zurich: £29,500 (change and technology).

Also according to IT Jobs Watch, the median salary for developer jobs (of all experience levels) in the six months running up to 2 February 2024 was £60,000. For technology jobs in banking it was £75,000; for fintech jobs, £80,000; for IT consultants, £49,800; for games developers, £50,000; for IT project managers, £54,000; and for IT analysts, £35,000.

IT Jobs Watch’s analysis also shows that, in the six months running up to 2 February 2024, the median salary for jobs requiring AI skills was £70,000. For .NET jobs, the average salary was £60,000; for jobs involving C#, £60,000; for Python, £67,500; and for Java, £70,000.

If you’re applying for an individual job vacancy (especially at a tech start-up) there may be more scope for negotiation than there typically is in other sectors.

What could you earn as a graduate engineer?

As a graduate engineer, your salary will depend on factors such as your industry, your employer, your location and your qualifications, but a typical starting salary in engineering is between the £25,000 and £32,000 mark. Smaller and medium-sized or regional employers may offer slightly lower pay, often between £20,000 and £25,000, while larger employers typically pay their graduate engineers £30,000 and above. The starting salaries here are for programmes advertised in 2024:

• AECOM: £28,500 (with a bachelors degree); £30,500 (with a masters)
• Babcock International Group: at least £31,000
• BAE Systems: £34,000, plus a £2,000 welcome payment
• BP: £37,000 to £48,000
• Jaguar Land Rover: £31,000, plus a £2,000 joining bonus
• Nuclear Graduates: £30,000
• Rolls-Royce: £29,000, plus a £2,000 joining bonus
• Unilever: £35,000
• United Utilities: £30,000, plus a £2,000 welcome bonus,

What is the graduate starting salary in construction and civil engineering?

Salaries for construction graduate jobs typically fall in the region of £24,000 to £32,000. Larger employers running graduate programmes often pay the same rate for all of their graduate roles (although some offer more for certain locations). However, employers offering individual jobs might pay different rate for different types of job, with engineers typically being offered more. According to the Hays UK Salary and Recruitment Trends 2024 report, the typical salary for a graduate civil engineer is £27,000 to £30,000 and the typical salary for a graduate structural engineer is £28,000 to £30,000.

The starting salaries here are for graduate programmes advertised in 2024:

• Amey: £28,500
• Atkins: between £29,000 and £32,750
• Babcock International Group: at least £31,000 (for the civil and structural engineering, civil design engineering and quantity surveying/construction management programmes)
• Barratt Developments: £26,000 to £29,000
• Nuclear Graduates: £30,000 (for the civil engineering programme)
• Transport for London: £28,500 (for the civil engineering programme).

What salary can a graduate property surveyor expect?

The typical starting salary of a graduate property professional is between £20,000 and £30,000, with the exact salary on offer varying according to location and specialism. It’s likely that your pay will increase as you pass your APC with the Royal Institute or the Royal Town Planning Institute and become chartered. When you are researching employers, consider whether they can give you the range of experience you’ll need to gain chartership, as it is vital for your future earnings.

Over the years, a few graduate employers have broken their silence on salaries, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Expect to see plenty of ‘competitive’ salaries on job adverts. The following figures are for opportunities advertised in 2024:

• AECOM: £28,500 with a bachelors; £30,500 with a masters (for its landscape architecture and building surveying programmes)
• Atkins: £29,000 to £32,750 (for its town planning scheme)
• Barratt Developments: £26,000 to £29,000 (for its ASPIRE scheme, which includes its land and planning department).

According to the Hays UK Salary and Recruitment Trends 2024 report, the following are typical salaries in the property sector:

• graduate building surveyor: £22,000 to £32,000
• graduate project manager: £25,000 to £28,000
• graduate general practice surveyor: £21,000 to £32,000
• graduate property manager: £21,000 to £32,000
• graduate commercial surveyor: £21,500 to £32,000
• graduate development surveyor: £20,500 to £32,000
• graduate valuation surveyor: £20,500 to £28,500.

For each of these, the highest salaries are in London and the lowest in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Macdonald & Company 2023 survey of property professionals reports a UK median salary of £59,926. It groups graduate, assistant and junior roles together, reporting an average salary of £30,500 in this category. The highest salaries by sector are in investment banking/corporate, followed by investor/fund/real estate investment trust. The lowest are owner/occupied/end user and central/local government.

How much can graduates earn in the charity/not-for-profit sector?

Graduate starting salaries within the charity/not-for-profit sector vary depending on the organisation you work for, the industry and where the role is based. In an entry-level role you can typically expect to earn between £15,000 and £22,000 – some charities also pay an additional allowance if you’re based in London.

There are a few structured graduate schemes in the charity sector, which often pay more than entry-level roles. These include:

• Charityworks graduate programme: the salary meets the Living Wage (as set by the Living Wage Foundation). For 2022/23, the salary was £21,255 (UK-wide) and £23,302.50 for London-based placements
• Cancer Research's Accelerate scheme: £26,000 in the first year, increasing to £27,750 in the second year
• Wellcome Trust graduate development programme: £40,000 in the first year.

As your career progresses, your salary will become more or less comparable with salaries in the private sector, but perhaps slightly lower than you could earn at the largest employers in London. Fundraising managers can earn anywhere between £26,000 and £40,000, depending on the exact role requirements. Heads of functions can earn far more.

What can graduates who work for retailers earn?

Aldi outstrips most of its competitors in terms of pay, offering £50,000 for its area manager programme. The rates of pay from other retailers depends partly on the graduate job role and location, ranging from around £21,000 to £37,000. For example:

• Lidl: £38,000 for its retail graduate management programme
• Tesco: £30,000 to £37,000, depending on the graduate programme
• John Lewis Partnership: said to be £27,000 to £29,000
• Next: £25,000 for its trainee merchandising vacancies
• Majestic Wine: reported to be around £23,000 for its trainee manager vacancies.

The perks offered by retailers usually include discounts on their products.

What is the starting salary for a teacher?

An early careers teacher (ECT) can expect to earn in line with the agreed national pay scale, usually starting on the minimum rate of the main pay range. Progression within the scale will then be determined by the school they work for. Academies and free schools can set their own salaries, but they tend to pay similar to state-maintained, local authority (LA) schools.

The main pay ranges for qualified teachers across the UK in the 2023/24 academic year are as follows:

• England (excluding London): £30,000 to £41,333
• London fringe: £31,350 to £42,689
• Outer London: £34,514 to £46,001
• Inner London: £36,745 to £47,666
• Scotland: £32,217 to £48,516
• Wales: £29,278 (with an extra lump sum of £412.37) to £40,443 (with an extra lump of £569.61)
• Northern Ireland: £24,137 to £35,277.

These figures are revised annually. You can find further details of teacher pay scales on the "> National Education Union website and the NASUWT website .

If you want to work in further education, the salary scale recommended by the Association of Colleges for qualified FE teachers is £26,090 to £39,347. You can find further details on the University and College Union website .

What is public sector pay like for graduates?

Many public sector schemes offer pay that is comparable to that available in the private sector, with many also guaranteeing a pay rise after the first year. Here are the first-year salaries for a selection of public sector graduate programmes or roles:

• MI5: from £33,000, depending on the role, with a guaranteed increase after one year
• The Government Legal Department: £31,696 for trainee solicitors and pupil barristers in London, Leeds, Bristol and Manchester
• National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP – the local authority graduate programme): £30,296 minimum
• The Civil Service Fast Stream: £31,186
• NHS Graduate Management Training Schemes: £27,701 with the opportunity to increase to £29,832 after 12 months
• The National Audit Office: from £26,000 in Newcastle and from £32,000 in London
• Police Now: £36,775, rising to £37,975 at week 30 and increasing each year.

The Frontline social work programme offers a tax-free bursary of £18,000 or £20,000 in London for the first year and then a salary of up to £34,000, depending on location, in the second year of the programme.

What salary can a graduate expect in events management and hospitality?

Starting salaries for entry-level events assistant roles (requiring little or no experience) typically sit somewhere between £20,000 and £25,000. According to the recruitment website Indeed, the average salary for an event assistant is £23,000; for an event coordinator, £25,000; and for an event manager, £33,000. Some employers will reward their events staff with commission-based payments and bonuses on top of their base salary.

Salaries in hospitality vary, with many ranging from the high teens to the mid-twenties, depending on the employer, role and location. Restaurant and pub chain Mitchells & Butlers offers a salary of £30,000 for its graduate scheme, for example. According to Indeed, the average salary for a hotel or restaurant manager is around £33,800.

Next: search for graduate jobs on targetjobs

• Find your future role by searching all graduate jobs and opportunities on targetjobs .
• Register on targetjobs to receive a continuous feed of careers advice and opportunity tailored to your interests .

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