self funded phd cost uk

• Postgraduate
• PhD and Professional Doctorates
• Fees and funding

Fees and funding for research students

Find out how much a PhD or Professional Doctorate will cost and the funding options available, including PhD studentships, stipends, loans and doctoral awards.

Once you’ve decided to study a research degree, the next step is figuring out how you're going to fund it. There are many different types of PhD funding, including studentships, external grants, and loans. Explore this page to see what’s available and how much a research degree will cost.

How much does a PhD or Professional Doctorate cost?

Our tuition fees are set and reviewed on an annual basis and the amount you pay will depend on the length of your course and mode of study. For some Science and Technology projects, an annual bench fee may also be payable.

Postgraduate Research fees for 2023/24 entry

Postgraduate Research fees for 2024/25 entry

PhD funding

There are many different ways to fund a PhD, including university studentships, funding from research councils, charities or businesses, and doctoral loans. PhD funding falls into three main categories:

• Fully-funded – your PhD tuition fees are covered in full along with an amount for living costs and other expenses (usually called a PhD stipend).
• Partially-funded – part of your fees or living costs are covered, but not both. You will usually need to top up this funding with your own money or other grants.
• Self-funded – you are financing your own PhD fees and living costs through a combination of savings or earnings and loans.

Search our current projects .

ESRC studentships

The Midlands Graduate School (ESRC accredited) is looking to recruit top quality PhD students to commence study in October 2024 across a range of subjects, offering studentships – covering a maintenance stipend and payment of tuition fees at the home fee rate.

NTU fully-funded PhD studentships

Every year we provide fully-funded PhD studentships with opportunities across all our academic disciplines. These cover the full cost of tuition plus a stipend for living expenses for both UK and International students. Applications usually open in October.

Sign up for emails to be notified of the next release and to keep up to date with research funding.

What is a PhD stipend?

Some funded projects may eligible for a  PhD stipend – a grant to help cover your living expenses that you don't have to pay back. Find out the  current minimum stipend rates set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

PhD funding for international researchers

Many of our funded PhD projects are open to international students. Check the specific project details to see who is eligible.

FindaPhD also provides a guide to funding for international students looking to study a PhD in the UK.

Other funded opportunities at NTU

We’re pleased to participate in funded projects that improve access to research and benefit local communities.

Midlands4Cities

Funding and supporting outstanding research in Arts and Humanities across the Midlands.

Co(l)laboratory

A Universities for Nottingham project providing funding for locally-relevant, challenge-based research.

Equality and Doctoral Education through Partnership and Innovation (EDEPI)

A funded programme for NHS workers, created to tackle barriers to doctoral education for racially minoritised groups.

ESRC Studentships

Funding and further support for doctoral candidates in a range of subjects and pathways.

Doctoral loans

Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales provide a non-means-tested Doctoral loan of up to £28,673 to help with course fees and living costs for a postgraduate research course, such as a PhD or Professional Doctorate.

These are available on full-time, part-time and distance learning courses if you are living in the UK and you’ll only start to repay when your income is over £21,000 a year.

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) helps to cover the extra costs you might incur because of a disability, including a long-term health condition, mental health condition, physical disability, or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Learn more about DSA

Alumni discount

We offer an exclusive 20% discount to NTU alumni who enrol on an eligible postgraduate course.

External funding

A variety of research councils, governmental agencies and charities can provide funding for your research degree. Take a look at some of the opportunities available below.

Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences

• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge transfer in the environmental sciences.

Art and Humanities

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - small, large, and project-based grants for students in humanities and social sciences.

Science and Technology

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) - funding provider for research into biological systems
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - funding for Information Systems and Mathematics research.

Social Sciences

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - small, large, and project-based grants for students in humanities and social sciences
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues
• Ford Foundation - provides grants to support research into social change and development
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation - endowed charity that funds a large, UK-wide research and development programme focussing on social policy issues
• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) - supporting researchers in health and social care
• Nuffield Foundation - fund research and innovation in education and social policy
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC) - an independent non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of social science research and scholarship
• Wellcome Trust - grants for human health-related research.

Situational

• Commonwealth Scholarships - offers opportunities to Commonwealth citizens to study in the UK
• Leverhulme Trust - funding for cross-disciplinary research.

Financial support

Studying through the cost-of-living crisis.

How we can support you, and how you can make your funding go further.

We provide a range of support and resources to help you manage your finances while you're studying at NTU.

Need advice on how to fund your studies?

Our student finance team are here to help. They can offer guidance on postgraduate fees, loans, and money management.

Chat to the  team on Unibuddy , email  [email protected] or call +44 (0)115 848 2494 .

For advice on making secure international payments please visit our international scholarships and fees pages .

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

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

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

You could get:

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

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

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

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

Additional support for your doctoral studies

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

This could include:

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

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

Extra support if you have a disability

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

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

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

The allowance covers:

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

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

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

Who can apply

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

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

How to find opportunities

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

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

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

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

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

How to apply

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

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

Last updated: 14 February 2024

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

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What is the real cost of a PhD?

The answer to this depends on your situation and many factors should be taken into account.

Studentship course fees

  If you are self-funding, you’ll need to pay the course fees, and the amount you pay will depend on where you live , the subject you are studying and whether you’re studying full or part-time. For example, annual fees for UK/EU PhD students at the University of Warwick are £4,786 full-time and £2,872 part-time (2024-25). For overseas students, fees are £23,070 for Business and Economics courses and £17,682 for science and engineering programmes.

Studentships are a financial contribution for doctoral research and are normally fee-free, many universities offer full fee waiver scholarships; for example, the University of Huddersfield offer full fee waivers for all of their subjects.

Course fees may also be affected by where you studied previously – for example, the University of Birmingham currently offer a postgraduate degree fee discount of £1,500 for those who studied there at the undergraduate level.

Loss of earnings

While loss of earnings is not a ‘cost’ as such, it’s certainly something to bear in mind if you are currently earning a salary, as your income may drop significantly.

Even if you are lucky enough to get maintenance funding, bear in mind that the minimum level of stipend set by the research councils is supposed to match the tax-free equivalent average graduate starting salary. Find out about the standard tax-free Personal Allowance here .

Research Council stipends are currently a minimum of £19,237 per annum (2024-25 rates) , paid tax-free, and may be topped up by other organisations involved in your research.

Some students can supplement their income with teaching/research assistant work at their university, but unlike undergraduates, PhD students are expected to continue their studies throughout the year, so vacation work is not an option. You are advised to speak with your supervisor before accepting any paid work.

Many self-funded PhD students combine part-time study with part-time jobs to meet their costs, but this means their programme takes some six or more years to complete.

Maintenance

Living costs depend on where in the country you live. For example, UCL in London is estimated at around £20,000 , per annum for living costs; however, the University of Edinburgh website suggests that students can spend between £920 – 2,257   per month on living costs.

If you are relocating to study, find out the average price of university accommodation as well as local rates for private accommodation – it may be significantly different from where you currently live.

Living costs as a student are often different from when you are working. If you’re conducting the majority of your research from home, commuting costs will be minimal but utility and phone/internet bills will be higher.

Remember you will still be eligible for the usual student discounts/concessions.

Research costs

Whatever your course of choice, there is likely to be equipment, books, photocopying, travel for conferences and/or fieldwork costs that will need to be factored in. There may be small grants available from either the university or charitable bodies for research costs. The Association for the History of Glass is an educational charity, that provides a Grants budget of £3,000 to support research, projects, and activities for the year 2024/25.

Check with your department to see what’s available.

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Funding a PhD

Find out how you can fund your studies from a range of opportunities, including their monetary value, benefits and eligibility requirements.

Key Resources

Guide to NERC PhD Funding

Key Takeaways NERC’s Role and Impact: The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is a leading UK research council funding body,

Guide to EPSRC PhD Funding

If you’re a prospective PhD student seeking funding for your research, then look no further than the EPSRC. The Engineering

Guide to BBSRC PhD Funding

Introduction to BBSRC PhD funding Step into the world of BBSRC PhD funding, a key component of the UK research

Guide to STFC PhD Funding

Introduction to STFC The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) holds an integral position within the United Kingdom’s research and

PhD Loans – 2023 Guide for Doctoral Students

Get the latest advice about how PhD Loans work in the UK and how you may be eligible for a loan of up to £28,673 to fund your PhD programme.

PhD Studentships

Learn more about how PhD Studentships work in the UK and how you may be eligible for £15,609 towards funding your PhD programme.

How Much Does a PhD Cost in the UK?

The cost of a PhD can be divided into three key areas; tuition fees, living expenses and research expenditures. Learn more about what this can amount to.

Supporting Resources

How To Get A Marie Curie Fellowship – A Complete Guide

Learn more about this funding route, eligibility criteria and application process that will help you understand the grant and submit a successful fellowship application.

Bench Fees: A Short Guide

A bench fee is an additional charge made to PhD students. It covers expenditures related to your research such consumables and travel; learn more here.

PhD Salary in UK – Explained

The salary of a PhD student is governed by 3 key factors: assisting in undergraduate teaching, part-time technician work, or have secured a stipend; learn more here.

Gain valuable insight from our collection of exclusive interviews with both current and past PhD students. Learn from their best advice, personal challenges and career path after completing their doctorate.

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In the UK, a PhD can be a funded or self-funded programme.

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Funding types

There are three main types of funding arrangements for PhDs:

• Fully-funded students have a full studentship. This usually covers their PhD fees, living costs and other expenses.
• Partially-funded students receive a partial scholarship or studentship. This usually contributes to fees or living costs, but not both. They usually need to top up their funding with other grants or rely on their own savings or earnings.
• Self-funded students don't receive any funding. They pay for a PhD themselves using a combination of student loans, savings, or earnings.

Your situation may change during your PhD. It's possible to begin as a self-funded student and win funding later.

The financial cost of a PhD

There won’t usually be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees.

PhD fees in the UK range from £4,500 to £35,000 per year depending on your nationality. UK students pay an average of £4,500 per year in PhD fees.

International students pay a lot more. International PhD fees in the UK can be as high as £20,000-£35,000 per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, though there are funding routes you can apply for to help with this.

Although A PhD can be expensive, it can give you educational, career and personal benefits. It's worth weighing up whether these benefits are worth the financial commitment.

We can talk to you about whether this is the right option for you.

Funding options

The admissions office for your PhD should be able to tell you if there are any studentships available. Studentships vary between institutions and departments. They sometimes offer a maintenance grant and/or payment of tuition fees.

Studentships are usually offered for very specific research projects at both PhD and Master's level. Studentships at Newcastle are advertised on the individual school or institute's pages . Ask the admissions office if there are research assistantships available within the department. These are salaried positions within the department. The work could be registered for a higher degree, or you could be given time to pursue your studies.

Conditions and salary vary, so find out exactly what your duties will involve.

More information

• FindAPhD - details of studentships • jobs.ac.uk - PhD studentship information

If you are eligible, you could get student finance in the form of a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan. This can help with course fees and living costs. It doesn’t usually cover the full cost of a PhD.

You can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan in any year of your course. But if you apply after your first year, you might not get the full amount.

The amount you’ll get is not based on you or your family’s income. The loan is paid directly to you.

• Doctoral Loan: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Doctoral Loans & Funding - Information for Postgraduates (ucas.com)

You can apply for grants from charities and trusts. Some PhD candidates begin by applying to charities and trusts that have an interest in their area of research. This could include medical research or education for example.

Often the funding is in smaller amounts, but you can apply to more than one charity or grant making trust at a time.

Find a PhD has a guide on funding a PhD through charity and trust funding .

You can find details of charities and grant making trusts in the following publications from the Robinson Library:

• The Directory of Grant Making Trusts 2022/23
• The Grants Register
• Charities Digest

Part time study and work

Some PhD students complete a part time PhD and part time work at the same time. Some universities offer part time teaching positions which you can do alongside your research.

Business and industry funding

You could gain funding from a company who has an interest in your research. Current employees may be funded to pursue research that supports the commercial objectives of the company.

Some banks offer postgraduate or professional study loans. Each individual bank will have their own terms and conditions so it is worth comparing options before committing to one lender.

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How to Get PhD Funding

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Table of contents

• Introduction

How much does a PhD cost? 

Phd funding from national research councils, phd funding from universities, living costs and opportunity costs, career prospects with a phd .

By Elke Schwarz

Professor Daniel Drezner of Tufts University once quipped: “Should you get a PhD? Only if you are crazy or crazy about your subject.” If you fit one of those two categories, you’ll no doubt be keen to find out how to finance your mad endeavor. Here’s a quick guide to getting  PhD funding …

First things first,  how much does a PhD cost ? Here, the answer varies considerably by country. In the UK, being a self-funded PhD student can be an expensive undertaking, with an annual tuition bill of approximately £3,000 to £6,000 (about US$3,800-7,670) for domestic students and up to £18,000 ($23,000) for international students for the first three years.

In the US, the price tag for a PhD is even higher, ranging from US$28,000 to US$40,000 per year. In Germany, on the other hand, PhD students face no tuition fees at all, aside from a nominal semester contribution of €250 (~US$320).

Before some of these high figures deter you, be reassured that there are many PhD funding opportunities available; few PhD students are self-funded.

In the UK, PhD funding is provided via seven research councils, each covering a specific academic sector. Across Europe, such funding is offered by the European Research Council . Both the US and Canada have the equivalent in their National Research Councils, which give financial support to students either individually, via scholarships, or for funded research projects, via a research group or department.

Most universities provide substantial scholarships, studentships and other PhD funding opportunities. These schemes typically cover the cost for a good proportion of the annual tuition fees, if not more. Universities often also provide some funding for doctoral students to cover the costs of field trips and conference attendance.

A further means to fund a PhD is by obtaining a PhD position, sometimes also called PhD studentships or assistantships. These are essentially jobs tied to the PhD program, involving work in teaching, research or both. This is an ideal way to support your research, while being involved in a larger, often team-based, funded research project and gaining work experience.

Other costs to be considered when calculating PhD funding are living costs and opportunity costs. Living expenses will of course vary significantly by country and city. Studying in Paris (France) or Oslo (Norway) will likely incur a substantially higher annual cost than completing a PhD in Bangkok (Thailand), for example.

In addition, opportunity costs can be high. Unlike a master’s degree, which usually takes just one or two years full-time, a PhD demands a markedly higher time investment – most programs require an absolute minimum of three years, and some require five to six, depending on the country.

During this time, full-time employment is possible only if it is in relation to the PhD program itself. Some may opt to continue working and attempt to complete a PhD part-time – but this has proven to be exceptionally challenging; some studies suggest that drop-out rates for part-time PhDs are as high as 66 percent.

But while this might all sound daunting, there are considerable benefits and advantages to getting a PhD. In other words: the prospects for careers with a PhD are good. While entry-level salaries may not be considerably higher compared to those for master’s graduates, those with a PhD do have better long-term prospects for faster career- and pay-scale advancements. And a growing number of PhD students consider a post-doc life outside of academia.

There has been a clear trend in non-academic employers (such as consultancies, think tanks, media and others) increasingly valuing not only the specialist knowledge of PhD graduates but also their maturity and soft skills. Attributes valued by PhD employers across a wide range of industries include diligence, research abilities, focus, discipline, presentation skills and the demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to a deadline.

For all those aspiring doctoral students who aim to have a quick return on their investment, a word of caution: the benefits of a PhD are not to be had in the fast lane. The value of a PhD qualification is to be found in the long-term benefits it brings, financially, professionally and intellectually. It is a labor of love, and, as we know there is always some madness in love, but for those with realistic expectations and the discipline and tenacity to complete this highest of academic degrees, it is a tremendously rewarding experience, in more ways than one.

This article was originally published in November 2013. It was last updated in December 2018. 

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Fees for postgraduate research study

Tuition fees for your PhD/MPhil will cover the cost of your study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation.

Payment of fees will also entitle you to membership of the Library and Students' Union. For general fee information, including paying your fees if you are self-funded or externally sponsored, visit the University's  postgraduate research fees  pages.

Postgraduate researchers on funded programmes or studentships (i.e. DTPs) will have their tuition fees paid internally.

Fees for PhD, MPhil and MD programmes fall into one of our standard fee bands. Your primary supervisor will determine which is appropriate according to the nature and complexity of your research project and associated activities (such as conference attendance).

The fee band is displayed within the project description on self-funded project adverts, or will be confirmed during the interview/offer stage.

Tuition fees are generally not quoted in adverts where they are covered by a funded studentship.

Some of our programmes attract a non-standard fee and these are displayed on the specific programme pages, for example in dentistry/clinical dentistry. 

Fees for UK students

For the academic year  2023/24  (September 2023, January 2024 and April 2024 start dates), the UK fees are:

• Standard - to be confirmed (set by UKRI)
• Band 1 - £10,000 per year (low cost research project)
• Band 2 - £17,500 per year (medium cost research project)
• Band 3 - £22,500 per year (high cost research project)

For the academic year 2024/25 (September 2024, January 2025 and April 2025 start dates), the UK fees are:

• Standard – to be confirmed (set by UKRI)
• Band 1 - £11,000 per year (low cost research project)
• Band 3 - £23,000 per year (high cost research project)

Fees for international students

For the academic year  2023/24  (September 2023, January 2024 and April 2024 start dates), the international fees are:

• Standard - £26,500
• Band 1 - £27,500 per year (low cost research project)
• Band 2 - £34,500 per year (medium cost research project)
• Band 3 - £39,500 per year (high cost research project)

For the academic year 2024/25 (September 2024, January 2025 and April 2025 start dates), the international fees are:

• Standard - £27,000
• Band 1 - £28,500 per year (low cost research project)
• Band 3 - £40,500 per year (high cost research project)

Confirmation of costs

The annual cost of your programme will be confirmed in your offer letter.

For UK applicants the annual tuition fee will increase slightly each year. For international applicants, tuition fees remain fixed for the duration of your study.

Living costs

If you are a self-funded applicant, you will also need to cover your living expenses for the duration of your programme. You will be required to present evidence of available living cost support if you need to apply for a student visa.

We offer a wide range of fully-funded studentships each year through our prestigious and competitive funded programmes. Some of these are open to international applicants and can cover the full costs of tuition fees.

Should you be awarded a fully funded studentship that covers tuition fees and living costs (paid as a monthly stipend) you must be able to personally meet the costs required to relocate to Manchester as these are not provided by the studentship (i.e. visa costs, health surcharge, relocation, flights).

Funded programmes

Browse our fully funded PhD programmes, including prestigious doctoral training partnerships and industry funded schemes.

Funding opportunities

Find out about the other sources of financial support available including scholarships and awards for UK and international applicants.

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Is it worth self-funding a PhD to attend a top 10 university?

What should I opt for?

Option A) very well paid PhD, around €3000 per month at a respectable university or;

Option B) a non-paid PhD, where I have to pay €2000 per year at one of the top 10 universities of the world?

EDIT: Actually they are both UK universities, Option B is ranked between the top 10 in the world in engineering and tech , and I do get a scholarship that pays 18000 pounds which covers the difference between international student tuition and EU tuition. In Option A, I will be doing research in a good university and will be working alongside giants in the industry.

• 3 Your second question was addressed in University rank/stature - How much does it affect one's career post-Ph.D? –  ff524 Commented Oct 6, 2014 at 21:59
• 12 Is it worth self-funding? I don't know your income. –  enthu Commented Oct 6, 2014 at 22:05
• 14 In what field? "Top 10 university" doesn't matter; "top 10 department" might. –  JeffE Commented Oct 6, 2014 at 22:31
• 11 My knee-jerk reaction is "if they are top 10 in the world, why don't they fund their students?" I'm sure this probably varies by field, but "it's an amazing place" and "I only have to pay them X" in reference to a PhD makes me feel very skeptical. Is anyone aware of top-10s that don't fund their PhDs in some fields? –  BrianH Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 2:39
• 3 @BrianDHall They might not fund all their students, or funding might not be guaranteed and be significantly more cut-throat. I've heard of, but thankfully not been involved with, both. –  Fomite Commented Jan 29, 2016 at 19:11

6 Answers 6

Congratulations on receiving these two offers from good universities, both of which offer at least some funding. I make it that the difference between your two options is about €114000 over the three-year period that UK PhDs are usually funded for. This is probably a very large difference and it might be worth trying to ask somebody within your field who knows both institutions and departments whether that would be worth it.

Certainly, self-funded students can survive PhDs in the UK, and your prospects of successfully completing are probably better than average if you are in engineering and tech. In addition, it may be a realistic prospect in the UK to receive payment for carrying out some teaching and demonstrating. I would advise asking about this possibility before you commit to option B. Look at the research council guidelines beforehand to try to gauge the best practices for salary and training.

However, there may be more important criteria than money. In one department I worked in I saw hoards of both funded and self-funding students abandoned by a particular supervisor before they quit. Don't let this be you. The (prestigious) department did nothing; it was absolutely buyer beware. So the usual advice applies: Talk to your supervisor's previous students, did they complete on time? What are they doing now? Did they see others around them succeed and being supported? Did they feel the supervisor, department and university helped them to succeed? Unfortunately, a top department is absolutely no guarantee of a non-toxic research culture in the group.

If option A is research council funded (or is funded by a high-profile UK body or another funder demanding results for their money), this would weigh heavily in my decision to take it, even if it is at a less prestigious university. There will be consequences for the group and department if a council-funded student fails to finish by the four-year deadline, and this means that both the supervisor and institution are absolutely committed to the student succeeding and solutions will have to be found if things start to go wrong.

• Thank you for your answer, i will try to look up some of the supervisor's students and see what happened to their research and their careers, i guess that would be best. And you did make a great point there, i guess if they are willing to pay me some money to do their research they would be more than ready to help me get some results –  AnarKi Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 16:45
• I believe the four year deadline applies to all students, not just RC funded. Of course, departments can be more creative about reporting times for non-funded students, but at my institution the 4 year deadline is a blanket policy, irrespective of funding source. –  Ian Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 17:02
• 8 Allowing self funding also introduces a bias against socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and corrupts academic integrity of the department. Allowing self funding is wrong. –  daaxix Commented Oct 8, 2014 at 3:48

Unless you're independently wealthy I think it is always unwise to do an unfunded Ph.D. program. With the current academic market the way that it is, there's just no guarantee that you will get a good job with the Ph.D. that will allow you to quickly pay off your debt. There's also no guarantee that you'll get a Ph.D. at all. We're talking about over a hundred thousand euros! There are some advantages to a top ranked department (as ff524 says, university ranking is irrelevant), but it's not 100K euros worth of advantage (especially since often a lot of the advantage of a top dept. is that they're better funded and so students can concentrate more on research).

• 16 This is less clear, so I haven't put it in the answer. But I think it's unethical for school B to not fund their Ph.D. students, and you shouldn't encourage their behavior by going there. –  Noah Snyder Commented Oct 6, 2014 at 23:10
• 2 I agee with your answer (apart from the 100k, I don't know where you got that from) but not your comment. 2000 € / years is a very reasonable tuition and I guess they have some funded and some unfunded positions (=> positions in which the student has aquired some external funding on his own, which is afair not that uncommon in some fields in the EU). –  The Almighty Bob Commented Oct 6, 2014 at 23:41
• @TheAlmightyBob: I'm not sure if it's 27K, 30K or 36K a year, and whether the expected length is 3,4, or 5 years, but at a bare minimum that's 81K+6K=87K and if any of those numbers aren't the minimum it's over 100K. –  Noah Snyder Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 0:25
• 2 @NoahSnyder I also do not understand the 27k-36k per year. The question says €2,000/year. Are you including living or other expenses? –  earthling Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 1:43
• 1 @earthling he is including the opportunity costs of the other position. However, I guess the 3k are not really 3k € / month as mentioned in the comment to the question but the main point still stands. –  The Almighty Bob Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 2:09

While what you should opt for is clearly a personal decision, my stance is the following:

You Should Never Take An Unfunded PhD Position

There is already a decently high opportunity cost for getting a PhD - adding substantial amounts of debt (or erosion of savings to it) just makes this opportunity cost worse. It will put tremendous pressure on you coming out the other end into the job market, and generally speaking I've never encountered an institution that didn't use unfunded positions as a sort of "soft rejection" signaling mechanism.

The hope may be, of course, that you come, prove to be an outstanding researcher, and can find funding with a member of the faculty, but that's a hope , and one that's far from guaranteed.

Especially considering that your second, funded option sounds like a very decent choice of school, I wouldn't do it unless you're genuinely independently wealthy to the point that all of this is a purely theoretical discussion, but my guess is that's not the case.

Usually no, it is not worth self-funding a PhD program; in your case, however, I think it is worth it for two reasons:

• Awesome top-10 school in your country
• Relatively cheap (ration between cost of education to future income).

I will share my experience with you. Right now I am in-directly paying for my PhD. I was accepted in a Computer Engineering PhD program at a state school which is a fairly well known public research school, among the top 50 in the United States. I am using my company's education benefit to fund my education. For me it has been worth it but if I had to pay tuition entirely myself, I wouldn't do it since I already have masters degree and there won't be any major pay increase at my current employer.

Make sure your supervising professor is a world famous researcher in your field of choice and that they are a large research department. Check out their past students. Did they achieve research careers or leaving the country?

I did a PhD that straddled two fields; my supervisor was expert in field A, while I was interested in working in field B. The department was also based on field A. After I had successfully published a paper, a rival university tried to derail me from working in field B, because I was stepping on their toes. I ended up having my PhD deliberately dragged out for four years.

Some calculations using the input parameters you gave.

Option A : Assuming a 3-year PhD, you are earning €36,000 a year, or €108,000 over the duration of the PhD.

Option B : Assuming a 3-year PhD, you are losing €24,000 a year, or €72,000 over the duration of the PhD.

Let's assume that if you take option A, you go on to a job that pays a discretionary income of €3,000 a month (i.e. 3000 after all taxes and basic spending are deducted). If you take option B, you instead get €3,000 + X a month, where X is a positive number. (This is an assumption, and there's no guarantee that it will indeed happen.) Further, let's assume you save the entire sum, that you graduate at age 30 and work until 65, and your monthly salary never increases faster than the rate of inflation.

Next we assume that you already have enough money saved such that if you take option B, you start your working life with €0 (no student debt). That means that if you take option A, you start with €180,000. The average return of the S&P 500 per year over the past 90 years is 9.8%. This is the rate of return at which you're increasing your savings.

Now we can use a compound interest calculator to figure out how much money you have at retirement. Given €180,000 starting principal, €36,000 annual addition, 9.8% interest rate, and 35 years to compound, Option A gives €14,978,512.10 . With option B, you have €0 starting principal, unknown annual addition, 9.8% interest rate, and 35 years to compound. Fiddling with the annual addition yields the result: to get the same ~€15 million retirement fund, you need an annual addition of €52,700 .

You'll need to vary the parameters to fit your situation of course, but the result of this analysis is typical. Your monthly discretionary income needs to be at least ~€4392, or X must be at least €1392, for Option B to be competitive with Option A .

Do graduates with a degree from a top 10 university earn €1392 more per month than graduates from a lower-ranked university? You can ask around, but I'm pretty confident the answer is "no" unless you are in a field where average monthly earnings are five figures or greater.

tl; dr: take the funded position.

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All of your PhD funding options explained

“I want to do a PhD but I’m worried I can't afford it.” If this sounds like you then you're in the right place. Read our post to find out more about PhD funding at the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine.

“I want to do a PhD but I’m worried I won’t have enough money to live on.” If this sounds like you then never fear - you’re in the right place! In the blog post below, we’ll be looking at all of the funding options open to you as a PhD student in medicine and life sciences, as well as highlighting the living costs that you’ll have to think about during your time at university. We’ve even got some amazing examples of how our PhD students have managed to travel the world while studying – all with a simple bit of planning.

Many people are put off the idea of doing a PhD because they think that PhD students never have any money. In the post below, we show that this simply isn’t the case – you can study for a postgraduate degree without constantly worrying about how you’re going to pay the rent.

This blog post explores :

• Our funding options for PhD students studying medicine, vet medicine and life sciences
• The living costs that you’ll have to think about as an on-campus research student
• Travelling on a budget

Your options for PhD funding explained

Funded phd programmes.

Here at the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, we have a wide range of funded PhD programmes for outstanding students. These studentships are offered in collaboration with our world-class research centres, and subject areas include everything from Precision Medicine to Cardiovascular Science.

Applying for one of our PhD studentships is probably the most straightforward route into a funded PhD programme at the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. However, applications are highly competitive.

What’s on offer?

Our studentships offer eligible candidates a stipend, tuition fees (at the UK/EU rate) and a contribution towards any research costs.

PhD Studentships

Funded PhD projects - FindAPhD

Another option for students thinking about postgraduate research is to browse our wide range of pre-defined PhD projects. The College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine advertises available PhD projects on Findaphd.com. You can also browse them using the link below.

FindAPhD Research Projects

Various stipends and research costs are available depending on the project. These are significant amounts of money which will allow you to devote all of your time to research, rather than worrying about funding.  

You’ll notice that each research project will either be ‘directly funded’, ‘competition funded’ or will have ‘funding available’. All this means is that there may be certain requirements which apply to each project depending on the type of funding stipulated.

For example, there may be restrictions relating to residency or nationality depending on the type of funding body involved.  

Self-funding a PhD

Some postgraduate students are fortunate enough to self-fund their studies over three years without having to work at the same time . They may be using their own savings or receiving financial aid from parents or another relative.

Students in this position are welcome to apply with a research proposal at any time of year. However, if you are applying for an advertised PhD project, make sure that you submit your proposal before the specified deadline.

For more information on self-funded postgraduate research , including where to check entry requirements, visit the link below.

PhD Applicants with External Sponsorship or Self Funding

Working while studying for a PhD

Some of our students work around their studies to bring in a bit of extra cash. Obviously this is a lot easier to do if you decide to study for a PhD part-time over six years rather than the usual three years full-time.

However, some of our full-time students are also able to earn money by occasionally working on weekends or evenings.

Finding a part-time job while studying full-time is certainly not for everyone, and you should think long and hard about whether you will be able to succeed in your postgraduate research while devoting any spare time to working. However, if you have strong time management skills and you can find flexible work in your area of study, then this may be a great way to keep some of your industry skills up to scratch.

Jenni Irving McGrath is a full-time PhD student at the University’s Feline Genome Project:

I continue to work as a locum vet in practices around Edinburgh every second weekend. The balance has worked well and I believe it benefits my PhD as it keeps my phenotyping skills up to date. Working in clinics also keeps me focused on my end goal of bringing my research results from the lab bench into the clinics. Jenni Irving McGrath PhD Genetics and Genomics

Keep in mind that there may also be the opportunity to work as a tutor during your PhD too:

“I’ve learned how to conduct highly-interdisciplinary research, and to work with participants. I’ve also learned how to use R, and other open science practices. I also got the opportunity to work as a tutor alongside my research, which improved my teaching skills.”  Bérengère Digard PhD Psychiatry

Additional Funding Opportunities

At the University of Edinburgh, we welcome students from a variety of different backgrounds and funding options are available to those people who wish to apply but have very specific needs in place .

For example, if you are a single parent, have a disability or find yourself facing unexpected financial difficulties, the University offers additional funding opportunities on top of the main postgraduate loans and bursaries.

Additional financial assistance

Living costs for PhD students

When you’re a PhD student there are plenty of living costs to consider . You’ll have to think about accommodation, electricity bills, travel and a lot more.

However, the University has put together a handy guide for the upcoming 2019-20 year, which gives an excellent idea of how much it generally costs to live as a postgraduate student in Edinburgh.  

Estimated living costs 2019-20

Travelling near and far on a budget

And finally…we’ve got some great examples of past and current students who have shown that it’s possible to enjoy postgrad life to the max while studying for a PhD. Some of our PhD students are keen travellers and have managed to save up their money and spend it on what they enjoy doing most .

As we all know, mental health issues and stress are very prevalent among Ph.D. students. However, we are also privileged to have a more flexible schedule. We should also appreciate and take advantage of the fact that there are many cheap flights from Edinburgh to many European countries, whereas in my home country Canada, a 5 hr coach bus ticket to the next province costs at least £100. Of course, you need to first consult your supervisor, but it shouldn’t be a massive problem if you’re only away for a Friday or a Monday once in a while. There are also ways to travel without breaking the bank. Amy Cui PhD Population Health Sciences

Amy’s South American adventure post in full

Plus you don’t have to travel outside of Scotland to enjoy beautiful scenery and experience a different vibe to city life.  

With a little bit more free time on your hands, you might be able to rent a car and venture up to the highlands. For a friend’s birthday, we did a little retreat tour of the Highlands & the Isle of Skye. The drive through nature there was spectacular – and it was on the way there where everything started to get very remote, and the roads turned into tiny single lane streets.  Chiara Herzog PhD Neuroscience

It’s also worth bearing in mind that many of our PhD students come from overseas . Although they might not be flying home to Canada or Australia every other month, many of our students are still able to cover the costs of a long haul flight to see family and friends by dipping in to their PhD funding.

Remember too that you’ll more than likely have the opportunity to travel to academic conferences during your studies, many of which provide funding for eager students.

You can read more about student life - including tips on how to save money - by visiting the University’s ‘Student Stories’ website below.

Student Stories

Related Links

Steps to Postgraduate Study – impartial advice on Postgraduate study options

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Alternative Careers in Medicine - Where can your PhD take you?

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Frequently asked questions.

A fully funded PhD covers your tuition fees and also your living costs.

A self funded PhD means that the student will rely on their own sources of income in order to study their course. This often involves taking on a job or student loans.

The average cost of Tuition fees for a UK or EU PhD student is around £3,000 to £6,000. International students cost between £16,000 and £24,000.

Most PhD studentships and scholarships are extremely competitive. You will need to highlight your academic prowess in order to secure this funding.

If you have set your heart on completing a PhD subject, then the last thing you need is confusion over how the funding works. The differences between studentships, scholarships and loans can seem confusing. But don’t worry, here are some pointers to help find your way to PhD funding.

First things first, what is PhD funding?

UK universities are complex organisations requiring a lot of money to keep their operations functioning. They employ a lot of people and provide facilities for teaching and research. Most of this comes from the Government one way or another. There are five different sources of funding for PhD’s in the UK:

• The Government, through organisations such as the UKRI
• Postgraduate Research Loans, available to individual PhD students
• Universities offer their own funded PhD courses which are termed Studentships
• Charities and Trusts support individual PhD students through the award of Scholarships and Bursaries
• Companies seek answers to business-critical problems by investing in research and partnering with a relevant University.

When you start looking for a PhD, you'll find the significance of these different sources will become clear.

What do I do first?

The simplest way to find PhD funding is to look for existing projects with your current university, or from another that specializes in the same area. Make time to consider your options as the course progresses. You could be preparing to step into work once you have completed your masters degree. Or you could have already considered the possibility of staying on to continue your studies.

Remaining within the structure and support network of your current university offers the most security. This is because you can draw upon the knowledge of your academic colleagues and potential supervisors to consider the routes that you could take with them.

However, if you have been working and are considering a change of direction by stepping back into study then you will have to start from scratch. This involves researching which location and research academic team would be best placed for your particular specialty.

Where does the funding come into it?

If your current/previous university is a research-intensive institution it is likely they will be actively bidding for research grants from bodies such as the UKRI each year. A successful bid means recruiting for PhD students.

These new PhD students will be awarded funded studentships. These individuals will conduct the research, under supervision, and the results will be peer reviewed. Postgraduate Studentships lists the details of these from leading universities all year round.

Most of the research funding in the UK is for STEM subjects. This is because the physical sciences are a Government priority for trade and employment. However, research funding in the social sciences is widely available. Arguably they contribute as much to the economy through the service sector.

Many will also include a stipend, which is an additional living cost allowance. UKRI sets the rate and in 2023/24 the minimum amount is £18,622, paid in regular instalments.

University Studentships

In addition, your university may fund PhD studentships. You can find these from universities that have a well-established expertise in a specific area.

They can be organized around a specific facility or named academic who has a recognised reputation in a subject. Studentships are usually offered once a year in a block. Applicants are invited to apply in advance with the successful candidates usually selected in the early spring .

Sometimes these are awarded based on a competition because the demand for places will be high. Tuition fee discounts and Alumni bursaries can help to entice current masters students to remain (or return) to their previous universities.

Companies seeking answers to problems through research

Universities that have connections to industry are able to develop funded studentships that have direct applicability to a specific service. These can offer some of the most interesting opportunities because they are directly contributing to the discovery of new knowledge of significance to global challenges.

Explore PhD funding through scholarships from Charities and Trusts

You can search through a large number of charitable organisations that distribute funds to assist with postgraduate study. You may find that these are usually based on academic results. International students seeking a place at a UK institution often use these sources of funding.

These are Merit Scholarships, and while they probably won’t cover all the costs associated with a PhD, they are nevertheless a very useful additional sources of support. You can explore funded PhD opportunities on Postgraduate Studentships .

Government Doctorate Loan

The UK Government Doctoral Loan scheme opens each summer to cover the costs of your course. You will receive the loan directly. You can use it for your course fees and living costs.

Remember that this sum is divided into the length of your programme. So if you are thinking about a part time PhD that lasts over 3 years, the amount paid will be equivalent to the costs for each year. This will be on top of any existing student loan, and you have to start paying some of it back when you get a full-time job.

You can mix and match any scholarships with a loan. This could very useful if you are not able to secure a studentship for your PhD when you start your course.

International access to research funding

Recent changes to the UK Study Visa scheme have come into effect so that international students can stay on beyond the end of their study period while they pursue a career. This means international students are now eligible to apply for studentships offered by the UKRI. This is a real help when you want to find PhD funding.

Don’t forget tuition fees

Tuition fees vary from course to course. All universities must charge students these fees.

The fees for these are set in line with the Research Council rates, and for 2022/23 the cost is £4,596. International students pay much higher fees. Look out for advertised studentships that include tuition fees is you can.

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There are many ways to fund your PhD or research degree. Learn about the different routes to secure funding.

You will be charged tuition fees for studying your PhD. Depending on the type of project you want to apply for, there are different routes to fund your research degree.

• funded projects with a living allowance
• funded projects without additional financial support 
• opportunities to explore your own research proposal (you’ll need to source your own funding)

Some projects do not have funding secured until after the project has been advertised and a candidate recruited.

It’s important to know where your funding will come from before applying for a project.

Funded projects

For projects advertised as 'fully funded' or 'competition funded', your university fees will be paid and you will not need to apply for additional funding.

Competition funded projects will go ahead if the funding is awarded by the funding body. You can talk with the lead supervisor to find out more. 

See our current research degree projects

Fees paid plus a living allowance

A funded project will cover your study fees.

Some projects come with an additional sum of money to cover things like accommodation, travel and maintenance expenses. This is tax free.

Fees paid with no living allowance

Some project funding will only cover your university fees. You will need to cover your living expenses yourself. 

If you need help to cover your living costs, UK students can apply for a doctoral loan through Student Finance England. International students can check if they are eligible to receive a scholarship or bursary .

Projects advertised with no funding yet

Some advertised projects do not have funding secured yet. The lead supervisor will usually source funding once they have found a suitable PhD candidate. 

Contact the lead supervisor to find out about the specific funding options if there’s a project you’re interested in.

Doctoral training partnerships and integrated PhDs

Some research degrees are run through doctoral training partnerships and come with guaranteed funding. Check the details in the advertised project for how to apply.

Funding your own project

You should tell your supervisor if you plan to self-fund your research project. You’ll need to say how you intend to pay your fees when you apply. 

You could consider: 

• a postgraduate doctoral loan
• external funding bodies (charities, government and the private sector)
• university scholarships
• your own funds
• combining different funding sources

Take out a doctoral loan

You can apply for a government loan to cover your fees. Doctoral loans are not means tested and you can decide how much you want to borrow.

Find out about doctoral loans on GOV.UK

Apply for funding from a charity

You may be able to win funding from 1 or more organisations to help fund your PhD or research degree.

Learn about charity funding on FindAPhD

Get advice on funding your PhD

You can speak to the supervisor you wish you work with or contact the faculty graduate school. 

Graduate school contacts: 

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities: [email protected]
• Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences: [email protected]
• Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences: [email protected]
• Faculty of Medicine: [email protected]
• Faculty of Social Sciences: [email protected]

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• Creative clusters in rural, coastal and post-industrial towns
• Deep oceanic convection: the outsized role of small-scale processes
• Defect categories and their realisation in supersymmetric gauge theory
• Defining the Marine Fisheries-Energy-Environment Nexus: Learning from shocks to enhance natural resource resilience
• Design and fabrication of next generation optical fibres
• Developing a practical application of unmanned aerial vehicle technologies for conservation research and monitoring of endangered wildlife
• Development and evolution of animal biomineral skeletons
• Development of all-in-one in-situ resource utilisation system for crewed Mars exploration missions
• Ecological role of offshore artificial structures
• Effect of embankment and subgrade weathering on railway track performance
• Efficient ‘whole-life’ anchoring systems for offshore floating renewables
• Electrochemical sensing of the sea surface microlayer
• Engagement with nature among children from minority ethnic backgrounds
• Enhancing UAV manoeuvres and control using distributed sensor arrays
• Ensuring the Safety and Security of Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems
• Environmental and genetic determinants of Brassica crop damage by the agricultural pest Diamondback moth
• Estimating marine mammal abundance and distribution from passive acoustic and biotelemetry data
• Evolution of symbiosis in a warmer world
• Examining evolutionary loss of calcification in coccolithophores
• Explainable AI (XAI) for health
• Explaining process, pattern and dynamics of marine predator hotspots in the Southern Ocean
• Exploring dynamics of natural capital in coastal barrier systems
• Exploring the mechanisms of microplastics incorporation and their influence on the functioning of coral holobionts
• Exploring the potential electrical activity of gut for healthcare and wellbeing
• Exploring the trans-local nature of cultural scene
• Facilitating forest restoration sustainability of tropical swidden agriculture
• Faulting, fluids and geohazards within subduction zone forearcs
• Faulting, magmatism and fluid flow during volcanic rifting in East Africa
• Fingerprinting environmental releases from nuclear facilities
• Flexible hybrid thermoelectric materials for wearable energy harvesting
• Floating hydrokinetic power converter
• Glacial sedimentology associated subglacial hydrology
• Green and sustainable Internet of Things
• How do antimicrobial peptides alter T cell cytokine production?
• How do calcifying marine organisms grow? Determining the role of non-classical precipitation processes in biogenic marine calcite formation
• How do neutrophils alter T cell metabolism?
• How well can we predict future changes in biodiversity using machine learning?
• Hydrant dynamics for acoustic leak detection in water pipes
• If ‘Black Lives Matter’, do ‘Asian Lives Matter’ too? Impact trajectories of organisation activism on wellbeing of ethnic minority communities
• Illuminating luciferin bioluminescence in dinoflagellates
• Imaging quantum materials with an XFEL
• Impact of neuromodulating drugs on gut microbiome homeostasis
• Impact of pharmaceuticals in the marine environment in a changing world
• Impacts of environmental change on coastal habitat restoration
• Improving subsea navigation using environment observations for long term autonomy
• Information theoretic methods for sensor management
• Installation effect on the noise of small high speed fans
• Integrated earth observation mapping change land sea
• Interconnections of past greenhouse climates
• Investigating IgG cell depletion mechanisms
• Is ocean mixing upside down? How mixing processes drive upwelling in a deep-ocean basin
• Landing gear aerodynamics and aeroacoustics
• Lightweight gas storage: real-world strategies for the hydrogen economy
• Long-term change in the benthos – creating robust data from varying camera systems
• Machine learning for multi-robot perception
• Marine ecosystem responses to past climate change and its oceanographic impacts
• Mechanical effects in the surf zone - in situ electrochemical sensing
• Microfluidic cell isolation systems for sepsis
• Migrant entrepreneurship, gender and generation: context and family dynamics in small town Britain
• Miniaturisation in fishes: evolutionary and ecological perspectives
• Modelling high-power fibre laser and amplifier stability
• Modelling soil dewatering and recharge for cost-effective and climate resilient infrastructure
• Modelling the evolution of adaptive responses to climate change across spatial landscapes
• Nanomaterials sensors for biomedicine and/or the environment
• New high-resolution observations of ocean surface current and winds from innovative airborne and satellite measurements
• New perspectives on ocean photosynthesis
• Novel methods of detecting carbon cycling pathways in lakes and their impact on ecosystem change
• Novel technologies for cyber-physical security
• Novel transparent conducting films with unusual optoelectronic properties
• Novel wavelength fibre lasers for industrial applications
• Ocean circulation and the Southern Ocean carbon sink
• Ocean influence on recent climate extremes
• Ocean methane sensing using novel surface plasmon resonance technology
• Ocean physics and ecology: can robots disentangle the mix?
• Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Assessing the utility of coastal enhanced weathering
• Offshore renewable energy (ORE) foundations on rock seabeds: advancing design through analogue testing and modelling
• Optical fibre sensing for acoustic leak detection in buried pipelines
• Optimal energy transfer in nonlinear systems
• Optimizing machine learning for embedded systems
• Oxidation of fossil organic matter as a source of atmospheric CO2
• Partnership dissolution and re-formation in later life among individuals from minority ethnic communities in the UK
• Personalized multimodal human-robot interactions
• Preventing disease by enhancing the cleaning power of domestic water taps using sound
• Quantifying riparian vegetation dynamics and flow interactions for Nature Based Solutions using novel environmental sensing techniques
• Quantifying the response and sensitivity of tropical forest carbon sinks to various drivers
• Quantifying variability in phytoplankton electron requirements for carbon fixation
• Resilient and sustainable steel-framed building structures
• Resolving Antarctic meltwater events in Southern Ocean marine sediments and exploring their significance using climate models
• Robust acoustic leak detection in water pipes using contact sound guides
• Silicon synapses for artificial intelligence hardware
• Smart photon delivery via reconfigurable optical fibres
• The Gulf Stream control of the North Atlantic carbon sink
• The Mayflower Studentship: a prestigious fully funded PhD studentship in bioscience
• The calming effect of group living in social fishes
• The duration of ridge flank hydrothermal exchange and its role in global biogeochemical cycles
• The evolution of symmetry in echinoderms
• The impact of early life stress on neuronal enhancer function
• The oceanic fingerprints on changing monsoons over South and Southeast Asia
• The role of iron in nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis in changing polar oceans
• The role of singlet oxygen signaling in plant responses to heat and drought stress
• Time variability on turbulent mixing of heat around melting ice in the West Antarctic
• Triggers and Feedbacks of Climate Tipping Points
• Uncovering the drivers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression using patient derived organoids
• Understanding recent land-use change in Snowdonia to plan a sustainable future for uplands: integrating palaeoecology and conservation practice
• Understanding the role of cell motility in resource acquisition by marine phytoplankton
• Understanding the structure and engagement of personal networks that support older people with complex care needs in marginalised communities and their ability to adapt to increasingly ‘digitalised’ health and social care
• Unpicking the Anthropocene in the Hawaiian Archipelago
• Unraveling oceanic multi-element cycles using single cell ionomics
• Unravelling southwest Indian Ocean biological productivity and physics: a machine learning approach
• Using acoustics to monitor how small cracks develop into bursts in pipelines
• Using machine learning to improve predictions of ocean carbon storage by marine life
• Vulnerability of low-lying coastal transportation networks to natural hazards
• Wideband fibre optical parametric amplifiers for Space Division Multiplexing technology
• Will it stick? Exploring the role of turbulence and biological glues on ocean carbon storage
• X-ray imaging and property characterisation of porous materials
• Postgraduate Taught Diversity Scholarship (Environmental and Life Sciences)
• Southampton Business School Postgraduate UK Scholarship
• Southampton Genomics Talent Scholarship
• Southampton History Patricia Mather and Helen Patterson Scholarship
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• Southampton UK Alumni Music Scholarship
• The National Institute for Health and care Research South Central INSIGHT Programme
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• GREAT Scholarships 2024 – Greece
• Undergraduate scholarships for UK students
• Winchester School of Art Postgraduate Global Talent Scholarship
• Engineering Global Talent Scholarship
• Southampton University Corporate Civil Engineering Scholarship Scheme
• Merit scholarships for international postgraduates
• Merit scholarships for international undergraduates
• Scholarships, awards and funding opportunities
• Becas Chile Scholarship
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• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
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• Marshall Scholarship
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• Scholarship terms and conditions
• Southampton Education Civic Scholarship
• Southampton Ageing and Gerontology Talent Scholarship
• Southampton Canadian Prestige Scholarship for Law
• Southampton Presidential International Scholarship
• Continuing professional development
• Archers Road
• City Gateway
• Erasmus Park
• Highfield Hall
• Orion Point
• Wessex Lane
• Cancer Sciences Protein Facility
• Geotechnical Centrifuge
• Maritime Robotics and Instrumentation Laboratory (MRIL)
• Active Living
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• Advanced Laser Laboratory
• Advanced Project Management Research Centre
• Antibody and Vaccine Group
• Astronomy Group
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• Bladder and Bowel Management
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• Gas Photonics in Hollow Core Fibres 
• Geochemistry
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• Departments

Science and Technology Studies

STS offers degrees at each university level: undergraduate, masters, and PhD

• Funding Your Doctorate

PhD programme: fees and funding

Fees and funding.

Information on tuition fees: UCL Tuition Fees

Part-time fees are pro-rata of full-time fees.

Scholarships

UCL scholarships available to STS applicants

UCL Research Excellence Scholarship

Open to exceptional applicants from any country.  Up to 40 scholarships are awarded across UCL

DEADLINE FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS: Friday 10th January 2025 (TBC)

If you are applying for UCL RES funding, you must also submit your PhD application by Thursday 2nd January 2025 23.59 GMT

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship

UCL's Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) supports BAME postgraduate research degree students.  7 scholarships are awarded across UCL

If you are applying for UCL ROS funding, you must also submit your PhD application by Thursday 2nd January 2025 23.59 GMT

External scholarships for STS applicants:

London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP)

The  LAHP AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership  funds up to 80 research studentships per year across all subject areas covered by LAHP. Applications for funding should be made directly to LAHP, and open on 25th November 2024 (TBC)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO FUNDER:   5pm 24th JANUARY 2025 (TBC)

UK students with excellent academic records in history of science or philosophy of science are encouraged to apply. Please note that in order to be eligible for this funding you must have established your supervisor before applying to LAHP for funding. We strongly recommend that interested individuals contact potential supervisors by late November, and you will need to have submitted a standard UCL PhD admissions application complete with references, by the STS January deadline. However you are advised to submit a complete application earlier if possible.

More information can be found on the  London Arts and Humanities Partnership website.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

The department has ‘+3’ and '1+3' recognition from the ESRC in the category of Science and Technology Studies. Studentships are available to UK and EU applicants intending to pursue a PhD and who have already received a foundation in research training (+3), or who wish to pursue a PhD after completing an ESRC-recognised MSc (including those within the department) (1+3). Applicants with such qualifications who are interested in the areas of public understanding of science, science policy research, social history of science, or the sociology of science and technology are encouraged to discuss the possibility of applying for an ESRC grant with the departmental graduate tutor at the time of their application. See the  ESRC Doctoral Training Programme website  for further details. You can also visit the  main ESRC Website  to find out more about the council itself.

DEADLINE FOR PRELIMINARY  APPLICATIONS    Monday 13th January 2025 23:59 GMT TBC  (Applications open October 2024).

If you are applying for ESRC funding, you must also submit your PhD application by Thursday 2nd January 2025 23.59 GMT

British Society for the Philosophy of Science

The British Society for the Philosophy of Science offers scholarships for doctoral work in the philosophy of science at a UK university. Scholarships are only available to students applying to degree programmes in philosophy or in philosophy of science. Further details are available from the  BSPS website .

The next scholarship competition will run in 2025

Overseas students are encouraged to apply for Commonwealth and British Council Scholarships in those countries where they are administered.

A list of other scholarships available to students applying to UCL is available via the  UCL Scholarships page.

Register your interest in studying at UCL and receive important information about open days, applications, and more.

Graduate Prospectus 2023/24

• Graduate Prospectus

How to Apply

Funding your phd, visiting doctoral students, support for current students: .

Can we help? support for current students  STS PhD Moodle site.

• Reading Groups

STS hosts a series of reading groups, run by current PhD students, to discuss interesting, thought provoking material in relevant fields.

STS Research Space

The STS Research Space is an initiative to assist PhD students with a wide range of academic and non-academic problems.

• The STS Research Space

Bristol Doctoral College

Bristol has one of the largest concentrations of funding and support for postgraduate research in the UK. Here is an overview of funding options and some tips for exploring funding to support your postgraduate research programme.

Overview of funding

Scholarships.

The University offers a number of funded postgraduate research scholarships for outstanding applicants in all faculties. All of the scholarships available are listed in the online search facility - just use the ‘Research postgraduate’ filter on the form to see a full list of what’s available for postgraduate research students. Awards normally cover full tuition fees and a stipend paid at the  UK Research Council rate , although this can vary according to faculty.

Search the Student Funding database

Studentships

More than 300 funded PhD studentships are available across our six faculties for outstanding students. These vacancies will usually cover tuition fees as well a monthly stipend to cover living costs. They are attached to specific research projects or fields and are advertised individually on school and faculty webpages, or searchable on the jobs.ac.uk web pages.

Search for studentships on jobs.ac.uk

Opportunity Bristol

Opportunity Bristol provides financial support to UK students from Black backgrounds to undertake a research-related Masters degree. The scholarship scheme supports  students in the transition from undergraduate to PhD-level  study. The scheme aims to place students in a better position to pursue a career in research  by supporting their studies at m asters  level.  

Find out more about Opportunity Bristol

Visiting Ukrainian Doctoral Studentships

In 2022, the University of Bristol is offering eight studentships to doctoral students from Ukrainian universities for 6 months.

Find out more

Cohort-based doctoral training

We currently have 29 funded Doctoral Training Centres offering excellent funded postgraduate research opportunities and a wide range of skills training. Funded studentships on these programmes offer the chance to study as part of a cohort of researchers and usually cover fees and living costs. PhD students within these cohorts gain a broad range of skills and knowledge that can be applied across a wide variety of careers within and outside of academia.

Search cohort-based doctoral training

Self-funded study

If you intend to fund yourself through your postgraduate research programme, you might be considering studying part-time in order to work alongside your research to help fund your living costs. Find out more about the cost of living in Bristol .

Doctoral loans

For self-funded postgraduate research students, the UK Government has announced new doctoral loans of up to £25,000 over the duration of a postgraduate research programme. UK nationals who are ordinarily resident in England, aged 59 or under, who are not already receiving funding via a UK Research Council, are eligible. The government is currently considering making EU students eligible.

Doctoral study loans

Employer sponsorship

It might be possible for your employer or company to support your doctoral studies, particularly if the research is valuable and relevant for your employer. Securing sponsorship for your PhD can give you financial support while your employer could benefit from the research you undertake and the skills you bring back to your company.

The Bristol Doctoral College supports opportunities within this portfolio of work and can advise interested applicants further.

Contact us for further information

Funding tips

For further resources, recommendations, and all-things-money related to research degrees, check out our funding tips .

Search suggestions update instantly to match the search query.

Funding your research degree

Explore your funding options – from government loans to alumni and staff discounts.

Find your way ahead with funding

If you're thinking of starting a research degree with us, you'll have fees and costs to cover while you're here – but there are plenty of loans and bursaries available to help fund your studies.

Whether you're a UK, EU or international student, you'll find information on this page about the general funding options open to most applicants and details on how to apply for them.

Postgraduate open days

Get to know us better at one of our events and experience life as a postgrad at Portsmouth.

In-person and online events running March - June 2024.

Book your place

Explore our funded PhD opportunities

Applications are now open for funded PhDs in Biological Sciences, Civil Engineering, Computing, Cosmology, Health Informatics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics, Mechanical and Design Engineering, Operational Research and Logistics, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Physics and Psychology. 

View funded PhD projects

Self-funding your PhD

If you're self-funding your PhD or postgraduate research degree, there are plenty of funding options available. Find out what's on offer, who's eligible, and how to apply. If you are looking for tuition fees for our postgraduate research programmes, these can be found via our research degree subject area page , in the relevant PhD subject areas.

UK government doctoral loans scheme

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans  are Government loans you can use for tuition fees, living costs and other course costs, if you're applying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate with us. The loan is paid directly to you, and you can  apply online here .

The amount you’ll receive isn’t based on your or your family’s income. So you can choose how much you borrow (up to £28,673 over your whole course). The loan will be divided equally across each year of study. You can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan in any year of your course. But if you apply after your first year, you might not get the maximum amount.

You will start repaying your loan after your course if your annual income is more than £21,000. If you took out a Postgraduate Master's Loan, these 2 balances will be added together. If you had an undergraduate loan, you’ll pay both at the same time.

Eligibility for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan depends on your course, your age, and your residency status. Your course must be a full, standalone doctoral course (not a top-up course) and last between 3 and 8 academic years. You must be under the age of 60 at the start of your course.

You must also:

• be a UK national, or have EU settled status or indefinite leave to remain
• normally live in England, not moved here just to study
• have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years before starting your course

Further criteria apply, please check the official government website .

You won’t be able to get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan if you’ll be receiving any Research Council funding or are on a paid studentship. Some courses may not be eligible – if yours isn't, it will say so on the course page.

Postgraduate Master's loans

If you're applying for a MPhil or MRes course, you might be eligible for a  Government Postgraduate Master's Loan .

International Scholarships

We have various scholarships available for International and EU students, which can be found via our dedicated Scholarships page . 

University of Portsmouth EU Scholarship

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, if you’re a student resident in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and you join the University of Portsmouth in 2023/24, you'll be eligible for the EU Scholarship. The scholarship will apply to new undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students. The scholarship will be applied to your fees throughout the length of your course. As a result, the actual fee you'll pay will be equivalent to the fee for UK students in 2023/24 and beyond. The scholarship will be set at different levels for different courses. If you already meet the conditions to be classed as a UK student for fees and funding purposes, you won’t receive the scholarship. You’ll pay the same fees as UK students. Find out more via our Tuition fees for EU students page .

£500 Postgraduate Solutions Study Bursaries 

Postgrad Solutions are currently offering 15 Bursaries towards postgrad study for those starting in 2023, worth £500 each.

Students from all courses and subject areas are invited to apply, regardless of your chosen study mode or whether you're in receipt of wider funding. 

For the majority of cases, payment will be made direct to your institution and discounted from your tuition fees. In some circumstances payment can be put towards student living costs and accommodation. You'll need to have accepted your offer of study at your chosen institution to be considered. The closing date for all entries is  Friday 30th September 2023.

Find out more and apply

Alumni discounts

If you've studied at the University of Portsmouth on an undergraduate programme before, you may be able to get a  20% discount off your course tuition fee  – use our  alumni discount checker  to see if you're eligible for this scholarship.

Staff discounts

If you or one or both of your parents works at the University, you can get a 30% discount on course fees. Email  [email protected]  to check you're eligible before applying for a course.

Other PhD funding sources

Charitable grants and bursaries.

Some organisations, charities and trusts offer bursaries and grants. These are often given to high-performing students or people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

You can search for sources of Master's funding from charities, trusts and foundations on  The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding  website. (Choose the ‘I am a prospective student’ option and enter our PIN – 7517 – and your email address to get your username and password.)

You can also use the following publications to search for grants. You can access these at local libraries:

• Educational Grants Directory
• Charities Digest
• Grants Register
• Directory of Grant Making Trusts

Master's degree funding

To find out how to fund your Master's degree, see our Master's loans, scholarships and bursaries page . 

Other routes to a PhD

Explore the other ways you can start a PhD at Portsmouth.

Explore our PhD projects

Look through our funded and self-funded PhD research projects and find out how to apply.

Find a PhD Supervisor

If you've already got your own research idea, start looking for a supervisor whose research interests match yours.

Our research degrees subject areas

Take your expertise further by studying for a PhD or other research degree at the University of Portsmouth. Explore the subject areas you can study & get started on your research journey.

• Postgraduate Research

Improving chemical and immunological assessment to drive safer development of the new breed of drugs: PROTACS

• Supervisors: Dr Xiaoli Meng   Prof Dean Naisbitt   Dr Gemma Nixon   Dr Sean Hammond  

Studying in:

• institute-of-systems-molecular-and-integrative-biology
• Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Description

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are a new class of drugs with immense potential across multiple therapeutic areas in drug development. These drugs act by enhancing the degradation of disease-related proteins of interest (POIs). This is achieved by bringing the POI into the proximity of E3 ligases, this facilitates ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of target proteins, leading to complete inhibition of POI and the downstream signalling cascades.

One underexplored aspect of the PROTAC mechanism is what effects the degradation protein of interest or off-target proteins might have on adaptive immunity. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is responsible for presenting antigenic peptides to T-cells and one of the major sources of these peptides is degradation of endogenous proteins. Some drugs and chemicals can perturb antigen processing and presentation, leading to neo-antigen formation and subsequent activation of T-cells, which can result in life threatening hypersensitivity reactions. It is therefore important to understand how PROTACs affect such pathways, and whether it is possible to evaluate immunotoxicological risks applicable to PROTACs.

This multidisciplinary project aims to develop analytical platforms to map the cellular protein targets of PROTACs, examine the potential landscape of antigens presented by HLA class I alleles in the presence of PROTACs, and assess the impact of PROTACs on T-cell immunity. We will generate PROTACs using synthetic methods developed in Dr Nixon’s lab at Chemistry department, Liverpool University. The selectivity of PROTACs degradation activity will be assessed using quantitative proteomics analysis. The neoantigens presented by specific HLA alleles in the presence of PROTACs will be eluted from antigen presenting cells (cell lines expressing a single HLA allele, B cells, and dendritic cells) and characterised using state-of-art Mass spectrometry methods. Furthermore, the potential of PROTACs to activate T cells will be assessed using an HLA genotyped cell bank containing PBMCs from healthy donors. Emerging as a new modality in precision medicine, PROTAC technology is still in its embryonic form. The data generated in this study will help our understanding of the unique mode of action and guide the development of the PROTAC technology.

This project will utilise our world-class facilities including proteomics and cell culturing of human primary cells. The student will be based in the immunopharmacology group led by Prof Naisbitt (X: @ImmunoPharm) and Dr Meng (X: @xl_meng) at the Pharmacology department, University of Liverpool. The student will receive training in a wide variety of techniques including chemical synthesis, proteomics, and advanced primary cell culturing. They will get the chance to study and apply their skills at crossroads of four scientific disciplines: chemistry, pharmacology, immunology and toxicology, on a real-world emerging question in drug development, with the guidance and support of a team leading experts. An industrial placement at Apconix will also provide the student with opportunity to gain hands-on experience in relevant immunotoxicity assessment within real-world drug development.

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Meng ([email protected]).

Availability

Open to students worldwide

Funding information

Self-funded project.

We are looking for self-funded students or students who have secured funding from an independent body. There is no financial support available from Liverpool for this study. Please see website for PhD student fees at the University of Liverpool View Website.

The successful applicant will be expected to have funding in place for the tuition fees (https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/fees-and-costs/), consumables/bench fee (£ 15000 per annum) and living expenses during their stay in Liverpool. 

Supervisors

• Dr Xiaoli Meng
• Prof Dean Naisbitt
• Dr Gemma Nixon
• Dr Sean Hammond
• Proteomic approaches advancing targeted protein degradation, Trends Pharmacol Sci (2023),44:786-801.
• Identification of Flucloxacillin-Haptenated HLA-B*57:01 Ligands: Evidence of Antigen Processing and Presentation, Toxicol Sci (2020),177:454.
• Activation of Human CD8+ T Cells with Nitroso Dapsone-Modified HLA-B*13:01-Binding Peptides. J Immunol. 2023 Apr 15;210(8):1031-1042.
• Targeted Destruction of S100A4 Inhibits Metastasis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells. BIOMOLECULES (2023) 13:7.

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Phd-Study-In-Uk

• MRC PhD Funding – A Guide for 2023

MRC PhD Funding

Written by Marcus Holt

As the name suggests, the Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main source of Government funding to advance medical research in the UK. MRC PhD studentships ordinarily cover fees and maintenance as well as providing an additional support grant for research training.

This guide will explain how MRC funding works for PhD students, focusing on the different types of studentships, who is eligible and how to apply.

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What is the mrc.

The MRC is one of seven Research Councils that make up UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Each council manages its own UK Government budget for training and research, some of which is allocated to PhD studentships.

The MRC support research across all of the medical sciences. Like other research councils, this research is carried out in universities. In some cases universities direct MRC-funded research within Doctoral Training Partnerships. However, the Council also maintains its own research units, institutes and centres within universities where it takes a more immediate role in directing ground-breaking research, including at PhD level.

Which PhD subjects does the MRC fund?

The MRC funds PhDs in all medical subjects, such as:

• Cancer Research and Treatment
• Cardiovascular Science
• Endocrinology
• Molecular and Cellular Medicine
• Neuroscience and Mental Health
• Public Health

There are also some interdisciplinary funding opportunities offered by the MRC in partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) or the Biotechnology and biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) .

What PhD funding does the MRC provide?

The MRC funds around 1,900 PhD studentships each year out of budgets allocated to universities as well as MRC units, institutes and centres. A typical MRC PhD studentship has four main components:

• Tuition fee payment of £4,712 per year
• Doctoral stipend of £18,622 per year (additional money is available for students in London)
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £5,000 to cover cost of lab equipment and consumables
• Travel and conference allowance of £300 to attend and present at conferences

It's also worth bearing in mind that the value of both amounts rises annually with inflation, which means you'll get the increased amount in each subsequent year of your PhD. The above figures represent the amounts for 2023/24.

How is MRC funding allocated?

To receive funding, students apply to projects advertised by research organisations, such as universities or MRC units, institutes and centres. You don’t apply directly to the MRC for PhD funding.

Projects advertised by universities are offered within university Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or as industrial Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (iCASE) studentships. Other studentships schemes, such as the MRC integrative Toxicology Training Partnership (iTTP) in the Toxicology unit, are also available.

UKRI funding for other subjects

The funding opportunities described on this page are for Medical PhDs. Other members of Research and Innovation allocate their own Research Council studentships for different PhD subjects.

MRC Doctoral Training Partnerships

The MRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) are set up by individual research organisations or regional networks.

DTPs receive funding for certain number of PhD studentships from the MRC and use this to provide additional training and professional development opportunities.

MRC DTPs for 2024

Currently, the MRC funds the following DTPs:

Cambridge MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Cambridge , along with the Babraham Institute.

Find out more about the Cambridge MRC DTP or browse PhD projects .

Discovery Medicine North (DiMeN)

Led by the University of Sheffield , along with the University of Liverpool , the University of Leeds and Newcastle University .

Find out more about the DiMeN DTP or browse PhD projects .

Great West 4 (GW4)

Led by Cardiff University , along with the University of Bath , the University of Bristol and the University of Exeter .

Find out more about the GW4 MRC DTP or browse PhD projects .

Imperial College London MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Based at Imperial College London .

Find out more about the Imperial College MRC DTP or browse PhD projects .

Integrated Midlands Partnership for Biomedical Training (IMPACT)

Led by the University of Birmingham , along with the University of Leicester and the University of Nottingham .

Find out more about the IMPACT DTP .

King’s College London MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Based at King’s College London .

Find out more about the KCL MRC DTP or browse PhD projects .

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and Lancaster MRC DTP

Led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine , along with Lancaster University .

Find out more .

London Intercollegiate DTP

Led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , along with St George’s University of London.

Manchester MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Based at the University of Manchester .

Find out more aboput the Manchester MRC DTP or browse PhD projects .

Microbes, Microbiome and Bioinformatics (MMB) Doctoral Training Programme

Based at the University of East Anglia .

Find out more about the MMB DTP or browse PhD projects .

Oxford MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Based at the University of Oxford .

Find out more about the Oxford MRC DTP or browse PhD projects .

Precision Medicine Doctoral Training Programme

Led by the University of Edinburgh , along with the University of Glasgow .

Translational Immunology, Inflammation and Cancer MRC DTP

Led by the University of Southampton , along with Queen Mary, University of London .

Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP)

Led by the Medical Research Council.

Find out more about the TMRP DTP .

UCL-Birkbeck MRC DTP

Led by University College London , along with Birkbeck College .

Warwick MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Based at the University of Warwick .

Each DTP has its own research themes that its studentships support, so it’s worth checking that these cover your area of interest.

Studying your PhD at an MRC DTP

The benefit of studying within a DTP is the focus on broader training and in most cases a partnership with other research organisations.

Although you will be studying primarily at the university you applied to, you will also have the option to spend time at other universities or institutions within the partnership. This will give you access to other facilities and widen your research opportunities.

Most studentships last 3.5-4 years full time, depending on the route you take. DTPs can either offer a 1+3 model with an incorporated MRes or a straight 3.5-4 year PhD.

• First year – Within the first few months you will meet your cohort and attend cohort building activities, orientation. Some DTPs may spend their first year undertaking lab rotations (periods of time spent in different laboratories and research groups). Overall, the first year mostly focuses on training in core skills.
• Second year – If you did rotations in the first year, you will now be starting your proposed PhD project and attend bespoke training tailored to your research topic. You will also attend more core training and workshops along with cohort activities such as conferences.
• Third year – By this point there is typically less focus on training and more time spend generating and analysing your findings. If you are doing a 3.5-4 year PhD this is where you may start writing up your thesis.
• Fourth (and final) year – You will now be finishing your analysis and writing up your thesis for examination.

Specifics on each programme can be found on the DTP websites, as they all offer slightly different structures.

Overall, you will be studying within a cohort of other PhD students, attending additional training, team building exercises and conferences together. Most DTPs have a student-led symposium programme where PhD researchers present their work in progress to the whole DTP.

MRC iCASE studentships

It is possible for some MRC PhD projects to be advertised as industrial Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (iCASE) studentships. This is where a non-academic industry or business partners with a university to offer additional training and resources that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

Studying an iCASE PhD

Typically, the research project is developed between a university in an existing MRC DTP and an industrial partner. Such projects tend to focus more on potential commercial outcomes.

You will need to spend at least 3 cumulative months working within the facilities of the collaborator. Because of this, MRC iCASE students won’t normally complete lab rotations at the start of their PhD.

You will receive the same MRC funding for your PhD, but your industrial collaborator may cover additional costs for your research / equipment.

Although you may not follow the same programme structure, you are still part of the DTP cohort and will be able to access its training, workshops and symposiums.

MRC iCASE opportunities for 2023

iCASE studentships are usually awarded by universities in a DTP. You apply for an iCASE project through individual universities.

The best way to find an iCASE studentship is to check the details for the DTPs listed above, or search for advertised opportunities.

MRC Integrative Toxicology Training Partnership (ITTP)

Set up in partnership between academia, industry and government, ITTP studentships seek to build expertise in Toxicology and related subjects.

The two main aims are to: develop drugs, chemicals and consumer products and to improve risk assessment of risk to health resulting from environmental exposure. The ITTP is funded as part of an MRC investment in the Toxicology Unit (based at the University of Cambridge).

The Toxicology Unit is one of the MRC’s Institutes, Units and Centres which are led by an assigned expert scientific director to promote novel high-risk approaches to develop innovative methodology and technology.

You will study your PhD within the Toxicology unit and includes training opportunities to encourage development of academic research skills. As with other studentships, you will gain experience in written and oral presentation of your work, as well as toxicology-specific training.

MRC institutes, units and centres

In addition to the Toxicology Unit, the MRC funds several other named institutes, units and centres. These often exist within universities, or in close partnership with them, but carry out more specific research to a remit set directly by the MRC.

Some institutes, units and centres are set up through partnerships between the MRC and other medical research organisations. One of the flagship examples of this format is the Francis Crick Institute, set up by the MRC alongside the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and three colleges of the University of London.

There are over 40 different MRC institutes, units and centres . Many offer their own PhD training and funding opportunities.

Eligibility

Student eligibility for MRC PhD funding follows the same criteria as the other UKRI research councils.

Residency (and funding amounts)

• UK students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years will be eligible for a full studentship (covering fees and including the doctoral stipend).
• International students are also eligible for a full award. However, only 30% of the total number of awards available at a university may go to international students.
• EU students may be eligible for UKRI funding on the same terms as UK students if they have settled status in the UK or applied to the EU Settlement Scheme prior to 30 June 2021. EU students who arrive in the UK for a PhD from 2021-22 onwards may apply as international students.
• Irish students are eligible for UKRI finding on the same terms as UK students as part of the Common Travel Area .

Academic requirements

MRC-funded studentships are competitively awarded to the best applicants for each project.

The MRC expects applicants to hold a qualification at the level of a ‘good honours’ degree, usually a first or upper second (2.1) in a relevant BSc subject.

Having a Masters degree is not always necessary, as you will receive equivalent training during your first year, but an MSc or MRes may help offset a lower honours grade (2.2).

It is always a good idea to tailor your application for MRC funding, so check the background for each project and pay close attention to its specifications.

Working during a MRC studentship

Students in full-time work are not eligible for full MRC funding. If you are receiving a full studentship, the stipend should be enough for you to live off of.

You are allowed to work part-time. However, students in part-time work may only be eligible for a part-time award. After all, your PhD project is a substantial time commitment and has a large workload, particularly in medical subjects.

You cannot combine MRC funding with a PhD loan (or any other form of government funding).

Applications

Applications are not made directly to the MRC but to the research organisations that will host your PhD . These can be found on specific DTP websites, on the university websites or here on FindAPhD.

Advertised projects

Most MRC projects have a pre-defined project aim (such as an iCASE project). Applying for these PhD opportunities is a lot like applying for a job: you must demonstrate that you meet the requirements outlined in the project advertisement and will be a good fit for the position.

However, some MRC DTPs offer more flexible scholarships where you will spend the first year doing lab rotations after which you will submit a research proposal . There are a set number of scholarships and students are accepted on a competitive basis.

It is unlikely that a university (or other institution) will provide MRC funding to a student who has designed and proposed their project completely independently.

Application process

To apply for an MRC scholarship, you first need to find an advertised opportunity at a DTP or other institute with funding. Once you have found one you would like to apply for, you should read the description and prepare the necessary application materials.

You will usually need to include a personal statement (providing information on your academic background, experience and research interests), covering letter (demonstrating your suitability and your interest in the project) and CV with appropriate referees .

If your application is successful, you will then be invited for a PhD interview and given the opportunity to discuss the PhD with you in more detail.

Application deadlines

DTPs usually start advertising MRC studentships around September / October for the following autumn semester.

Here are the application deadlines for PhD studentships at MRC DTPs for projects beginning in the 2023-24 academic year:

• Cambridge – 5 December 2023
• DiMeN – 17 December 2023
• GW4 – 1 November 2023
• Imperial College London – 16 November 2023
• IMPACT – tbc
• Institute of Cancer Research – tbc
• King's College London – 8 November 2023
• LSTM – 9 February 2024
• London Intercollegiate – 16 January 2024
• Manchester – 10 November 2023
• MMB (East Anglia) – Deadlines vary depending on the project
• Oxford – 1 December 2023
• Precision Medicine – 15 January 2024
• Translational Immunology, Inflammation and Cancer – 14 January 2024
• Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP) – 15 January 2024
• UCL-Birkbeck – 8 January 2024
• Warwick – 4 December 2023

The deadline for ITTP PhDs is 3 December 2021.

These are the deadlines for PhDs starting in October 2022 You can use them to get an idea of the deadlines for 2023 but they may change. You can sign up for our free PhD newsletter to stay up to date on new project advertisements and we’ll email you each week with updates.

MRC funding application tips

Applications for MRC funding are competitive. Here are some tips:

• Find out about potential supervisors – If you are applying to a DTP with rotations then you most likely will need to select some potential supervisors. It’s worth finding out what their research interests are so you apply to the ones that you also find interesting.
• Time to prepare – Application deadlines for the MRC are earlier than most other research councils so it’s important to make sure you have enough time to research the programmes and research areas.
• Make sure your CV is up to date – Having an up to date CV is critical for your PhD application. Also make sure its tailored towards a PhD with the MRC showing relevant research interests and extra-curricular activities.
• Choose good referees – References can be essential to your application. You should think carefully about who your referees will be and notify them that you intend on adding them to application. That way, your reference doesn’t get forgotten about.

Most DTPs will provide an expected timeline on when you should hear back about your application, when interviews are expected to take place and when successful candidates will be notified.

Search for MRC PhD funding

MRC projects can be found on the DTP and iTTP websites, or can be easily found here on FindAPhD. Also if you subscribe to our newsletter , you will be the first to hear about new listings and opportunities.

Further information

Check the MRC and UKRI websites for additional funding details.

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