Get a studentship to fund your doctorate (2024)

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
  • fieldwork
  • 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.

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate (2024)

FAQs

How do I get my PhD funded? ›

Universities usually have funding of their own to offer potential PhD students. This might take the form of a small fee discount (often for alumni) or limited grant for living costs. Or it might be a full studentship funded out of the university's own research budget.

How do you fund a doctorate degree? ›

7 Ways To Pay For a Ph. D.
  1. Fully Funded Ph.D. Programs. ...
  2. Ph. D. ...
  3. Doctoral Scholarships. Scholarships are available to Ph. ...
  4. Ph. D. ...
  5. Employer Reimbursem*nt. If you're currently working full- or part-time, your employer may be willing to help with some of your education expenses. ...
  6. Federal Student Loans. ...
  7. Private Student Loans.
Jan 25, 2024

Can you get a PhD fully funded? ›

It's possible to find fully funded PhD programs across a variety of subjects at many different schools. From a PhD in biological sciences at Harvard to education at Stanford to nursing at Duke, fully funded PhD programs cover an array of study areas.

How hard is it to get a PhD studentship? ›

How do you get a PhD studentship? PhD studentships are very competitive. They require excellent academic achievements and often have specific eligibility criteria. There will be a lot for prospective studentship candidates to research, so it's important that you start this process as early as possible.

How much does it cost to self fund a PhD? ›

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.

What is a PhD stipend? ›

PhD Stipends

In exchange, they're usually offered a stipend — a fixed sum of money paid as a salary — to cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. How much you get as a stipend depends on your university, but the range for PhD stipends is usually between $20,000 - $30,000 per year.

How do PhD students survive financially? ›

Fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and campus based research jobs can be quite helpful in covering tuition, and even room and board.

What is the difference between a doctorate and a PhD? ›

A PhD is an academic degree focused on original research, data analysis, and the evaluation of theory. A professional doctorate focuses on applying research to practical problems, formulating solutions to complex issues, and designing effective professional practices within your field.

Which university pays most for PhD? ›

Which Universities Offer The Highest Phd Stipend In USA?
  • Stanford: At Stanford University, PhD students are at the top, with a whopping $45,850 stipend, the highest PhD stipend, making it a dream for many. ...
  • Princeton: Princeton University isn't far behind, offering its graduate students between $47,880 to $50,400.
Jan 30, 2024

Can I study PhD in USA for free? ›

The Fully-funded Ph. D. programs in the USA cover various programs such as studentships, scholarships, and grant and bursaries programs. Some American universities offer fully-funded doctoral projects as well.

How much is Harvard PhD stipend? ›

All students receive full tuition and stipend support while they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward the Ph. D. degree. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the stipend support is $45,696 or $3,808 per month.

Is PhD at Harvard fully funded? ›

Harvard guarantees full financial support to PhD students—including tuition, health fees, and basic living expenses—for a minimum of five years.

How old is the average PhD student? ›

The age at which most people receive their PhD varies from person to person, but typically falls between the mid-twenties and early thirties. The average age for a PhD recipient is approximately thirty-one and a half years old. Of course, there are some who complete their PhD much earlier or later than this.

What is the hardest degree to get a PhD in? ›

Some of the most difficult PhD programs include those in the fields of mathematics, physics, and engineering. These programs require a high level of mathematical and analytical skills, as well as a strong ability to think abstractly and creatively.

What is the minimum GPA PhD? ›

With GPA, it is recommended that students have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and around a 3.5 discipline-specific GPA to remain competitive for Ph. D.

How long does funded PhD take? ›

PhDs at a glance

Involves three or four years of full-time study, or up to seven part time. Typically undertaken after achieving a Masters degree. Can either be funded or self-funded.

How much does it cost to do PhD? ›

The cost of a PhD in the UK is generally anywhere from £15,000 to £35,000 for annual PhD tuition fees. To help you budget, this article will cover all the variable factors before covering several potential finance options which can help you to fund your studying in the UK.

Is PhD worth getting? ›

Reputation Building. Jokes aside, earning a PhD earns you credibility. Employers, whether within academia or off-campus, understand the discipline, knowledge, and tenacity required to complete a doctoral program. In most cases, completing a PhD program is enough for others in your field to consider you an expert.

Can you do a PhD without a Masters? ›

There was no real need to successfully gain a Master's degree before embarking on this mammoth task of empirical research. Whilst some undergraduate degrees still lead to a Master's qualification, and many people still complete Master degrees, it is possible to do a PhD without a Masters degree.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6452

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.