fully funded phd programs uk

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• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

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

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

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

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

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

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

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

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

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

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube .

Can you be a researcher? Professor Bhavik Patel reassures applicants of all backgrounds that they can study for a PhD and aim for a research career. 

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

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

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

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

What does PhD funding include?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

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

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

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

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

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

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

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

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

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

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

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

The Gen Foundation

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

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

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

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

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

The Open Society Foundations

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

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

International Education and Financial Aid

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

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

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

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

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

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

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

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

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

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

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

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

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

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

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

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

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

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

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

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

The Inlaks India Foundation

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

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

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

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

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

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

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

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

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

Saudi Arabia

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

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

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

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

• Postgraduate
• PhD and Professional Doctorates

PhD opportunities

Fully funded phd studentships.

Our mission is to create lasting, meaningful change throughout the world, and with our funded PhD studentships, your research can be a key part of us achieving that goal.

What is a studentship?

A studentship is like a scholarship but for a research degree at the university, helping to fund your research project. Finance shouldn’t be a barrier to delivering world-leading research, that's why we run an annual fully funded PhD studentship competition, to recruit talented researchers from across the world.

Doctoral research that encourages change and produces real-world impacts is more important than ever. A doctoral degree is more than just a thesis: it is an opportunity to realise your potential as a researcher, to develop your passion and knowledge in a community that values progress. Get support for your research with a NTU Studentship.

Applications for our 2024 studentships have now closed. The scheme usually opens in October. Sign up for emails to be notified of the next release and to keep up to date with research funding.

Discover our PhD opportunities that drive innovation and delivers real-world impact. Browse our PhD projects, or submit your own proposal.

Professional Doctorates

Make an impact with world-leading and award-winning research at Nottingham Trent University.

PhD fees and funding

Find out more about the fees and funding options available for research study at Nottingham Trent University.

How to apply for a PhD

Everything you need to know about applying to study at the NTU Doctoral School.

Re:shaping re:search - why join NTU?

With world-class facilities, dedicated doctoral support, and a growing portfolio of interdisciplinary and collaborative research programmes — all delivered alongside our worldwide family of academic and industry partners — NTU is the place to truly re:alise your potential.

We offer a unique Doctoral Education, Training and Development programme to support the growth of all our doctoral candidates, in everything from academic writing and academic software to healthy research practices. We support our candidates throughout their doctoral journey, enabling them to reach their potential as experts in their field.

As a two-time recipient of the Queens Anniversary Prize — the most prestigious national award for research outputs — 86% of our work has been judged as ‘world-leading’or ‘internationally excellent.’* We want to continue building this reputation for research excellence by taking a themed approach to addressing the world’s most pressing problems — the key questions that span business, the arts, science, sustainability, healthcare, politics, and the environment. We’re calling this new approach Re:search Re:imagined

* Latest data, Research Excellence Framework 2021

A diverse community

We’re committed to removing barriers to doctoral education — an ambition reflected in the award of joint funding to improve access and participation for black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in PGR study. Our Doctoral School is a diverse and highly inclusive community; it enables its members to become confident, skilled researchers, regardless of their backgrounds.

Join us to help fulfil our boldest ambitions — to value ideas, create opportunities, embrace sustainability, empower people, enrich society, and connect on a global scale. We believe in applied, meaningful research that delivers better answers. Be part of a community that champions your voice and experience.

By breaking down the financial barriers to PhD study, our fully funded studentships ensure you’ll have the freedom and confidence to deliver the kind of research that truly matters.

Re:searchers Re:vealed

Here at NTU, our researchers come from a variety of backgrounds, and they all have a powerful story to tell. In this series, we share their stories.

Choose start date: Start date: September 2025 Duration: Five to six years Deadline: 2 December 2024 Fee: Fully funded Location: London, UK Admissions Funding and scholarships

A fully-funded PhD for aspiring scholars seeking an academic career 

We believe that rigorous academic analysis can provide practical solutions to complex problems in society. Our fully-funded PhD programme provides students with the opportunity to conduct their own research in a world-leading university, finding solutions to key challenges in modern business. As a Business School, we rank first in the UK for research environment and second for management and business students, while Imperial College London ranks first in the UK overall for research (REF 2021). 

Starting with a one or two-year Master’s in Research (MRes), depending on your chosen research area, you will gain a strong theoretical grounding and thorough research training to prepare you for the PhD. As a doctoral student you will have the benefit of supervision from leading world scholars. You will develop the expertise and research skills necessary to pursue a career in academia with previous Imperial doctoral graduates finding success in other leading universities such as Copenhagen Business School, Tsinghua University, University of Amsterdam, University College London, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

97% world-leading or internationally excellent research (REF 2021) #1 in the UK for research (Imperial College London, REF 2021) 1% top one per cent of business schools worldwide to have achieved triple accreditation 6 research areas Explore the programme

Advance your academic success at a world class research institution

2nd in the world (Imperial College London, QS World University Rankings 2025)

3rd in Europe (Imperial College London, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024)

#1 city for students (London, QS Best Student City Rankings 2024)

Build your career with our global reputation

With particular expertise in finance, entrepreneurship, health, and sustainable business, the Business School is recognised as leading the field. Benefit from strong industry partnerships and a diverse alumni network. 

A fully-funded programme

Every student on our Doctoral programme is offered full funding, including a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years. Funding for a 6th year can be considered on a case-by-case basis, with the potential to undertake a teaching or research assistant studentship with one of the Business Schools research centres.  

World-class faculty

Our internationally admired faculty are leaders in their respective fields, bringing a wealth of experience and academic distinction. They are deeply invested in developing the research interests of our PhD students, fostering an environment of intellectual growth and innovation. 

Impact on industry

Working closely with businesses and governments, we drive policy and practice through inspiring collaboration and research excellence, giving you the opportunity to observe the impact of research on business and society. 

Inspiring intellectual community

Engage with a diverse cohort of fellow PhD students and researchers, creating an inspiring and collaborative environment that encourages intellectual development and professional connections. 

Programme content

The Business School Master’s in Research (MRes) is an integral part of the PhD, introducing theory and research methods in Finance, Economics and Management, providing you with a solid foundation for your doctoral studies. Depending on the research area you choose to specialise in, you will embark on a one or two-year MRes programme as shown below. 

*Please note programme content is subject to change. The modules mentioned below are just a sample of what is available in the programme.

Systematic Reviews

When starting new research, the first step is usually a literature review: scanning what is already known about a given topic and figuring out where the gaps are. However, novice researchers tend to be anything but systematic in their literature review: they have no method for scanning the literature, and they usually have little idea of what is relevant and what is not. The Systematic Review method opens a way to create research syntheses that add real value and novel insight – in a way that is potentially publishable in its own right.

Data Analysis Tools

This module covers: Probability: Inequalities and Entropy, Laws of Large Numbers, Normal Distribution, MGFs and Characteristic Functions, CLT, linear regression and least squares; Linear Algebra: Eigenvalues/Eigenvectors, PCA; Optimal Control: Value Functions and the Bellman Equation, Cross- Equation Restrictions.

Elective modules

After your required introductory modules, you will choose elective modules. In addition to the electives offered within the Business School as part of the MRes programme, you may elect to take a module from another department within Imperial, or at one of our partner institutions, subject to availability.

Advanced Topics in Organisational Behaviour

Applied Microeconometrics 1

Applied Microeconometrics 2

Asset Pricing Theory

Corporate Finance

Corporate Sustainability

Consumer Behaviour

Decision Making Under Uncertainty

Digital Marketing Analytics

Econometrics 1

Econometrics 2

Empirical Asset Pricing

Empirical Corporate Finance

Entrepreneurship

Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability

Healthcare & Medical Analytics

Industrial Organisation

Innovation Management

Interdisciplinary Research

Logistics & Supply Chain Analytics

Machine Learning for Analytics

Machine Learning in Economic Analysis

Macroeconomics

Macro-Finance

Micro Development Economics

Microeconomics 2

Microeconomics 1

Optimisation

Optimisation & Decision Models

Organisational Behaviour

Organisational Theory

Qualitative Methods 1

Qualitative Methods 2

Quantitative Methods 1

Readings in Digital Business 

Readings in Social Networks: Social Capital

Retail & Marketing Analytics

Social Data Science

Social Network Analysis

Special Topics in Organisational Theory and Strategy

Stochastic Processes

Sustainable Behaviour

Topics in Empirical Banking

*These modules are available subject to capacity and timetabling constraints in other faculties and are differently weighted to the MRes Business electives

Research Project

You will develop your own research project, which is assessed via submission of a written thesis and an oral examination.

Year one compulsory modules for Economics and Public Policy pathway

Applied Microeconometrics  - This module will provide an introduction to the practice of applied microeconometrics. Students will learn the standard empirical methods in current use by applied researchers and be exposed to a handful of frontier approaches. The focus will be on implementation beyond simply estimating a parameter of interest: getting the standard errors right, validation and conducting appropriate robustness exercises, and adapting methods to fit new contexts.

Econometrics I  - The module has the objective to provide the students with econometric tools necessary to conduct their empirical research and discuss fundamentals of econometric theory behind them. Students will learn how to conduct - and how to critique - empirical studies in finance, economics and related fields.

Empirical Industrial Organisation - This module enables you to answer counterfactual economic questions based on structural modeling and estimation. 

Macroeconomics I -  The course will focus on building a strong foundation in macroeconomic theory, particularly in analysing dynamic optimization problems. These techniques will be applied to a wide range of models to deepen students' understanding of topics like business cycles, long run growth, unemployment, and inequality. 

Macroeconomics II  - This course covers research issues that arise in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance. Topics include portfolio choice, general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and dynamic asset pricing models.

Microeconomics I  - The module covers the main tools of microeconomic theory and focuses on preferences, consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, producer theory, and game theory. Time permitting, it introduces general equilibrium in competitive markets. The emphasis is on economic intuition as well as techniques. The fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory are discussed.

Microeconomics II  -   This module covers competitive equilibrium, markets with imperfect, competition and asymmetric information, general equilibrium, Social choice and mechanism design

Research Experience  – This module is intended to give students practical experience of research preparation for their dissertation the following year.  They will undertake research tasks under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the faculty member.  Students can select those projects that fit their research interests.

Year one compulsory modules for Finance pathway

Applied Microeconometrics   - This module will provide an introduction to the practice of applied microeconometrics. Students will learn the standard empirical methods in current use by applied researchers and be exposed to a handful of frontier approaches. The focus will be on implementation beyond simply estimating a parameter of interest: getting the standard errors right, validation and conducting appropriate robustness exercises, and adapting methods to fit new contexts.

Econometrics I  - The module has the objective to provide the students with econometric tools necessary to conduct their empirical research and discuss fundamentals of econometric theory behind them. Students will learn how to conduct - and how to critique - empirical studies in finance, economics and related fields.

Macroeconomics I - The course will focus on building a strong foundation in macroeconomic theory, particularly in analysing dynamic optimization problems. These techniques will be applied to a wide range of models to deepen students' understanding of topics like business cycles, long run growth, unemployment, and inequality. 

Macroeconomics   II  - This course covers research issues that arise in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance. Topics include portfolio choice, general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and dynamic asset pricing models.

Microeconomics I  - The module covers the main tools of microeconomic theory and focuses on preferences, consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, producer theory, and game theory. Time permitting, it introduces general equilibrium in competitive markets. The emphasis is on economic intuition as well as techniques. The fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory are discussed.

Corporate Finance  - This module is taught in two parts, starting with a historical background, and then considering the theory of investment decisions, capital structure, financial innovation, and corporate governance.

Asset Pricing Theory  - The first part of this module deals with representative investors, portfolio choice and dynamic securities markets in discrete time before covering portfolio choice in continuous time and option pricing. The second part starts from the asset pricing implications of a general equilibrium Lucas-tree economy. Then, it discusses the main asset pricing puzzles implied by these economies. Finally, we will explore optimal portfolio choice, multiple trees economies and some of the latest attempts in the asset pricing literature to solve some of these puzzles.

Research Experience  - This module is intended to give students practical experience of research preparation for their dissertation the following year.  They will undertake research tasks under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the faculty member.  Students can select those projects that fit their research interests.

Year one compulsory modules for Management and Entrepreneurship pathway

Introduction to the Practice of Research  - This module will introduce you to the craft of research. You will develop the skills and knowledge you need to effectively produce research questions and hypotheses, ensuring consistency between theory, research design, methods and measures, and developing a clear and compelling argument.

Qualitative Methods I  - This module covers research methods required in qualitative research. You will develop skills in all aspects of the research process, including research design, data collection, data analysis, theory building, writing up as well as reviewing papers and responding to referees. The module is essential for those who wish to author qualitative research but will also be useful for quantitative researchers.

Quantitative Methods I  - This module provides an overview of the primary quantitative methods employed in management research. It will enable you to develop the ability to interpret the results of your own research as well as to critically assess the findings presented in other studies. The emphasis will be on the practical application of different estimation models using STATA rather than on the econometrics and mathematical specification.

Organisational Behaviour  - In this module you will be introduced to a selection of most seminal papers in organisational behaviour with a particular focus on classic and contemporary theories, ongoing controversies, and ground-breaking empirical studies. The emphasis is on providing a foundational overview of the field.

Organisational Theory  - This module will expose you to the major theoretical perspectives and issues studied in organisation theory research. You will also be exposed to a set of approaches to understanding how and why organisations form, survive and grow.

Strategy  - In this module you will develop the fundamentals of strategy including the theories of competitive advantage, industry analysis, understanding of resource based view/knowledge based view, and corporate strategy.

Innovation Management  - This module will offer a thorough theoretical understanding of the key themes of innovation research, combined with practical insights into the challenges of innovation management in organisations. You will address topics ranging from technological change, creativity, the role of networks in innovation, and appropriability/value capture from innovation.

Entrepreneurship  - This module introduces students to the major theoretical threads and debates in the field of entrepreneurship. Students will learn to make connections between theory and empirical research, practice critiquing and identifying insight in research, engage with fundamental debates in the field and formulate directions how the field may be further advanced.

Elective modules for Economics and Public Policy pathway

Corporate Sustainability 

Machine Learning for Analytics, Marketing and Operations

Machine Learning in Economics Analysis

Qualitative Methods I

Qualitative Methods II

Stochastic Processes 

Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics

Topics in Health Economics

Topics in Household Finance

Elective modules for Finance pathway

Advanced Financial Statistics

Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies

Big Data in Finance I

Big Data in Finance II

Empirical Industrial Organisation

Innovation Management 

Macroeconomics 

Microeconomics I

Microeconomics II

Quantitative Methods I

Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics 

Elective modules for Management and Entrepreneurship pathway

Macroeconomics 1

Macroeconomics 2

Readings in Digital Business

Text Mining for Economics and Finance

During the second year, you will work on your MRes project which is formally assessed through project submission and an oral examination, and counts towards the overall MRes mark. You will submit your proposed Research Project title and a brief outline in early October of your second year followed by a progress report in early March, outlining your progress to date with the thesis. During the Summer term, students will submit their MRes dissertation. This will be followed by an oral exam.

Further specialist training

It is expected that you will undertake further training where you will delve deeper into your chosen field. Under the guidance of your supervisor, you will develop a training plan to identify which courses may be the most suitable for your training, whether at Imperial or externally. You will have the opportunity to give seminars on your research for constructive feedback and development.

Research plan 

When you begin the PhD you will choose a primary and secondary supervisor, based on your research interests. The supervisor-student relationship is the foundation for a successful doctoral thesis as your supervisor will help you develop your research question, identify research and teaching opportunities and support you through your studies and the academic job application process.

Early Stage Assessment 

The Early Stage Assessment (ESA) takes place in year one of the PhD and is assessed by a panel of faculty. The ESA outlines the research question, the work you have done to date and the future research activities to be carried out to complete the project. It comprises a written paper and a presentation to which all Doctoral students and research department faculty are invited. The purpose of the ESA is not only to assess your personal progress but it also gives you the opportunity to discuss your work at its early stages and get feedback and ideas from faculty to improve your research.

Armed with feedback from the Early Stage Assessment, you will work intensely on your thesis, focusing on the collection and analysis of empirical data and developing theoretical frameworks. Under the guidance of your supervisors, the thesis gives you the opportunity to conduct a substantial piece of original research. 

Seminars and conferences

Being part of the School’s inspirational research community is a crucial aspect of the doctoral experience – as is gaining familiarity with cutting-edge research from world-leading academics. Each department runs seminars where internal and external academics discuss their latest work. As well as providing insight into yet-to-be-published research, the seminars offer networking opportunities and visiting academics often lead special topic workshops for research students. The Doctoral programme also supports the participation of research students in international conferences where you can present your own research and participate in doctoral consortia.

Late stage review

The Late Stage Review takes place in year two of the PhD and follows the same principle as the Early Stage Assessment, in that its purpose is to assess your progress and provide you with feedback and advice on the direction and scope of your research.

Academic Job Market

You will also work on developing and polishing your Job Market Paper. You will have the opportunity to participate in workshops alongside support from your supervisors and faculty to help you be internationally competitive.

Our research areas

What our students say

“The programme structure is different from many other business schools because during the first year at Imperial we study the Master’s of Research (MRes), which is focused on developing strong foundations before continuing to the PhD programme. This also gives us additional time to discover opportunities and find the right paths for our research.”

Class profile 2023

75 students

48% female students

20 nationalities represented

Funding and scholarships

Request a brochure, career impact.

In recent years, our PhD students have joined leading universities, research centres and institutions such as Tsinghua University, University College London, Copenhagen Business School, the Bank of England, the University of Bath, King’s College London, National Chengchi University, the University of Sussex and Renmin University in China. Others have sought top positions in industry or founded successful start-ups.

The doctoral programme has been re-structured in recent years to focus more on academic development and it is anticipated that over the coming years placements will focus more on academia than industry.

Find out more about career outcomes

Meet your faculty

Our PhD programme provides close collaboration between leading Analytics & Operations faculty and doctoral students, developing your research interests and providing continuous support and guidance throughout the programme.  

Alexander Michaelides

Kalyan Talluri

Wolfram Wiesemann

Edward Anderson

Martin Haugh

Xiaocheng Li

Reza Skandari

Jiankun Sun

Carol Propper

Franco Sassi

Jonathan Haskel

Marisa Miraldo

Richard Green

Pedro Rosa Dias

Esther Bøler

Franklin Allen

Patrick Bolton

Ramana Nanda

Lara Cathcart

Enrico Biffis

Christopher Hansman

Clara Martinez-Toledano

Alan Hughes

Celia Moore

Markus Perkmann

Christopher Tucci

James Barlow

Ileana Stigliani

Mark Kennedy

James Eteen

Eduardo B. Andrade

Andreas Eisingerich

Rajesh Bhargave

Sven Mikolon

Michelle Rogan

Frequently asked questions, how long does it take to complete the doctoral programme.

The Doctoral programme is structured to take between four to six years full-time. In the first year, all students undertake a one or two year MRes programme depending on their chosen research area specialism. Subject to satisfactory academic progress, students then progress to the PhD which takes between 3-4 years.

When does the academic year start?

The Doctoral programme has one intake each year in September and is spread over four to six years.

Do you offer any distance learning or part-time research programmes?

It is not possible to enrol on the Doctoral programme on a part-time or distance learning basis. Students must be in attendance throughout the full period of study.

Can I transfer from my current Doctoral programme to Imperial College Business School's Doctoral programme?

It is not usually possible to transfer onto the Doctoral programme as it is unlikely that previous studies would perfectly overlap with the School’s expertise.

Can I come to Imperial College Business School as a visiting student?

Please visit Imperial College London's visiting students page .

Can I have a part-time job whilst enrolled in the programme?

The Doctoral programme is full time. Students are able to undertake part-time work if this does not break any relevant visa and/or scholarship conditions, however the programme offers a living stipend to support students during their studies.

How many students do you accept onto the Doctoral programme every year?

Admission onto the Doctoral programme is highly competitive as we accept around 15 students each year, from a total of approximately 200 applications.

Is there a workspace assigned to Doctoral students?

There is a designated workspace which includes a computer and relevant software assigned to all enrolled Doctoral students. You will share working space with other PhD students in your cohort.

How do I apply and what documents do I need to submit with my application?

All applications to the Doctoral programme are made via our online platform. You will either need to select 'Business (MRes 1YFT)' or 'Business (MRes 2YFT)' based on your research area of interest. Further information can be found on our  Doctoral programme page.

Please refer to the  How to apply page  to see application deadlines, what documents you are required to submit with your application and to view the selection process.

When is the application deadline?

To find out more about application deadlines for our Doctoral programme please  visit the How to apply page .

What do I need to include in my statement of purpose?

One of the most important parts of our application form is the ‘statement of purpose’ section. It should be no more than one or two A4 pages and should cover the following points:

Your motivation for undertaking the programme

A discussion of possible research areas that you might pursue and how these are a good fit for Imperial College Business School

What interests you most about your chosen field of study

Relevant past study, industry, or research projects

Long-term career goals

I haven't decided what area I want to specialise in for my PhD, what should I do?

You should browse the description of the different research groups in the Business School and the webpages of faculty members. This will give an overview of their research interests and current projects. The MRes gives you an opportunity to pursue potential interests through courses and a project prior to committing to the PhD

Do I need a willing supervisor prior to application?

No, although in your application you should list a member of  faculty  you have identified as a potential supervisor. You can demonstrate in your statement of purpose how your research interests are aligned to a potential supervisor and the Business School.

Checking the research profiles of faculty members and Business School projects will give you an indication of whether the Business School is a good fit for you. If no faculty are working in your area of interest it is unlikely that you would be shortlisted, as we may not be able to provide supervisory support during your PhD.

During the MRes year, you will become part of the research community at Imperial College Business School and interact with faculty and other PhD students during taught courses and at seminars, which we hope will influence and help shape your research ideas for the PhD.

Are all applicants interviewed?

Not all applications progress to the interview stage of the selection process, however we interview all shortlisted candidates before making an offer. In the case of overseas candidates we will arrange an interview by telephone or via Skype.

Is GMAT/GRE a compulsory requirement?

Yes. A GMAT/GRE score must be submitted before we will consider an application. Any applications submitted without a GMAT/GRE score will be considered incomplete until we receive a score. Please note that we do not make offers on the condition that a candidate achieves a satisfactory GMAT/GRE score. To see the GMAT/GRE scores we look for, please refer to the  Entry Requirements page .

Do you offer Doctoral funding and stipend?

We offer a fully funded Doctoral programme at Imperial College Business School – this includes a tuition fee waiver and a stipend for up to five years. The 2024-25 rate of the Graduate Teaching Assistant scholarship stipend is £25,000. Rates are reviewed annually and are expected to increase for 2025-26 in line with Research Council UK rates. Stipends are tax-free and the continuation of the stipend will depend on your satisfactory progress on the programme.

What living costs should I allow for in London?

Living costs vary considerably depending on the area of London you choose to live in and your choice of accommodation.

Read more about  estimated London living costs  and  accommodation for postgraduates .

Do you offer Doctoral scholarships?

Within Imperial, we also have funding opportunities from various external studentships, including EPSRC, ESRC, and the Imperial College President’s PhD Scholarships .

Students who are eligible for other PhD  funding opportunities  that may be available to them are expected to apply for them.

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PhD Education / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 20 January 2025.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2025 entry: 30 June 2025

Programme options

Programme overview

• 2nd in the UK for Education (Complete University Guide 2024).  
• The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK for Education research (overall GPA, REF2021).
• Learn with research-active experts in the field of education and work with highly diverse cohorts of students and staff.
• Contribute to improvements in the overall wellbeing of students, their families and communities throughout the world through research.

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

Register for your session here.

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

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £3,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Your fees will cover the cost of your study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation (excluding graduation robe hire).

Payment of tuition fees will also entitle you to membership of The University of Manchester library, the Students' Union and the Athletic Union.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Environment, Education and Development studentships is 20 January 2025.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

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

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

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

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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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PhD studentships

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

Who awards PhD studentships?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How much can I receive?

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

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

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

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

Is my programme eligible for a PhD studentship?

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

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

Am I eligible?

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

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

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

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can improve your chances of success by:

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

What other PhD funding is available?

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

• crowdfunding
• employer sponsorship
• PhD loans .

Find out more

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

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Ph.D Scholarships UK - Ph.D Funding UK 2024-2025

If you want to take your Ph.D program in UK but you need financial support, below is a list of available Ph.D scholarships for International students in UK  2024-2025. These Ph.D grants uk are made available by universities in UK

• Fully funded

University of Birmingham The Kennedy Trust MB-PhD Programme

The Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research was founded in 1965 with a mission to achieve a meaningful impact on the development of cures and preventative treatment for musculoskeletal and inflammatory diseases. Mindful of the importance of clinician scientists and the key role they play i

Published: 2024-09-23 Type: PhD Study in: Birmingham Deadline: January 24, 2025

• Imperial College London President's PhD scholarships 2025 (Full funded)

If you are a high performing undergraduate or Master's student and have a strong desire to undertake a PhD programme at a world-class research institution, a President's PhD Scholarship could provide you with the outstanding opportunity to receive full funding for tuition fees and

Published: 2024-09-19 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: November 1, 2024

Imperial College London PhD Scholarship for International Students 2025

The President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London provide an outstanding opportunity for high-performing undergraduate or Master’s students to receive full funding for a 3.5-year PhD program at a world-class research institution. The scholarship allows recipients to undertake a

Published: 2024-09-19 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: November 4, 2024

University of Oxford Croucher Scholarships 2025

The University of Oxford Croucher Scholarships fund academically excellent students who are permanent residents of Hong Kong to study a DPhil course in a subject linked to the natural sciences, technology or medicine at Oxford. The scheme is jointly funded by the Croucher Foundation and the

Published: 2024-09-11 Type: PhD Study in: Oxford Deadline: November 30, -0001

• University of Exeter PhD Scholarship 2024

The University of Exeter’s Department of Engineering invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship starting on 23 September 2024. The studentship covers Home or International tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend of at least £19,237 for 3.5 years of full-time, or

Published: 2024-09-11 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: September 30, 2024

university of Birmingham 2024 PhD Scholarships in the School of Computer Science

The School of Computer Science has a number of fully funded scholarships for our PhD in Computer Science.  

Published: 2024-08-28 Type: PhD Study in: Birmingham Deadline: Not Specified

University of Aberdeen 2024 Margaret Carlaw - Music PhD Scholarship

Applications are invited for a scholarship from graduates with a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree in Music, or an equivalent qualification, undertaking full-time PhD studies within the Department of Music at the University of Aberdeen beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. Applicants star

Published: 2024-07-26 Type: PhD Study in: Aberdeen Deadline: August 23, 2024

University of Aberdeen 2024 Croom Robertson Scholarships

Candidates must study full-time on-campus. The scholarships will be awarded on the strength of candidates’ overall profiles as presented in their PhD applications including academic and/or professional achievement, research proposal, and letters of reference. The value of each scholarship i

Published: 2024-07-24 Type: PhD Study in: Aberdeen Deadline: August 16, 2024

Royal Geographical Society Postgraduate Research Awards in UK 2025

The RGS-IBG Postgraduate Research Awards were established in 2008 to support PhD students undertaking research and fieldwork. Applicants must be registered at a UK Higher Education Institution. Preference is given to students who do not receive full funding from a research council, university or com

Published: 2024-07-11 Type: PhD Deadline: November 23, 2024

Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)

Pursue your studies in London, UK. Good news! Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship is currently open. In this article, we will explain this scholarship, its benefits, and the step-by-step application process in detail. Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship

Published: 2024-07-04 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: Not Specified

University of Glasgow MRes/PhD in Economics Studentship 2024

The Adam Smith Business School offers a prestigious combined MRes/PhD training scheme in Economics. It starts with the 2 years MRes programme. Candidates who complete the MRes at a sufficiently high level will be given priority for admission into the 3-4 years PhD stage. The University of Glasgow

Published: 2024-07-01 Type: PhD Study in: Glasgow Deadline: July 1, 2024

2024 MRes/PhD in Economics Studentship at University of Glasgow

Published: 2024-06-28 Type: PhD Study in: Glasgow Value: £15,245 Deadline: July 1, 2024

University Of Birmingham PhD Scholarship for Black British Researchers 2024

The PhD will provide a unique opportunity to engage with an under-researched collection of African art at the University of Birmingham (UoB), a discrete collection that is part of Research and Cultural Collections (RCC) - a university museum holding full Museum Accredited status from Arts Council En

Published: 2024-04-02 Type: PhD Study in: Birmingham Deadline: Not Specified

City Law School PhD Law Scholarships for Black British Researchers 2024

The City Law School is offering a full-time, three-year doctoral scholarships (entry in September 2024) specifically addressed to Black British applicants. Applications are invited from exceptional and ambitious graduates wishing to pursue cutting-edge research in any of the School's key rese

Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: April 1, 2024

University of Sussex Peter Carpenter Africa Climate Scholarship for African PhD Students 2024

This prestigious fully-funded PhD Peter Carpenter Climate Change scholarship is awarded to African citizens with top level academic qualifications. The PhD programme is hosted within the Climate Science and Society Research (CSSR) group in the Department of Geography, where there is a v

Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: Brighton Deadline: April 15, 2024

University of Kent Law School PhD Research Studentship in UK 2024

This studentship is offered by Kent Law School in association with the UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship project led by Dr Connal Parsley, “The Future of Good Decisions: an Evolutionary Approach to Human-AI Government Administrative Decision-Making”. The project will take a new appro

Published: 2024-03-05 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 31, 2024

Newcastle University PhD Studentship in Skeletal Muscle (UK) 2024

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a motivated and talented individual to join our team. Our prior studies have revealed intriguing structural changes in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, a condition characterised by mitochondrial dysfunction. Specifically, we have observed an increased

Published: 2024-02-26 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: April 30, 2024

University of Kent Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Scholarship for PhD Students 2024

The University of Kent is pleased to offer four EPSRC studentships starting in September 2024 to exceptional students undertaking PhD study in the following schools on a full-time basis: School of Physics and Astronomy School of Chemistry and Forensic Sciences School of Computing School

Published: 2024-02-22 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 24, 2024

University of Southampton Horizon Europe Fee Waivers for Postgraduate Students 2024

The University of Southampton is introducing a new programme to support the reassociation of the UK with the Horizon Europe programme, and the University strategy to grow the international diversity of its doctoral cohort. The University will apply a fee waiver - equivalent to the diffe

Published: 2024-02-20 Type: PhD Study in: Southampton Deadline: Not Specified

University Of Portsmouth PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Narcissus 2024

This Ph.D. project explores the rarely studied area of corona structures in Narcissus flowers, highlighting the striking species-to-species variation. To solve the puzzles surrounding corona development, the research combines cooperative efforts, high-throughput DNA sequencing, developmental genetic

Published: 2024-02-16 Type: PhD Study in: Portsmouth Deadline: March 1, 2024

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Fully Funded Phd in UK for International Students with Scholarships (2024 Admissions)

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Updated on 12 September, 2024

Jyotsna Singh

While many of us are interested in pursuing a PhD program in the UK, the fees for the program could add tremendous stress. But fret not; there are many fully-funded PhD programs in the UK for international students that make higher education affordable.

We will discuss all the details regarding applications, deadlines, tenure, and much more for fully-funded programs in the UK for international students.

High-calibre students who wish to apply for fully-funded PhD studentships can consider these programs. These fully-funded programs are offered by a wide range of universities in the UK and some Non-profit and corporate organizations. The positions in these fully-funding PhD can close at any time if someone accepts the offer.

Country/course eligible for

Usually, these fully-funded programs in the UK are available for overseas, European Union, and domestic students. The courses eligible for fully-funded PhD programs will vary according to different scholarships and programs.

Level of scholarship

The fully-funded PhD scholarship in the UK is for candidates who plan to pursue a PhD program or are currently pursuing one. You should essentially have a bachelor’s and master’s coursework for the same.

Tenure/duration

The fully-funded PhD in the UK for international students covers the expenses for the entire duration of the course, which is typically three years.

Subject/fields

There are no fixed subjects or fields where the scholarships will be offered. Students can find opportunities in every discipline across different fully funded PhD programs.

Number of scholarships available 

Several scholarships are available for fully-funded PhD in the UK for international students. Some of the renowned names are

Ten universities offering fully-funded PhD in the UK for international students

Here are ten universities in the UK offering international students a fully-funded doctoral program in the country for your reference:

1. University College London

2. University of Leeds

3. University of Nottingham

4. Imperial College London

5. Lancaster University

6. Aberystwyth University

7. Kings College London

8. University of St Andrews

9. University of Liverpool

10. London Business School

Application duration

Each of these fully-funded PhD programs has a different application start date. We strongly suggest you be aware of the same by regularly checking the official websites.

As far as deadlines are concerned, below mentioned are some of the renowned fully funded Ph.D. program scholarships along with their deadlines.

Mode of Application

The mode of application for fully-funded PhD programs in the UK is online.

Eligibility Criteria and Additional Requirements

1. Eligible countries: the UK, EU citizens, and foreign candidates are acceptable

2. Acceptable course/subjects: PhD support is generally awarded in the given research areas such as Architecture, construction projects and organization, building energy, construction products and processes, digital construction, urban planning, water engineering, and infrastructure, transport.

3. Admissible criteria: To be eligible, the applicants must meet all the following criteria:

It would be best if you had, or expect to achieve, a minimum of 2:1 honours degree (equivalent international qualification) in a similar discipline.

Previous applicants should have their degrees in Civil Engineering, transport, geography, building services engineering and physics, mathematics, or chemistry.

A relevant master’s degree clubbed with employment experience will also give you an edge.

Value of Scholarship

The scholarship value for a fully-funded PhD in the UK varies from GBP 20,000 to GBP 23,200 (INR 20 Lakh to INR 21.56 Lakh).

Selection Process

The selection process involves a panel of experts who access your academic, research, and extracurricular contributions. At times, need-based scholarships are also provided to students.

Requirements for continuing the Scholarships

Most of these scholarships are allotted annually, but we recommend maintaining a stellar academic record if you wish to continue the scholarships.

1. Masters in Finance in the UK

2. MS Courses in the UK

3. Oxford University’s Rhodes Scholarship

4. Cambridge University Scholarships

5. Duke University in the UK

In summary, the availability of fully funded PhD programs in the UK for international students in 2024 represents a significant opportunity for scholars worldwide. These scholarships not only alleviate the financial challenges associated with advanced studies but also open doors to extensive research resources, expert guidance, and international academic networks. For aspiring doctoral candidates, these programs in the UK offer more than just financial support; they provide a platform for groundbreaking research, intellectual growth, and the chance to contribute to global knowledge. The 2024 admissions cycle thus stands as a gateway for talented international students to embark on a journey of discovery and academic excellence, fully supported by the generous scholarship opportunities available in the UK.

Here are some detailed articles on Fully Funded Scholarships for top Study Abroad Destination:

• Fully Funded Scholarships in UK
• Fully Funded Scholarships in USA
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany
• Fully Funded Scholarships in New Zealand 
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Ireland
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Spain
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Singapore
• Fully Funded Scholarships in France

With over a decade of expertise in international education, Jyotsna has held impactful roles at the British Council, Unilodgers, a prominent UK university, and IDP Education, empowering countless students by not only enhancing their educational experiences but also by offering them guidance in securing essential scholarships and financial aid. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals through tailored guidance and financial support.

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Research opportunities

Leeds doctoral scholarships 2025.

Up to 6 Leeds Doctoral Scholarships are available for Home fee-rated students for Session 2025/26 for study in the following Faculties: Arts, Humanities and Cultures; Biological Sciences; Business; Environment; Medicine and Health; Social Sciences.<br /> The fully funded research scholarship is available for 3.5 years for full-time study, pro-rata for part-time study.

<h3>Closing Date for Application forms 17:00 (UK time) Tuesday 1 April 2025</h3> <h4>Duration of the Award</h4> <ul> <li> <p>Full-time (3.5 years), pro-rata for part-time. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to 2 and a half years (pro-rata for part-time), subject to satisfactory academic progress.</p> </li> </ul> <h4>Funding</h4> <ul> <li> <p>The award provides full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£19,237 in Session 2024/25) for full-time study, part-time will be pro-rata at 60%.  This amount increases per annum in line with the UKRI rate. Full-time awards provide full fees for 3 years and a maintenance award for 3.5 years (Part-time awards are pro-rata).</p> </li> </ul> <h4>Other Conditions</h4> <ul> <li> <p>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree </p> </li> <li> <p>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2025</p> </li> <li> <p>The awards are available for new Postgraduate Researchers undertaking full-time or part-time research study leading to the degree of PhD.  Students who are already registered for PhD research study are excluded  from applying</p> </li> <li> <p> Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Scholarship.</p> </li> </ul> <h4>Selection Process</h4> <p>Each School selects a shortlist of applicants who they wish to nominate for the award.  The University of Leeds Scholarship Selection Panel selects the final list of awards based on academic merit and no other factors such as financial hardship are taken into account.</p> <p>The University will publish the names of the successful applicants within the University within 10 weeks of the relevant scholarship closing date.</p>

<h3>Stage 1 </h3> <ul> <li> <p>First of all apply for a <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/130206/applying/91/applying_for_research_degrees" target="_blank">research programme of study</a> by completing the application form</p> </li> </ul> <p paraeid="{1cb12a88-4c7f-4a7c-9a2b-534fa11ffa74}{162}" paraid="617466781">In order to be considered for the scholarship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for study*. Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the scholarship deadline will not be considered for the award. </p> <p paraeid="{1cb12a88-4c7f-4a7c-9a2b-534fa11ffa74}{172}" paraid="101257157">Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds. </p> <p paraeid="{1cb12a88-4c7f-4a7c-9a2b-534fa11ffa74}{176}" paraid="615424475">*The supporting documents you need to provide with your study application are listed on website for the School/Faculty in which you are applying to study. </p> <h4>Stage 2</h4> <ul> <li> <p>Once you are in receipt of your 9 digit Student Application ID complete the <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/centrally-funded-home-research-scholarships-2025" target="_blank">online application form.</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known.</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education.  Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+; and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability. </em></p>

Applicants must hold a First Degree at undergraduate level equivalent to at least a UK First Class* Honours degree. Applicants should either have graduated with the appropriate First Degree or be in their final year of study.<br /> *Candidates with a lower mark in their undergraduate degree will be considered if they have or are expected to receive a Distinction in a Masters programme relevant to their field of research, or if they can demonstrate relevant alternative experience (eg in industry or business). Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The University of Leeds minimum English language entry requirement for postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. If the School/Faculty to which you have applied has a higher English language entry requirement you must meet this higher requirement. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p>For further information please contact the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/faculties-centres/doc/faculties-contacts" target="_blank">school in which you intend to study</a>.</p> <p>OR Postgraduate Scholarships <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Leeds%20Doctoral%20Scholarships%202024">[email protected]</a></p> <p>The Leeds Doctoral Scholarship is available for research degree study across the following Faculties - Arts, Humanities and Cultures; Biological Sciences; Business; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environment; Medicine and Health; Social Sciences.  Listed below are just some of the projects available (subject to change). We also welcome applicants to submit their own research proposal.</p>

Fully Funded PhD Programs in the United Kingdom

Last updated February 28, 2022

As part of the series on How to Fully Fund Your PhD , here is a list of PhD programs in the United Kingdom (UK) that offer full funding. Steeped in a rich history of academic excellence, the UK is known for its quality universities that are ranked highly in a variety of fields.

“Full funding” is a financial aid pack for students that includes full tuition remission and an annual stipend or salary for the duration of the student’s doctoral studies. Full funding is not universal, so it’s a good idea to research the financial aid offerings of all the potential PhD programs in your academic field, including small and lesser-known schools.

You can also find several external fellowships in the  ProFellow database  for graduate and doctoral study, including opportunities for funding for dissertation research, fieldwork, language study and summer work experiences.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Imperial College Business School, PhD in Business (London, United Kingdom): Every student on the Doctoral programme is offered full funding, including a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years. The Business School has the following research departments: Analytics & Operations, Economics & Public Policy, Finance, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Strategy & Organisational Behaviour.

London Business School, PhD in Business (London, United Kingdom): All students are fully funded on admission to the Programme. This includes a tuition fee waiver and a generous stipend.

University College London, PhD in Theoretical Neuroscience and Machine Learning (London, United Kingdom): Students at the Gatsby Unit study toward a PhD in either machine learning or theoretical neuroscience. Gatsby PhD studentships cover the cost of tuition at the appropriate rate and include a tax-free stipend of £22,500 per annum. Full funding is available to all students, regardless of nationality.

University of Liverpool, PhD in Clinical Psychology  (Liverpool, UK): Available to EU citizens only, the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is a 3-year full-time programme fully funded by the National Health Service (NHS). Trainees are registered postgraduate students in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and employed within Mersey Care NHS Trust.

University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy, PhD in Physics  (St Andrews, Scotland): Fully funded scholarships are available for students in all research areas of the school and last the duration of the degree. Studentships are also available to national and international students, and all awards include full payment of fees and a living stipend.

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved.

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Fully Funded PhD Programs

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• Schools & departments

Depending on the field of study you are interested in, you may be able to apply for a pre-defined PhD project, or you may need to develop your own research idea.

Research in the fields of medicine, science and engineering tend to require you to:

• apply for a project that already has specific, pre-defined aims
• compete for a place on a partially or fully funded programme (often with competitive application processes).

Research in the fields of arts, humanities and social sciences tend to require you to:

• develop your own research idea (be prepared to adapt your original idea)
• source your own funding, although some funded projects may be available.

PhD research projects

Doctoral training centres and partnerships, developing your own research idea, professional doctorates.

Funded programmes

We offer several specialised PhD training programmes that come with funding.

All of our fully funded programmes are displayed below including our doctoral training partnerships and studentships which are linked to industrial partners.

Some of these programmes offer interdisciplinary projects, bespoke training and development opportunities including placements and international collaborations.

Alternatively, you can search our live project listings to find advertised fully funded projects or visit our funding opportunities page  to browse the fully funded scholarships and awards we offer to support self funded projects.

Programme status

BBSRC DTP studentships

The BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership provides an opportunity to experience cutting-edge research in the biosciences.

More about BBSRC DTP studentships

CRUK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme

Develop a career in world-leading cancer research with clinical, MB-PhD and non-clinical PhD opportunities funded by the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre.

More about the CRUK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme

CRUK Manchester Centre MB-PhD

Combining medical training with research training in the area of cancer sciences.

More about the CRUK Manchester Centre MB-PhD

CRUK Manchester Institute PhD studentships

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute have PhD projects on offer spanning the whole spectrum of cancer research.

More about the CRUK Manchester Institute PhD studentships

Joint scholarships with the China Scholarship Council (CSC)

Scholarships for Chinese PhD students through a joint scheme between the University and the CSC.

More about joint scholarships with the CSC

Excellence in Diversity PhD Scholarships

Fully funded studentships for candidates from groups under-represented in postgraduate research.

More about the Excellence in Diversity scholarships

Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD

Combining the vocational training of a medical degree with the research expertise of a PhD.

More about the Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD

MRC DTP studentships

The MRC Doctoral Training Partnership provides an outstanding environment for PhDs in the biomedical sciences.

More about MRC DTP studentships

President's Doctoral Scholar awards

Studentships for outstanding international (non-UK) candidates seeking PhD opportunities.

More about the President's Doctoral Scholar awards

ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership

ESRC funding for postgraduate training in the social sciences is available through the North West Social Sciences DTP.

More about the ESRC North West Social Science DTP

Search all of our live, advertised fully and self funded projects.

Browse projects

Funding opportunities

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

See funding opportunities

• Schools & departments

Fully funded 4 Year PhD studentships in Biomedical Sciences

Applications are invited from outstanding students wishing to pursue a 4 Year PhD studentship in Biomedical Sciences from September 2024.

Based in the Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh you will have the opportunity to work with leading research groups while also developing your skills in transnational education. The studentships are fully funded for 4 Years including full fees (home or overseas), UKRI-level stipend and generous research costs. 

Alongside their PhD project, students will be supported in the development of their skills in TNE towards AFHEA accreditation. This will include short (typically 2 visits totalling 4-6 weeks per year) research and educational visits to our ZJE Joint Institute in China supported by their PhD supervisory team.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss projects with prospective supervisors before submitting their application.

Candidates must meet University of Edinburgh PhD requirements including English language proficiency and acceptance is conditional on award of 2:1 degree classification (or similar) in a Biomedical related undergraduate Honours degree programme.

How to apply

To apply, email a single PDF document to [email protected] by 12 noon on Friday 29th March 2024  that includes:

• a 1 page statement of why you wish to pursue a PhD, including a ranking of up to 3 projects you are interested in  f ollowing your discussion with prospective supervisor(s)
• a 1 page statement of how developing your transnational educational skills as part of your PhD will support your longer term career aspirations.  

Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to meet further with prospective PhD supervisors of their ranked projects at interview.

List of PhD projects

Defining the role of rna-binding protein pabpc4 in regulating gene expression to maintain lipid homeostasis (primary supervisor: dr matthew brook), project location .

QMRI, Bioquarter

[email protected]

Name, location and email of co-applicants (Supervisory Team)

Prof. Nicola Gray (CRH/IRR) Email: [email protected]

Prof. Robert Semple (CVS) Email: [email protected]

Project description

PABPC4 is a poorly characterised RNA-binding protein whose genetic locus is strongly associated in human genetic association studies to metabolic disease traits (e.g. cholesterol and triglyceride levels, type 2 diabetes), with some associations sexually dimorphic. Population genetic studies (gnomAD) moreover indicate clear selection against heterozygous loss of function in the wider population. PABPC4 is a close homologue of PABPC1, which binds to mRNA poly(A) tails and regulates multiple facets of mRNA translation and turnover, but PABPC4 molecular functions, RNA targets, and role in mammalian physiology remain to be determined.

Importantly, our (Brook/Gray) unpublished work has revealed sexually-dimorphic dysregulation of growth, body composition, and response to high-fat diet (HFD) of Pabp4-/- mice, with male, but not female, Pabpc4-/- mice being profoundly protected from HFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Collectively these findings establish that genetic alteration of PABPC4 function and/or expression predisposes to the development of impaired lipid metabolism, obesity and associated pathologies in response to HFD. 

We hypothesise that PABPC4 is a master post-transcriptional regulator of sexually dimorphic metabolic gene expression programs. We will take advantage of complementary expertise in the new collaborative team to test this hypothesis via 3 major aims:

Aim 1: Elucidate the metabolic/physiological mechanisms and tissue aetiology of the obesity resistant/dyslipidaemic phenotype of Pabpc4-/- mice. Aim 2: Identify cell types and cellular pathways underlying the PABP4-dependent regulation of lipid/lipoprotein profiles and metabolic traits in mice. Aim 3: Identify functionally relevant PABPC4 mRNA targets and characterise their dysregulation in Pabpc4-/- mice.

Approaches used in project

The student will receive training in cutting-edge methods to study mouse in vivo metabolism (e.g. Sable Promethion indirect calorimetry/behaviour system) and ex vivo/in vitro cell metabolism (e.g. cellular respiration). The identification of PABP4 targets and regulated pathways will require combinations of transcriptomics, proteomics (proteome regulation, protein interactome mapping) and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression studies (e.g. RNA-binding protein function, RNA target identification).

The supervisory team encompasses all the required expertise and will fully support method training and deployment. In addition, training will be provided in bioinformatics approaches to data handling/analysis and use of human genetic association data, as required.

Relevant references for project background

1.    J. Wu, R. X. Yin, T. Guo, Q. Z. Lin, S. W. Shen, J. Q. Sun, et al. (2015) Gender-specific association between the cytoplasmic poly(A) binding protein 4 rs4660293 single nucleotide polymorphism and serum lipid levels. Mol Med Rep. 12: 3476-3486 [PMID:26005159]

2.    L. A. Passmore and J. Coller (2022) Roles of mRNA poly(A) tails in regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 23(2): 93-106. [PMID:34594027]

3.    Fátima Gebauer, Thomas Schwarzl, Juan Valcárcel & Matthias W. Hentze (2021) RNA-binding proteins in human genetic disease. Nature Reviews Genetics. 22:185–198 [PMID: 33235359]

4.    Kelaini S, Chan C, Cornelius VA, Margariti A. (2021) RNA-Binding Proteins Hold Key Roles in Function, Dysfunction, and Disease. Biology (Basel). 10(5):366. [PMID: 33923168]

5.    Van Nostrand EL, Pratt GA, et al. (2020) Principles of RNA processing from analysis of enhanced CLIP maps for 150 RNA binding proteins. Genome Biology. 21(1):90. [PMID: 32252787]

Mechanistic characterisation of regulation of PABPC1 by post-translational modification in response to nutrient availability (Primary Supervisor: Dr Matthew Brook)

Dr. Di Chen (ZJE) Email: [email protected]

PABPC1 is central to normal regulation of mRNA translation and decay. By binding mRNA poly(A) tails and interacting with a suite of partner proteins, PABPC1 confers disparate regulatory outcomes to mRNAs. However, despite many protein partners binding at overlapping or shared sites, the regulation of PABPC1-partner interactions is very poorly understood.

We have previously demonstrated PABPC1 to be extensively post-translational modified (PTM); ranging from S/T/Y phosphorylation and R methylation to more unusual K acetylation/methylation switches and Q/D methylation. To date, the functional relevance, regulatory mechanism, and upstream signalling pathways of almost all these PTMs remains unknown.

However, we have determined that PABPC1 is subject to regulation in response to nutrient status, cell cycle stage, and viral infection, indicating that full understanding of PABPC1 PTM-mediated regulation may uncover novel pathways of gene expression regulation.

To reveal novel systems of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression that underpin nutrient responsiveness and metabolic homeostasis, we will quantitatively determine PABPC1 PTM responses to nutrient availability and perform mechanistic studies of PTM effects on (for e.g.) protein partner binding, mRNA target selection/mRNA binding, and utilisation/fate of target mRNAs (e.g. translation, poly(A) tail status, decay), and we will delineate upstream signalling pathways of nutrient-responsive PTMs.

Aim 1: PTM-omics analysis of PABPC1 to fully characterise its post-translational regulation in response to nutrient availability. Aim 2: Mechanistic characterisation of the effects of nutrient-responsive PTMs on PABPC1 protein partner and/or mRNA interactions. Aim 3: Mapping of upstream regulatory signalling pathways that modulate nutrient-responsive PABPC1 PTMs to affect metabolic gene expression.

The student will receive training in cutting-edge methods to study: The identification of PABPC1 PTMs and regulated outcomes, interactions and upstream pathways will require combinations of proteomics/PTMomics, biophysical and structural studies (e.g. SPR, crystallography/NMR), transcriptomics, post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression studies (e.g. RNA-binding protein function, RNA target identification) and in vitro cell metabolism methods (e.g. cellular respiration).

The supervisory team encompasses all the required expertise and will fully support method training and deployment. In addition, training will be provided in bioinformatics approaches to data handling/analysis, as required

1.    Brook M, McCracken L, Reddington JP, Lu ZL, Morrice NA, Gray NK. (2012) Biochem J. 441(3):803-12. The multifunctional poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) 1 is subject to extensive dynamic post-translational modification, which molecular modelling suggests plays an important role in co-ordinating its activities. [PMID: 22004688]

2.    Friend K, Brook M, Bezirci FB, Sheets MD, Gray NK, Seli E. (2012) Embryonic poly(A)-binding protein (ePAB) phosphorylation is required for Xenopus oocyte maturation. Biochem J. 445(1):93-100. [PMID: 22497250]

3.    Shan P, Fan G, Sun L, Liu J, Wang W, Hu C, Zhang X, Zhai Q, Song X, Cao L, Cui Y, Zhang S, Wang C. (2017) SIRT1 Functions as a Negative Regulator of Eukaryotic Poly(A)RNA Transport. Curr Biol. 27(15):2271-2284.e5. [PMID: 28756945]

4.    Passmore LA, Coller J. (2022) Roles of mRNA poly(A) tails in regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 23(2):93-106. [PMID: 34594027]

Investigating a role for the placenta in signalling maternal stress to the fetus and programming the fetal brain. (Primary Supervisor: Dr Paula Brunton)

Hugh Robson Building, George Square.

[email protected]

Prof. Ruth Andrew (Centre for Cardiovascular Science) Email: [email protected]

Maternal stress during pregnancy ‘programs’ long-lasting neuroendocrine and behavioural changes in the offspring[1,2]. Often this ‘programming’ is maladaptive and sex-specific[1,2]. How the effects of maternal stress are transmitted from the mother to the fetuses is not known. Direct transfer of maternal glucocorticoids to the fetuses is often proposed to mediate the programming effects. However, we have shown that although corticosterone secretion is significantly greater in stressed dams compared with controls, there is no impact on corticosterone concentrations in the fetal circulation or brain[3].

In addition, maternal stress upregulates placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (the enzyme that inactivates glucocorticoids, limiting mother-to-fetus glucocorticoid transfer), suggesting this protective mechanism is intact[3]. These findings suggest a factor(s) other than glucocorticoids mediate fetal programming.

The aim of this project is to investigate the factor(s) that signal maternal stress to the fetus. The placenta has several functions that make it a likely central player in mediating the effects of maternal stress[4]. As well as nutrient transport, the placenta also actively produces and secretes factors (e.g. steroids, monoamines, growth factors, cytokines) that can influence fetal brain development. We will perform a metabolomic screen of secretions from male and female placentae from stressed and non-stressed pregnancies.

We will test whether identified candidate factors can mimic changes in gene expression observed in the prenatally stressed offspring brain. We will also investigate sex-dependent changes in placental gene expression induced by maternal stress, (in particular those involved in nutrient transport and allocation) and investigate whether these contribute to the programmed offspring phenotype. 

Behavioural observations will be used to monitor social stress induction in pregnant rats. Blood samples will be collected and immunoassays used to determine plasma hormone concentrations (primarily corticosterone). Mass spectrometry will be used for metabolomic profiling of placental secretions. Neuronal cell culture will be used to screen whether candidate placental factors can mimic changes in gene expression observed in the fetal/offspring brain.

Altered gene expression in the fetal brain, placentae neuronal cultures induced by maternal stress will be quantified by RNAscope/qPCR, while changes in protein expression will be assessed using immunocytochemistry/Western blotting.

1.    Brunton, P. J. & Russell, J. A. 2010. Prenatal social stress in the rat programmes neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to stress in the adult offspring: Sex specific effects. J Neuroendocrinol, 22, 258-271. 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01969.x

2.    Maccari, S., Krugers, H. J., Morley-Fletcher, S., Szyf, M. & Brunton, P. J. 2014. The consequences of early-life adversity: Neurobiological, behavioural and epigenetic adaptations. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 26, 707-23. 10.1111/jne.12175

3.    Sze, Y., Fernandes, J., Kołodziejczyk, Z. M. & Brunton, P. J. 2022. Maternal glucocorticoids do not directly mediate the effects of maternal social stress on the fetus. J Endocrinol, 255, 143-158. 10.1530/JOE-22-0226

4.    Bronson, S. L. & Bale, T. L. 2016. The placenta as a mediator of stress effects on neurodevelopmental reprogramming. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41, 207-18. 10.1038/npp.2015.231

Investigating neurocomputational mechanisms and modulatory factors of decision making in ecological settings (Primary Supervisor: Dr Gedi Luksys )

Project location.

CDBS, 1 George Square.

[email protected]

Robin Hill (Edinburgh Informatics) Email: [email protected]

In today's society, people often find it difficult to receive information outside their social circle or comfort zone. The questions of whether limited availability or active avoidance of such information determines its limited reach and which neurocognitive factors contribute to this outcome are of huge importance, but they have not been sufficiently studied, especially at the basic level. MyNewsScan.eu is a news aggregator platform that we developed to tackle this problem.

We also developed the Paintings/Quotes experiment to investigate the role of schemas (prior information) and modulatory factors (e.g. risk, novelty) in decision making as well as the associated computational models that use error-based learning, motivation, and drift-diffusion model components. The PhD will build upon preliminary findings from both experiments that also included collection of biometrics such as eye movements, heart rates and emotional expressions.

The core doctoral research will employ a newly upgraded version of the website as a community-driven platform for large-scale collection of data, with some Edinburgh-based participants recruited for biometric, EEG and/or fMRI studies. We will also employ computational modelling, neuroeconomics and/or natural language processing methods, depending on student’s expertise and interests.

The ultimate aim is to understand factors affecting decision making at different levels: e.g. how biometric and neuroimaging data relate to behavioural metrics and questionnaire-based data, whether participant decisions and attitudes may be predicted by such information (including factors like stress, motivation and sleep), and whether easily collected online digital markers could be predictive of neuropsychiatric conditions that require lengthy and costly clinical assessments.

Depending on the expertise and interests of the student, the project will include (but is not limited to) a number of the following methods: behavioural/cognitive experiments in humans, both online and in laboratory, collection and analysis of biometrics and/or neuroimaging data, management and further development of MyNewsScan platform and its user community, computational modelling of learning and decision making (e.g. reinforcement learning, drift diffusion, motivation models) and their parameter estimation, advanced statistics (e.g. mixed effects models), machine learning and natural language processing, questionnaire-based and clinical characterisation of neuropsychiatric disorders.

1. Vosoughi et al., “The spread of true and false news online”, Science 2018; Huckvale et al., “Toward clinical digital phenotyping: a timely opportunity to consider purpose, quality, and safety”, npj Digital Medicine 2019;

2. Strasser et al., “Glutamine-to-glutamate ratio in the nucleus accumbens predicts effort-based motivated performance in humans”, Neuropsychopharmacology 2020;

3. Shinn et al., “A flexible framework for simulating and fitting generalized drift-diffusion models”, eLife 2020;

4. Luksys et al., “Stress, genotype and norepinephrine in the prediction of mouse behavior using reinforcement learning”, Nature Neuroscience 2009

How does the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, exploit its metabolic flexibility to acquire antifungal resistance? (Primary Supervisor: Dr Vasso Makrantoni )

IRR, Bioquarter

[email protected]

Dr Mikael Bjorklund (ZJE, China) Email: [email protected]

Dr Richard Sloan (CIR-IRR, UoE/ZJE) Email: [email protected] ;  

Dr Arno Alpi (Institute for Cell Biology, UoE) Email: [email protected]

Fungal pathogens kill over a million people every year. The most common human fungal pathogen is Candida albicans, a WHO-priority target. With only three classes of antifungal drugs available and increasing drug-resistant infections in clinical settings, understanding the mechanisms of resistance is a priority. Candida’s survival in the complex and dynamic host environment depends on the ability to efficiently control its metabolism, which involves the production and breakdown of numerous different small biological chemicals collectively called "metabolites". Candida is known to assimilate glucose and alternative carbon sources simultaneously, thereby providing growth advantages [1]. However, how this remarkable metabolic flexibility is regulated during infection, remains largely unknown.

Cellular responses to metabolic stress stimuli are mediated through gene regulatory networks and post-translational modifications. One such network, the Ubiquitin-Proteasome-System (UPS), is known to be responsible for eliminating unwanted proteins that would otherwise damage Candida cells. Molecular machines, called E3 ubiquitin ligases, ensure that the UPS destroys only those proteins whose functions should be terminated, and spares the majority of those required for ongoing cellular functions. One of the first UPS-dependent mechanisms identified in metabolic regulation is mediated by the budding yeast GID E3 ligase complex, which targets superfluous metabolic enzymes for proteasomal degradation upon changes in carbon sources [2,3]. Evidence from the Makrantoni lab suggests that Candida employs the GID E3 complex during host infection to rewire metabolic pathways in order to enhance its virulence. This project aims to uncover the molecular mechanism by which GID E3 ligase regulates metabolic flexibility in Candida.

This interdisciplinary PhD project is supported by cross-institutional collaborations between the Institutes for Regeneration and Repair and of Cell Biology in Edinburgh, and the ZJE Institute in China, providing state-of-the-art technologies.

Approaches used include:  

(1) Sophisticated genetics (CRISPR-Cas9 editing) to generate Candida mutants to assess functional links between viability and metabolome changes upon stress (in collaboration with Bjorklund lab, ZJE);

(2) Mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify GID E3 substrates, and biochemical approaches utilizing reconstituted GID-substrate ubiquitylation systems (in collaboration with Alpi lab, UoE);

(3) Use of human macrophages to reconstitute in vitro host-pathogen systems for assessing virulence (in collaboration with Sloan lab, UoE).

[1] Childers DS et al. (2016). The Rewiring of Ubiquitination Targets in a Pathogenic Yeast Promotes Metabolic Flexibility, Host Colonization and Virulence. PLOS Pathogens.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005566;

[2] Shuai Qiao et al. (2020). Interconversion between Anticipatory and Active GID E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Conformations via Metabolically Driven Substrate Receptor Assembly. Molecular Cell 77: 150–163;

[3] Langlois CR et al (2022). A GID E3 ligase assembly ubiquitinates an Rsp5 E3 adaptor and regulates plasma membrane transporters. EMBO Reports, 23: e53835

Systems-approach computational modelling and experimental investigation of food reward-based appetite regulation and energy homeostasis (Primary Supervisor: Dr Duncan MacGregor)

CDBS, Hugh Robson Building, George Square.

[email protected]

Weiwei Qiu (Zhejiang) Email: [email protected]

We will use computational modelling in tandem with in vivo approaches to explore how the brain integrates sensory, gut, and energy homeostasis signals to regulate feeding behaviour and maintain energy stores. Our computational model will take a systems approach, combining knowledge of brain-body mechanisms to better define mechanistic interactions within a whole-body system. The performance of this brain-body model will be tested in simulations of published behavioural experiments. The model will be kept simple, adding complexity only as necessary to match the data being tested against, but using a modular structure that will also allow the integration and testing of more detailed model components. Critically, this approach facilitates the interpretation of existing data and the generation of new, quantitative predictions for behavioural and physiological parameters such as body weight, blood glucose, and gut signalling that can be tested in the Qiu lab. 

We have already developed a basic version of the model to study how appetite is regulated by competition between sensory and physiological signals, with model output closely aligned with published behavioural data. Modelling of appetite regulation is a competitive field, but most models represent a limited, single paradigm for the relationship between eating behaviour and energy stores. Our modular approach will build on a skeleton of essential components (energy stores, digestion, metabolism, etc) that is ‘control paradigm neutral’ and therefore broadly adaptable to different experimental contexts. For example, investigations of the cognitive basis for decision-making are often based on foraging behaviour, for which our model would be an ideal partner. 

This will primarily be a computational modelling-based project but will also include in vivo experimental work, potentially in both Edinburgh and Zhejiang.

In particular, ongoing translational work exploring the endocrine and neural circuit signalling in the hypothalamus and brain stem that regulates eating behaviours and energy balance. The modelling will use our own software tools designed to make modelling rapid and accessible both for model development, and for dissemination and teaching.

1. Final Report Summary - NUDGE-IT (The Neurobiology of Decision-Making in Eating - Innovative Tools) https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/607310/reporting

2. Hume, Jachs, Menzies. Homeostatic responses to palatable food consumption in satiated rats. Obesity 2016 24(10):2126. doi: 10.1002/oby.21606

3. MacGregor, Leng. Modelling the hypothalamic control of growth hormone secretion. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2005, 17 (12): 788-803. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01370.x

4. MacGregor, Leng. Emergent decision-making behaviour and rhythm generation in a computational model of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. PLoS Computational Biology 2019 15(6). doi: 10.1371/pcbi.1007092.

5. Qui, W., Hutch, C. R., Wang, Y., Rucker, R. A., Wloszek, J., Myers Jr, M. G., & Sandoval, D. (2022). Multiple NTS Neuron Populations Synergistically Suppress Physiologic Food Intake but are Dispensable for the Response to VSG. bioRxiv, 2022-12.

Undergraduate students' and teachers’ experiences of intercultural learning at a UK-China joint institute of biomedicine (Primary Supervisor: Dr John Menzies)

[email protected]

Dr Celine Caquineau (BMTO) Email: [email protected]

We anticipate this distinctive project will have wide-spread influence in the field of TNE research by providing key foundational evidence to better understand T&L practices at ZJE and across the many other UK-China TNE partnerships. Being exploratory in nature, we believe this project provides a unique, pioneering and potentially transformative opportunity for a PhD researcher to develop a strategic direction for research into intercultural learning. 

The supervisory team has extensive experience in T&L in both UK and China. Both supervisors have Advance HE accreditations and have supported numerous PhD researchers in the development of their teaching practices. The supervisory team has strong links with the Institute for Academic Development at the University of Edinburgh, which has international recognition in T&L research.

First, the student will carry out a systematic review of TNE research to identify knowledge gaps. Informed by the review and in alignment with ZJE’s research priorities, the student will then identify the focus of their investigation.

Their project will likely encompass mixed quantitative and qualitative methods to directly address specific research questions. The project will use different ways of generating and analysing data to provide an in-depth and inclusive understanding of the ZJE community, and thus to identify potential challenges and opportunities in enhancing student and staff experiences. 

1. www.ed.ac.uk/biomedical-sciences/connections-outreach/international-activities/zje-institute

2. www.britishcouncil.cn/en/programmes/education/higher/TNE

Understanding functional heterogeneity in corticotrophs – from transcription to output(Primary Supervisor: Dr Nicola Romano)

CDBS, Hugh Robson Building, George Square. 

[email protected]

Dr Duncan McGregor (UoE/ZJE) Email: [email protected] 

Dr Peter Duncan (UoE) Email: [email protected]

Recent technological advances enabled scientists to study biological processes at the single-cell level with unprecedented amount of detail. These techniques highlighted a previously unknown level of heterogeneity in several biological tissues, but whether and how this translates to altered function is still poorly understood. The idea that cell populations are much more heterogeneous than previously thought changes how we think about our body functions and questions the traditional definitions of what is a "cell type". This project will focus on the pituitary gland, a key organ in controlling critical hormonal responses in the body, and specifically on corticotrophs, which regulate stress responses. We and others have gathered evidence for a high level of heterogeneity in corticotrophs at the functional level (e.g. electrical activity, calcium responses) and at the level of the transcriptome. These results brought us to ask how such a heterogeneous group of cells works like a coherent population to drive stress responses and what would be the function of it. One hypothesis is that heterogeneity increases the dynamic range of the system, allowing it to respond to a variety of different types, lengths and magnitudes of stress. We have recently shown that corticotrophs exist in a variety of dynamic cell states, that might be contributing in different ways to stress responses. This project will investigate the link between transcriptional and functional heterogeneity using state-of-the-art techniques, ranging from mathematical modelling and bioinformatics approaches to "wet lab" techniques such as imaging and electrophysiology to map transcriptomic state to functional outcomes.

The laboratories of the Supervisory Team use a range of complementary approaches, from bioinformatics (e.g. scRNAseq), imaging (IHC, calcium imaging, in vivo), electrophysiology, optogenetics, and mathematical modelling which can be integrated at different stages of the project.

1. Romanò et al., 2017 - Heterogeneity of Calcium Responses to Secretagogues in Corticotrophs From Male Rats - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28323954/

2. Duncan et al., 2022 - Chronic stress facilitates bursting electrical activity in pituitary corticotrophs - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34855218/

3. Walker and Romanò, 2022 - Fast dynamics in the HPA axis: Insight from mathematical and experimental studies - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36632146/

4. MacGregor and Leng, 2013 - Spike triggered hormone secretion in vasopressin cells; a model investigation of mechanism and heterogeneous population function - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23966850/

5. Le Tissier et al., 2016 - An updated view of hypothalamic-vascular-pituitary unit function and plasticity - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27934864/

Encoding of secretory function by time (Primary Supervisor: Dr Nicola Romano)

[email protected]

Dr KuanYoow Chan (ZJE) Email: [email protected]

Paul Le Tissier (UoE/ZJE) Email: [email protected]

Most hormones are stored in vesicles, allowing release in large amounts in response to stimulation.  Differential release of vesicles dependent on the time stored thereby allowing release of different cargoes (both endocrine and potentially autocrine signalling molecules), has been shown in several non-pituitary endocrine cells.  

The aim of this project is to study the importance of this temporal encoding of secretory vesicles using the endocrine cells of the pituitary regulating stress and growth as model systems.     

As well as being storage organelles, dynamic modification can occur within vesicles (processing of cargo by intra-vesicle enzymes /recruitment of additional proteins) and on the organelle surface (directing cytosolic location).  We hypothesise that this allows encoding of vesicle function, allowing a readout of the history of secretion and/or differential effects by release of specific pools of vesicles.  Using TIMER, a fluorescent cargo protein that changes colour with age, individual secretory vesicles will be labelled to determine whether there is differential release of secretory vesicles dependent on their age or the pattern of secretagogue(s) stimulation. 

Secretory vesicles of different ages will be isolated from cells using FACs and mass spectroscopy to identify the proteins packaged within a vesicle and on its membrane, determining if vesicles change with time and/or the physiological state of the cells.  Manipulation of the cargo will then allow us to test the physiological regulation of vesicle release based on age, as well as the consequences for physiology.

These studies will be done in cell lines and in ex vivo pituitary slices.  

This project will allow extensive training in tissue culture, transfection, primary cell transduction, live cell confocal microscopy, FACs, proteomic analysis with mass spectroscopy, protein modification and physiological assays.  Initially, studies will be optimised in cell lines in vitro but once optimised ex vivo primary pituitary cells and tissue slices will allow analysis in a more physiologically relevant context.  

1.Duncan, R., Greaves, J., Wiegand, U. Matskevich, I.  Bodammer, G, Apps, D.K., Shipston, M.J., Chow, R.H.  (2003)  Functional and spatial segregation of secretory vesicle pools according to vesicle age. Nature 422, 176–180.   https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01389  

2. Yau, B., Hays, L., Liang, C., Laybutt, D.R., Thomas, H.E., Gunton, J.E., Williams, L., Hawthorne, W.J., Thorn, P., Rhodes, C.J., Kebede, M.A. (2020)  A fluorescent timer reporter enables sorting of insulin secretory granules by age.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 295, 8901-8911.   https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA120.012432

Population-specificity of disease susceptibility and drug response (Primary Supervisor: Dr Rob Young)

Hugh Robson Building, George Square. 

[email protected]

Dr Sara Macias Ribela, (Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, UoE) Email: [email protected]

Over 100,000 genetic variants have already been associated with various medical phenotypes by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, the majority of these studies have been performed in European populations. This bias limits the utility of these results and the ability to translate this knowledge into under-represented global populations. There is therefore an urgent need to understand population differentiation to inform the development of medical therapeutics for currently underserved populations. 

In this project, you will use bioinformatics to identify genome features that determine differential susceptibility to disease across European and Asian populations. You will then test their biological relevance in the laboratory. While most your time will be spent in Edinburgh, you will have the opportunity to spend time performing research at our international campus at Haining, China.

The project has three elements: 1) Initial characterisation of publicly available GWAS and drug-gene interaction datasets obtained from European and Asian populations to identify phenotypes and genomic features of population-specific variants.  2) Variants identified in the first stage will be engineered using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in cell models isolated from both the European and Asian populations. You will quantify the transcriptomic differences across genotypes and populations using the functional genomics technology Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE).  3) Differentially expressed targets will be investigated using standard bioinformatics analyses, e.g. Gene Ontology enrichment, and integrated omics data available from related populations, including UK Biobank and the China Kadoorie Biobank. Follow-up experiments will determine whether known drug-gene interactions for these targets are effective across populations. 

We will use a combination of various computational software (BEDTools, Bowtie, CAGEr) and statistical analyses (in the R programming language) to investigate the genomic and transcriptomic datasets involved in this project. Subsequently, the student will learn cellular and molecular techniques (PCR, western blotting, CRISPR-Cas9 editing, growth assays) required to manipulate the cellular models studied here.

1. Fitipaldi H, Franks PW. Ethnic, gender and other sociodemographic biases in genome-wide association studies for the most burdensome non-communicable diseases: 2005-2022. Human Molecular Genetics 32, 3: 520-532(2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddac245  

2. Kindt ASD, Navarro P, Semple CAM, et al. The genomic signature of trait-associated variants. BMC Genomics 14, 108 (2013). http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/14/108  

3. Young RS, Talmane L, Marion de Procé S, et al. The contribution of evolutionarily volatile promoters to molecular phenotypes and human trait variation. Genome Biology 23(1), 89 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-022-02634-w  

4. Fernandez N, Cordiner RA, Young RS, et al. Genetic variation and RNA structure regulate microRNA biogenesis. Nature Communications 3(8), 15114 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15114  

This article was published on 2024-08-05

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No need to fork out US$40,000 for a PhD – here are 10 fully-funded PhD programmes

The journey to obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a long and expensive one.

From completing a diploma or A-level programme to getting a bachelor’s degree, the journey only gets more expensive as you embark on a three to seven-year journey of obtaining your PhD. 

It’s why competition for a fully-funded PhD can be fierce.

On average, the total cost of a PhD programme is somewhere between US$30,000 to US$40,000 per year, depending on where you enrol. This expense does not include the cost of living if you are moving to a different city or country to study.

Multiply that with the number of years it’ll take for you to complete your studies, and you’ll see why it’s not an easy decision to make. 

Still, there are always ways to pursue higher education at a more affordable cost. While student loans are an option, you might want to aim for a fully-funded PhD instead.

Universities are not the only ones funding your PhD. Source: AFP.

What is a fully-funded PhD programme?

A fully-funded programme usually means full tuition reimbursement and a stipend to help cover the cost of living while pursuing the degree.

However, requirements differ according to the university.

Some universities offer a “no-strings-attached” fellowship where they receive funding but do not owe the university anything aside from their research. In many cases, a student will need to work part-time for the university by providing teaching or administrative assistance which might be useful in their professional career.

It’s also important to take note that universities are not the only ones funding your PhD.

Some grants might come from government bodies to support national research objectives and train future professionals to carry them out. Others could come from independent charities that have similar goals or businesses that see potential benefits to achieve their targets.

Financial aid typically does not include the cost of living. Source: AFP.

Things to know before you attempt to secure a fully-funded PhD programme

Before we jump into introducing some fully-funded PhD programmes, let’s take a closer look at how PhD funding starts out. 

Seek advice 

Reach out to an academic advisor or supervisor for advice on the next steps to take. Chances are that they can provide suggestions or even recommendation letters. Otherwise, they can leverage on their own knowledge and networks to redirect you to a better source of information. 

If an advisor isn’t available, try reaching out to the university’s graduates to get a clearer viewpoint from someone with first-hand experience.

Many PhD projects are actually advertised with generous funding, and this is particularly so for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects. 

However, it doesn’t mean you won’t find funding in other subjects like education, sociology or even English. 

Be sure you don’t single out universities in your search. Explore opportunities with external parties, such as business or industry partners too. 

Build a funding portfolio

Getting into the PhD scene is competitive, more so when you’re looking to score a fully-funded PhD. To help secure funding, put together a portfolio to make your case as strong as possible. 

Similar to a resume, your portfolio should outline what you plan to study, how long for, and above all else, why you wish to take the PhD. 

This demonstrates your commitment and understanding to the subject and its industry field.

Living costs and expenses

Not all funded PhDs offer to cover your living expenses, especially if you’re an international student. But even if they do, it’s a good idea to set aside some funds for your day-to-day life.

Some fully-funded PhDs offer accommodation for up to a certain amount of years, so if you intend on staying on for a longer period of time, it may be wise to have some finances ready for living on your own.

Determine your timeframe

It’s common for PhD students to work while studying. Part-time study offers that flexibility, but it also stretches out the length of your PhD and increases your maintenance expenses. 

Carefully consider your options before deciding on a part-time or full-time PhD, especially if you’re employed or have other commitments.

Don’t feel discouraged if you’re nervous about your chances of securing a fully-funded PhD. There are many other universities and programmes that readily offer generous funding and high stipends , such as MIT and Stanford University.

These stipends often cover tuition, living expenses, and healthcare, so don’t count them out.

10 fully-funded PhD programmes to check out

1. university of debrecen.

Stipendium Hungaricum provides fully-funded scholarships for international students to study their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Debrecen . This programme was designed to support the internationalisation of higher education institutions in Hungary, as well as strengthen relationships with those abroad.

The university is one Hungary’s best, home to almost 30,000 students from over 70 countries and territories. It offers a whopping amount of over 23,000 courses with over 600 degree programmes, so you’ll be sure to find what you need here. 

Apply here .

2. University of Iowa

The Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa offers a fully-funded PhD programme in fields such as accounting, economics, business analytics, and marketing. 

Tuition and fees are covered, and students are provided with a generous nine-month stipend of about US$20,000. On top of that, they are provided with annual adjustments and a fantastic health insurance plan that covers up to 90% of their medical bills.

Want additional funding? Some departments provide funding for research presentations at conferences, summer fellowships and paid time off for independent research. 

Learn more here .

Columbia University prides itself on offering guaranteed housing beyond the first year. Source: Columbia University Facebook.

3. Columbia University

PhD students at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University benefit from a robust compensation and benefits package – not just for themselves, but for their dependents too.

The university provides financial support, full tuition remission, summer stipends, affordable Columbia housing, health and dental coverage, and childcare subsidies. They pride themselves on offering guaranteed housing beyond the first year – Arts and Sciences doctoral students are eligible for five academic years of student housing right from their first day.

Learn more here . 

4. Washington University in St. Louis

Doctoral students taking computer science or computer engineering at Washington University in St. Louis receive full tuition support and health insurance, among other perks.

The university is home to cutting-edge degrees and offers doctoral students a chance to qualify for one of three fellowships – The Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin – Chancellor’s Fellowship , McDonnell International Scholars Academy , and the Dean’s International Award .

The university provides financial support for up to six years , as long as the student makes progress towards completion of their degree. On top of that, students receive a free Apple laptop in the latest model.

More information here .

5. University of Michigan

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor offers generous funding to their doctoral students in engineering. Students can specialise in numerous areas of specialisation, such as aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, macromolecular science and engineering, and robotics.

This fully-funded PhD provides students with guaranteed funding between four to six years, a monthly living stipend and a comprehensive health insurance plan. Additional funding is available from a range of sources, including graduate student instructor positions and fellowships.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Pursuing your PhD at the MIT Sloan School of Management demands a great deal of time, initiative, and discipline from every candidate. Only 19 students are selected from hundreds of applicants, but the rewards are worth it.

The school’s financial package will cover a period of five years guaranteed to doctoral students, given that you stand out academically. This includes a full academic year tuition, 12 terms of fellowship stipend, medical insurance, a new laptop, and a budget for conference travel or ongoing research.

Assistantship at Rice University could earn you full financial assistance. Source: Rice University Facebook.

7. Rice University

The PhD in business at Rice University is intended for those aspiring to become faculty members at business schools in prestigious research universities around the world. This assistantship could earn you full financial assistance which will come in the form of a tuition waiver and a generous stipend.

The Jones Graduate School of Business houses the PhD programme here where you can choose to focus on various areas of study including Accounting, Finance, Organisational Behaviour, and Strategic Management.

8. Brown University

Students admitted to any PhD programmes at Brown University are guaranteed five years of support including a stipend, tuition remission, health services fee, and health insurance subsidy.

There are also additional forms of financial aid too like federal loans specially for US citizens and permanent residents, private educational loans for both domestic and international students, and resources for scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

More here .

The University of Pennsylvania offers two ways for students to get full funding. Source: University of Pennsylvania Facebook.

9. University of Pennsylvania

There are two ways for Penn Graduate School of Education students to get full funding at the University of Pennsylvania .

The first is through the Dean’s Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship which includes tuition and fees, health insurance, and a living stipend. Students would also receive a fellowship and research apprenticeship package which covers four years of study.

The other is the IES Predoctoral Training Programme which offers financial and skill-building support to selected applicants. This multi-year training programme is designed to prepare PhD students committed to learning rigorous methods for conducting research.

10. Yale University

At Yale University , the School of Nursing offers fully-funded PhD degrees to its students. There are three types of scholarships available through programmes namely the Merit-Based Programme, Need-Based Programme, and Community Scholars Programme.

The Merit-Based Programme is awarded through admissions. All incoming students, both domestic and international, can sign up where they will go through a holistic review process. The Need-Based Programme is for US citizens and permanent residents.

Lastly, the new Community Scholars Programme provides complete remission of tuition, fees, and health insurance along with an annual stipend for selected students.

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Earn Your PhD with UK Online

In This Article:

Taking your education to the pinnacle level by earning a PhD or other terminal degree can be challenging, especially while balancing a demanding job and homelife. UK Online makes it possible to earn your terminal degree without taking away from your career or life at home. Our programs maximize your schedule flexibility while ensuring a quality education by connecting you with the necessary support network to be successful in a doctorate program.   Earning a terminal degree online has a great deal of benefits: flexibility, high-quality education, and support from professors and mentors. Read more about doctorate programs available on our  website . 

Benefits of Earning a PhD or Terminal Degree Online 

Allows for flexibility .

• Taking courses online does not require you to commute to campus daily for lectures, which allows for greater schedule flexibility.  
• Online in real-time requires classes meet via Zoom in accordance with the class schedule (sometimes monthly, or select weekends) 
• Fully online programs do not require any synchronous meeting and all course work can be done at your own time, in accordance with assignment due dates 
• Some programs, like clinical nursing programs, require students to come to campus for blocks of time that are predetermined for  skill assessments, standardized patient modules, etc.

Designed for Working Professionals 

These terminal degree programs are tailored for professionals who already have extensive experience in their respective fields. Many students enrolled in the PhD and other terminal degree programs with UK Online are returning after earning their graduate degrees, looking to deepen their knowledge and enhance their expertise in their careers.

Same Quality as In-Person Degree

Earning an online degree does not compromise the quality of education you receive. Our online doctoral degree programs maintain the same rigor and academic standards as the in-person programs. The courses and requirements are identical; the only difference is the virtual format. Upon completion, you will receive your diploma from University of Kentucky, with no distinction indicating it was earned online. 

Gain Support and Connect with Professors 

UK Online programs offer a strong sense of connection with your professors through various communication channels, including Zoom, email, and text. Throughout your program, you'll have the opportunity to engage with your instructors and connect with  mentors and advisors, just as in-person students do. This accessibility ensures that you receive the support and guidance you need at every stage of your academic journey, fostering a collaborative and enriching learning environment.

Click on the online doctoral programs below to learn more about the program.

Interested in Earning a Doctorate Degree Online?

View the program page for application deadlines and more information.

Education Sciences - Educational Leadership Option

This program is appropriate for educators, administrators, and policymakers who aspire to lead educational institutions or influence educational policy and reform at a systemic level. It also suits…

Nursing Practice

This program is appropriate for experienced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, or nurse midwives looking to advance their clinical expertise and leadership skills.…

Educational Leadership

This program is appropriate for experienced educators, administrators, and leaders in education who wish to deepen their understanding of educational theory, policy, and practice through applied…

Social Work

This program is appropriate for experienced social workers and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) seeking to advance their knowledge in social policy, research methodologies, and specialized…

Education Sciences - Physical Education Option

This program is appropriate for individuals with a strong background in physical education, exercise science, or related fields who seek to advance their knowledge through advanced research and…

Arts Administration

This program is appropriate for experienced arts managers and leaders looking to advance their careers with advanced research and scholarly contributions to the field. It also appeals to individuals…

This program is appropriate for registered nurses with significant clinical experience who aim to advance their careers in advanced clinical practice, leadership, research, or academia. It is also…

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We have 23 Psychology (fully funded) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for Self-funded Students in the UK

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Psychology (fully funded) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for Self-funded Students in the UK

Fully funded epsrc centre for doctoral training (cdt) in cyber security, funded phd programme (uk students only).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training conduct research and training in priority areas funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Potential PhD topics are usually defined in advance. Students may receive additional training and development opportunities as part of their programme.

Psychology: Fully Funded MSc by Research Scholarship: Environmental Impacts of Swansea Half Marathon and other large events moving to Net Zero

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Psychology: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Gambling on 5G: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Gambling Disorders

Discovering epigenetic signatures of early cognitive decline and dementia, competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Developing and refining a conceptual model for de-implementing low-value safety practices

Phd in international business and strategy at henley business school, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Business Research Programme

Business Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Unlocking the causes of eating disorders: investigating risk factors across development

Funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

How can we support children's maths learning? Understanding the role of misconceptions and maths anxiety

Competition funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Funded PhD – Using diverse cohorts, methods and novel measures to understand the relationship between diet, physical activity and health outcomes

Funded phd – optimising uptake and personalisation of digital health interventions for under-served groups: a case study with the drink less app, funded phd – the meme project: making exercise interventions more effective for depression and anxiety., funded phd – the impact of parental mental health on the neural substrate of early executive function development, funded phd- investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying apathy in parkinson’s disease, phd studentship in designing ai for home wellbeing through participatory design.

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