PhD Scholarships in United Kingdom
There are 28 active phd scholarships for international students in United Kingdom worth up to €4000k, from 28 providers. Compare eligibility, awards, and deadlines below and apply before they close.
full fundingUKRI Policy Fellowships
Open to early, mid-career and senior researchers of all nationalities who are affiliated with a UKRI-eligible institution and have expertise in social sciences or related interdisciplinary fields such as environmental science, climate studies, economics and public health.
full fundingBritish Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships
Open to early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences who completed a PhD within the last seven years (extensions allowed for documented career breaks) and who are citizens of an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates. Applicants must not hold a permanent academic position or have previously held an IASH Fellowship, and the research proposal must relate to Official Development Assistance policy or practice and include plans for knowledge exchange in the applicant's home country.
full fundingOpen Source AI Fellowship (UK)
Open to AI professionals and researchers who are legally eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship, have resided in the UK for at least 5 years (a security check is required), are employed by a UK-based organisation willing to support a 12-month secondment, and hold a PhD or equivalent professional experience in AI or a related discipline.
full fundingJesus College Cambridge Arts Research Fellowship
Open to UK and international early-career researchers in the arts and humanities who hold an undergraduate degree and are in the final stages of a PhD or have recently completed one. Applicants must have fewer than five years of full-time research experience by 1 October 2026, with allowances for part-time research or mitigating circumstances. Selection is on research excellence and academic potential rather than nationality.
full fundingMarshall Scholarship
Open to U.S. citizens who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. university with a GPA of at least 3.7, graduating within the last ~3 years, who do not already hold a UK degree. Scholars pursue any postgraduate degree at any UK university for one to two years.
full fundingRhodes Scholarship
For talented young people from around the world to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Around 100 scholars are selected each year from more than 60 countries and constituencies; applications are made in your home country or constituency, each with its own age and eligibility rules.
full fundingCommonwealth Scholarships (UK)
For citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries (chiefly low- and middle-income) for master's and PhD study in the UK. Applicants apply through a nominating body in their home country (or selected UK universities/agencies) and must usually be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship.
full fundingWellcome Discovery Awards
Open to established researchers and research teams with a proven record of research delivery who are based at, or will be hosted by, an eligible not-for-profit organisation in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). Projects must propose bold, transformative research aligned with Wellcome's mission to improve health. The award does not cover the lead applicant's own salary, and a researcher may lead only one active Discovery Award submission.
full fundingPresident's PhD Scholarship
For exceptional students of any nationality applying for a full-time PhD at Imperial College London, who have (or expect) a top undergraduate/master's degree and strong research potential. You apply with or after securing a PhD place and a supervisor; selection is by the department and the scholarship scheme.
full fundingGates Cambridge Scholarships
Open to citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom applying for a full-time postgraduate degree (PhD, MSc/MLitt, or one-year master's) at the University of Cambridge. Selection weighs academic excellence, a strong fit with the chosen Cambridge course, a clear commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential.
full fundingNINE DTP Scholarships
Open to UK home students and international students applying for postgraduate research (PhD, PhD with research methods training, or a combined 1+3 master's and PhD) in the social sciences at one of the seven NINE partner universities. Applicants must hold or expect a strong undergraduate degree, and many routes value a relevant master's. International students may apply but should check the share of funded places open to overseas applicants and any fee-difference rules under the ESRC funding policy.
full fundingUniversity of Sheffield ESRC White Rose DTP Scholarships
Open to UK, EU and international students with a UK 2:1 honours degree or equivalent (lower grades considered with a relevant master's), who meet the university's English requirements and, for +3.5 awards, evidence of completed research training.
full fundingOxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarships
Open to UK residents from Muslim communities (with preference for financially disadvantaged households) and to nationals resident in specified Asian and African countries. Applicants must be applying for a new full-time master's or DPhil at the University of Oxford in a subject relevant to the Islamic tradition or the Muslim world, meet the English language requirement, and intend to return to their country of ordinary residence after completing their course.
full fundingVice Chancellor's Illuminate Fellowship at Queen's University Belfast
Open to researchers of all nationalities who hold a completed PhD in a relevant subject, have roughly 2-8 years of post-PhD experience, a strong publication record, and a research plan that aligns with existing research strengths at Queen's University Belfast.
full fundingHerchel Smith Intellectual Property PhD Scholarships at Queen Mary University of London
Open to applicants of all nationalities, both UK and international, who are applying for or hold an offer for a full-time PhD at the Queen Mary School of Law in intellectual property law, or research at the intersection of IP law with other disciplines in the sciences or humanities. Applicants must meet the English language requirement (IELTS 7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in Writing) and plan to start in the autumn 2026 intake.
full fundingCSC - University of Sussex Scholarship
Exclusively for citizens of the People's Republic of China, either permanently residing in China or currently studying overseas (applicants working overseas are not eligible). Candidates must be classified as international Chinese students for tuition purposes, meet the University of Sussex English language requirements, hold or expect strong academic qualifications (a UK-equivalent first-class honours degree and, for Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences, a master's degree), and must secure both a Sussex PhD admission offer and CSC funding.
full fundingUniversity of Edinburgh Roslin Institute PhD Studentships
International and home students with a strong academic background in veterinary sciences, agriculture, biology or a related discipline, who can demonstrate motivation to undertake research in one of the offered project areas and have excellent English proficiency.
full fundingNottingham Trent University PhD Studentships
Open to international and UK applicants with a first or upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent); a lower second-class degree is accepted with a master's at Merit or above. Non-native English speakers need IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0).
full fundingEPSRC DTP PhD Studentships at the University of Exeter
Open to both UK (Home) and international applicants for PhD study in engineering and physical sciences at the University of Exeter. Applicants should hold a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in science, engineering or technology; a Lower Second Class may be acceptable with a Master's degree or strong non-academic experience. Home-fee eligibility follows the UKRI EPSRC residency criteria (UK nationals, settled or pre-settled status, or indefinite leave to remain/enter). A limited number of awards are open to international students, who must cover visa costs and the immigration health surcharge. Non-native English speakers must meet the university's English language requirement.
partial fundingUK Government Open Innovation Team (OIT) Policy Fellowship
Open to UK civil servants in grades SEO to G6 who work in a policy-related role with a specific policy challenge to explore, and who have line manager and departmental support to take part. It is a part-time academic mentoring fellowship rather than a degree, and is not open to non-civil-servants.
full fundingAston Institute for Forensic Linguistics PhD Scholarships
Open to international and home PhD applicants who will enrol on a PhD programme at the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics. Candidates must show enthusiasm, diligence, and an organised approach, and have a research idea that aligns with the Institute's expertise, particularly the Centre for Forensic Text Analysis or the Centre for Language and Law. For the two directed PhDs, applicants must respond to one of the published research area outlines. Informal contact with a potential supervisor before applying is encouraged.
full fundingLeeds University Business School PhD Excellence Scholarships
Open to both international and UK (domestic) applicants seeking a full-time PhD place at Leeds University Business School. Candidates normally hold a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree in a relevant field plus a relevant master's degree graded around 60-70% or higher, and must meet the English requirement of IELTS 7.0 overall with no component below 6.5. Awards are tied to a research place in one of the school's departments such as Accounting and Finance, Economics, Management or Marketing.
full fundingUniversity of Glasgow School of Social and Political Sciences PhD Scholarship
Open to both international and home (UK) applicants seeking PhD study in the School of Social and Political Sciences. Applicants normally need at least an upper second-class honours degree (2:1) or overseas equivalent in a social science subject, with evidence of some first-class level performance; candidates without a Master's degree are expected to hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Three international scholarships are reserved for candidates from OECD-classified Least Developed, Low-Income, Lower-Middle or Upper-Middle Income countries, and two home scholarships for UK Widening Participation candidates. All offers depend on securing admission to a PhD programme within the School.
full fundingUniversity of Strathclyde PhD Scholarship in Supply Chain Optimization Research
Open to applicants for a 3-year PhD project on optimizing complex multi-echelon supply chains under uncertainty, supervised by Professor Kerem Akartunali. Candidates need a first-class honours undergraduate degree, preferably in a highly quantitative subject such as Computer Science, Operations Research, Mathematics, Statistics, or Engineering; an excellent Master's-level qualification and object-oriented programming skills are advantages. UK fees and an annual tax-free stipend are covered; international students may apply but normally need to cover the home/international fee difference unless funded as exceptional candidates.
full fundingUniversity of Leeds EPSRC Molecules to Product PhD Studentships
Graduates with a strong academic background in chemical engineering, materials science, physics, mathematics, statistics, chemistry or food science. Fully funded EPSRC studentships are open to UK fee-rated applicants; self-funded international students may also apply.
partial fundingCharles Wallace India Trust Visiting Fellowship at King's College London
Indian citizens residing in India who hold a PhD, are employed full-time at an Indian university or research institution, are in the early or mid stages of an academic career in the arts, humanities or cultural heritage, and have not received CWIT support in the last 5 years.
full fundingAfOx Visiting Fellowship Programme
Open to nationals of an African country who hold an advanced academic degree (e.g. a PhD or equivalent) and are currently affiliated with an African university or research institution. The 2026/2027 cycle focuses on forced migration studies, and researchers with lived experience of displacement (refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, or those under temporary protection) are strongly encouraged to apply.
full fundingLoughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarship
Open to students seeking sanctuary in the UK, regardless of nationality, who fall into an eligible immigration category such as asylum seeker, refugee, humanitarian protection holder, or another recognised at-risk status. Applicants must hold a conditional or unconditional PhD offer from Loughborough University (Loughborough or London campus) in any subject. Part-time study is only available to applicants residing in the UK or with caregiving responsibilities, and full-time employment disqualifies applicants from the part-time route.
Frequently asked questions
How many scholarships are available in United Kingdom?
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28 active scholarships are listed on this page, updated regularly.
Can international students apply for scholarships in United Kingdom?
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Yes — these scholarships are open to international students; check each one's eligibility and deadline.