27 Sep 2024
Most of the students who pursue a Doctorate degree opt for PhD scholarships UK. Applying for a PhD in the UK with a scholarship can help you ease the tuition expenses partially or even fully. And there are 300+ scholarships that will let you do so. Read through to find out some of the best ones.
There are so many different types of scholarships and they tend to lay down unique requirements for selection. There are athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, need-based and merit-based scholarships, scholarships for women, community service scholarships, STEM scholarships, identity-based scholarships, legacy scholarships, activity-based scholarships, alumni scholarships, and the list is truly endless. However, we will be looking at some of the common and popular types of PhD scholarships in the UK for international students.
These are offered to students who have regularly portrayed academic excellence throughout their education and show the potential to prove the chance given to them will be worth it.
These scholarships require your grades to be in order. You will also need to score well in standardized tests such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, etc. Mostly, these are offered by education trusts or the government.
A need-based scholarship allows those who are not financially deemed to be studying a PhD abroad, do so. Their expenses are taken care of in the scholarships sometimes and tuition fees can get partially or completely waived depending on the candidate’s financial condition.
They are usually offered by universities to local as well as international students.
These are similar to academic scholarships but they are offered to students studying a specific subject. Some of the most popular subjects for gaining the opportunity of landing a scholarship are:
Firstly, you will need to figure out the university and program that complements your research the best. D-Vivid can help you narrow down on specific universities to apply to. Reach us out today. When choosing a university, you must keep in mind the faculty’s expertise, the university’s ranking, and the facilities that you will be provided with for research.
Also understand the coursework, research work, etc. that is required for applying into the programs you have chosen. After that, you might be able to find government, research council, private organizations or university-funded scholarships.
Later on, you will have to write a research proposal and gather important documents that are required for submitting your application (academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, research proposals, and required English Language Proficiency Test scores).
Next, make sure to submit all your applications before the allotted deadlines. Prepare for any interviews if required and wait for an acceptance letter from the university’s end. After receiving your letter of acceptance, you can continue to apply for a visa. And this is how to do a PhD in the UK with a scholarship.
A PhD in the UK with scholarships for Indian students is a step towards a bright future. You can study at reputed universities by gaining an entry to these scholarships:
| Scholarship | Includes | Eligibility Criteria | Application Deadline |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships | Full tuition fees, a stipend, and a consumables fund. | Citizens or permanent residents of Commonwealth countries with an undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class and a relevant master's degree. | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Gates Scholarships | Full tuition fees, a stipend, and a one-time travel allowance. | High-achieving students from developing countries who demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of others. | Oct 7, 2024 (with late fees) |
| Carnegie PhD Scholarship | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | Outstanding students from around the world who are pursuing research in a field of public interest. | Dec 15, 2024 |
| Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarship | Full tuition fees and a generous stipend. | High-achieving students with a strong academic record and research potential. | Nov 4, 2024 & Jan 9, 2025 |
| Scotland's Saltire Scholarship | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | Students from EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa who are pursuing a PhD at a Scottish university. | Currently closed |
| UK university scholarships | Vary by university, but typically include tuition fees and a stipend. | Varies by university, but generally requires a strong academic record and research potential. | Varies by university |
| GREAT Scholarships | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | High-achieving students from developing countries who are pursuing a PhD at a UK university. | May 12, 2025 (applications open in Nov) |
| Priestly PhD | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | US citizens who are pursuing a PhD at a UK university. | Closed |
| Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships | Full tuition fees, a stipend, and a travel allowance. | Indian citizens who are pursuing a PhD at a UK university. | Feb 28, 2025 |
| Edinburgh Doctoral College scholarship | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | High-achieving students who are pursuing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. | Usually around Nov. |
| Inlaks Scholarships | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | Indian citizens who are pursuing a PhD at a foreign university. | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Newton-Bhabha Fund | Funding for joint research projects between UK and Indian researchers. | Researchers from UK and Indian institutions are working on a collaborative research project. | Varies by year and project. |
| Rhodes Scholarship | Full tuition fees and a stipend. | US citizens who are pursuing a PhD at a UK university. | Closed |
| Royal Society grants | Funding for research projects. | Researchers from UK institutions who are pursuing research in a variety of fields. | Varies by year and project. |
Note: Please don’t forget to check the deadlines for these scholarships yourself on their official websites. Deadlines can constantly get shifted and changed. Also, some scholarships might close applications for now but open them in the future. So, it is best to keep checking according to your program’s needs.
Organisations such as the Chevening, and Commonwealth tend to offer a lot of scholarships for PhD students year-round. Their PhD scholarships in the UK for international students completely cover tuition fees, provide aid for your living expenses (food, commute, accommodation, etc.) by offering a monthly stipend, and also include one-time travelling to and from the UK.
So that was everything for a PhD in the UK with scholarships. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to our experienced team members at D-Vivid. We will help you find the right scholarship for your PhD degree and also offer guidance that has helped thousands of research aspirants fulfil their dream of studying abroad in the UK while also saving their bank accounts from being robbed by top-ranked universities in the UK.
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To get a PhD scholarship in the UK, international students must meet certain criteria that are laid down by the organization that is offering the scholarship.
Yes. Fully-funded scholarships in the UK happen every now and then. If you are a candidate with a strong purpose for carrying out research activities at reputed institutions, there are many organizations that would want to sponsor you for your study, no strings attached. You just need to show high potential, and meet their specific requirements for applications.
Usually, it is around £16,062, but for students going to London universities it is £18,062.
It is slightly competitive to get a scholarship for PhD in the UK, but it is not impossible to get one. Note that not many students want to pursue a doctorate and often just start working after their Master’s. So, you just need to show a high research potential for being selected.
Studying a PhD at UK universities is surely worth the leap. Along with excellent opportunities for research and access to world-class equipment, you will also be highly valued to employers around the globe.
