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Research Council funding

If you're looking to secure PhD funding in 2024/25, your first move should be to find out whether you're eligible for a non-repayable Research Council studentship

RESEARCH COUNCIL GRANTS AT A GLANCE

Research Councils fund PhD students in different subject areas.
Grants can cover tuition fees and living costs.
Apply to the university, not the Research Council.
You don't have to repay the money.
Alternatively, take out a PhD loan .

Who awards Research Council funding for postgraduate study?

Research Councils in the UK provide funding for different subjects of academic research. The seven councils are:

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

These organisations are grouped together with Innovate UK and Research England under the umbrella organisation UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This non-departmental public body supports around a fifth of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You can learn more about the individual Research Councils at UKRI - Councils.

One of UKRI's priorities is funding the training of new researchers, which means that if you're studying for a  PhD  or research  Masters  you may be able to access a non-repayable Research Council grant.

Research Council funding is distributed directly to universities based on their research aims. To obtain funding, individual or groups of universities set up Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) within which they train PhD students.

It's then up to the universities (not the Research Councils) to decide who to award studentships to - usually based on academic merit following a competitive application process.

Contact the university you want to study at to find out what's available, whether you're eligible, what the selection criteria is and how to apply. Your proposed PhD supervisor will be able to help.

How much Research Council funding can I receive?

There are two main parts to a Research Council studentship. In 2024/25 they're worth:

£19,237 as a minimum Doctoral stipend to cover living expenses
£4,786 for PhD tuition fees.

The figures are slightly higher if you're studying in London due to the high cost of living, and will also typically rise with inflation each year. Additional allowances may be available for specific costs related to your studies. Read more at UKRI - Get a studentship to fund your Doctorate .

Research Councils also pay Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) to those who are eligible.

The funding does not have to be paid back, and grants usually cover the full three or four years of your PhD study.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for Research Council funding, you'll need to meet a range of criteria:

Your undergraduate results  - holding a 2:1 or higher undergraduate degree.
Extra qualifications and experience  - obtaining a Masters degree (or equivalent postgraduate qualification), as well as carrying out professional research or work experience. These aren't necessary requirements but will enhance your application.
Your financial situation  - Research Council funding is awarded on a merit basis. However, you can't be receiving any other form of government funding or working full time if you're hoping to submit an application. Part-time workers may still be eligible for reduced funding.
Your residency  - If you're a UK student who's been resident in the UK for three years, you'll normally be able to receive a full studentship for both living costs and fees. As an international student you'll also be eligible for a full award covering your fees, living costs and other expenses. However, universities have placed a limit on the number of studentships available to international students, with this capped at 30% of the institution's total.

Is my course eligible for Research Council funding?

Research Council studentships are open to both research Masters and PhD students, although it is PhD applicants who receive the majority of the funding. In 2022/23, UKRI committed over £3billion to the seven Research Councils in the form of research and innovation awards and fellowships, and it plans to dedicate more than £500million in 2024 to support Doctoral studentships as part of its new Doctoral landscape awards.

Your university department will be able to tell you whether your programme is eligible for funding, as well as offering advice on how to submit a high-standard application.

For those receiving a PhD studentship grant, further help is available in the form of UKRI training and development to support you in getting the most out of your Doctorate.

If you can't get Research Council funding, you may be eligible for a PhD loan worth up to £29,390 (2024/25) - but you aren't allowed to combine the two types of funding.

How do I apply?

You'll normally be able to apply for the funding only after you've been accepted onto a PhD programme.

While application processes may differ, each will follow the same outline. You'll need to be prepared - if you start your research as soon as you've decided you'd like to study for a PhD you'll have a greater idea of what's on offer, what you'd like to do and the steps you need to take to get there.

Your funding application will usually need to contain:

A research proposal  - the most passionate students, who can show how their research is going to positively impact their career and the field they're working in, are generally more successful. Get tips on how to write a successful research proposal .
A justification of resources  - this is a breakdown of what you'll be spending and where throughout your studies, and why this spending is important.
A personal statement  - as well as impressing with your proposal, you might be asked to provide a written statement explaining why you deserve funding. Highlight your financial circumstances but also your skillset and enthusiasm.
References  - ideally provided by your undergraduate or postgraduate tutor, your references should be from those who can comment on your academic achievements or work ethic.

Generally speaking, applications can be made early in the academic year and will close in January/February, but you should bear in mind that opportunities for funding are open throughout the year so deadlines may vary.

How can I increase my chances of success?

The UKRI awarded 6,000 research and innovation grants and fellowships in 2022/23. Therefore, with competition so fierce, you'll need a polished application to stand a chance of being considered. There are always more applications than there are grants available.

Your prospects of receiving funding are typically higher if your research is in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field. This is because there are more funding places on offer to STEM applicants, particularly in the field of engineering. For instance, while the EPSRC offered 600 PhD grants and studentships in 2022/23, the number of AHRC and ESRC grants awarded totalled just 294 and 351 respectively.

It's also important to ensure that your application is compelling. Universities want proof that they're funding worthwhile research in a meaningful and interesting area. They expect assurances that you'll complete your work to a high standard and in keeping with set deadlines.

Find out more

Search for PhDs in the UK .
Consider PhD studentships  and scholarships and bursaries .
Explore  PhD study .

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Studentships and doctoral training

If you want to study for a doctorate such as a PhD you cannot apply directly to UKRI or our research councils for funding. You’ll need to contact the research organisation (normally a university) where you wish to be based.

Find out more about our support for doctoral students .

UKRI funds doctoral training by awarding training grants to research organisations. Research organisations then support studentships from those grants and recruit students to them.

We offer two types of training grants:

doctoral focal awards support studentships in tightly focused themes with highly tailored programmes
doctoral landscape awards provide broader flexible funding to support the UK’s overall capability and capacity needs

Search funding opportunities .

Find out more about how our councils develop people and skills:

Arts and Humanities Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Economic and Social Research Council
Medical Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Science and Technology Facilities Council

Last updated: 29 October 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 Funding – A Checklist of Possible Sources

There are probably more funding opportunities for your PhD than you think. It is worth making sure you have investigated them all.

Funding bodies support PhD students in different ways. Some pay course fees only, some include a stipend (maintenance costs) or travel expenses, and others offer a one-off award to ease the financial burden of academic study.

Each funding body will have its own criteria for eligibility. At PhD level full funding will tend to be awarded on academic merit, but there are also some that take into account financial background and other criteria such as gender (such as in the case of the British Federation of Women Graduates).

Research Councils

The seven Research Councils invest in the region of £380 million into doctorate research every year. However, funding is made available through the participating universities rather than the research councils themselves. Universities set up Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in order to receive funding.

It is then up to the universities to decide who to award studentships to – usually based on academic merit following a competitive application process.

Eligibility criteria and award amounts are standardised and you will find many other funded PhDs referring to research council rates when defining their own. Research council studentships include fees and a minimum stipend per annum which is paid tax-free.

The seven Research Councils include:

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Medical Research Council (MRC)

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The above organisations have been grouped together with Innovate UK and Research England in 2018, and the umbrella organisation is called UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) .

UKRI’s key objectives include providing funding for the training of new researchers.

Academic institutions

Universities, colleges and research institutes also fund their own studentships, and these are typically listed on the institution’s own website alongside its research council-funded studentships. Some will offer fees only, while others may offer a stipend as well. Amounts may vary although many use the research council rates as a benchmark.

Commercial and charitable organisations

A number of non-academic organisations help fund research at PhD level in collaboration with the university hosting the study. CASE (Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering) studentships are for four-year PhDs. These are part-funded by a non-academic ‘co-operating body’ such as a UK industrial firm, public sector organisation or charity. Students spend at least three months of the PhD working in-situ at the co-operating body which makes a financial contribution to both the student and the project. Students often find these to be good avenues for finding full-time work at the end of their placement, and will have gained valuable hands-on work experience. There are also CASE-Plus studentships where students spend a further year working full-time on the premises of the co-operating body as an employee following the PhD.

A number of charitable organisations, foundations and trusts can help fund PhDs:

The Wellcome Trust

Cancer Research UK

The British Academy

The British Federation of Women Graduates

The Institution of Civil Engineers

Institution of Engineering & Technology

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Royal Geographical Society

Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland

Leverhulme Trust

Action Medical Research

The Grundy Educational Trust .

Self-funding

If you are having difficulty in getting funding from the above sources, you may be able to fund your own way through a PhD. You may be eligible for Professional and Career development loans. It is wise to review the specific application criteria to ensure that you are eligible.

A further option is to study part-time while working. This could however place additional demands on your time and financial situation. Be aware that if you have managed to access some funding elsewhere, you may be prohibited from working during your PhD as part of the stipulations of the award.

The jobs.ac.uk website lists some excellent PhD opportunities as well as a wide range of jobs – do take a look at them!

For more PhD tips:

Your PhD Journey – Top Tips

What Can You Do With a PhD?

PhD Application Tips

What is a PhD and Why Should YOU do one?

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Henrietta Nagy

Henrietta Nagy is a seasoned portfolio worker with over 10 years’ experience in the UK education sector. Henrietta writes educational content, designs academic courses, delivers university lectures, mentors entrepreneurs, and provides career development coaching. One of Henrietta's recent organisational clients is the Oxford University where she has facilitated over 100 hours of learning events. With 9 years of higher education studies internationally (including an MBA), she has worked with CEOs, academics, scholars, managers, women entrepreneurs, academic administrators and other consultants.