PhD funding for international students

Getting funding for your PhD can be tricky, especially if you’re an international student planning on studying in the United Kingdom. 

The good news is that there are plenty of PhD funding options for international students in the UK. Government bodies, charities, or universities usually provide funded PhD opportunities. 

This guide will cover the two main types of funding that you can take advantage of. These are PhD studentships and PhD scholarships/grants.

PhD studentships

A PhD studentship is one of the best and most competitive forms of doctoral funding. This funding is attached to a specific PhD project and is very common in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine). However, some studentships are available in other subjects, such as Humanities. 

This form of funding is so popular because a studentship usually covers all tuition fees and living costs. Fully funded PhD studentships provide a tax-free, annual maintenance stipend of around £15,000. 

Applying for a PhD is very similar to applying for a job. If you’re accepted for one of these projects, you’ll get paid a ‘salary’ (funding) for carrying out the work. 

How are PhD studentships funded?

PhD studentships can be funded by different sources, including universities, charities, and government bodies. Sometimes a university might fund PhD students with its own grant money. 

However, more commonly, they’re funded by research councils which are part of the UK Institute of Research and Innovation (UKRI). There are seven research councils, each covering a different subject area. For example, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds arts and humanities PhD programmes.

UKRI-funded studentships offer a minimum maintenance stipend of £17,668 per year and cover tuition fees of at least £4,596 per year. These figures are for the 2022-2023 academic year. The amount awarded increases every year in line with inflation. 

Are PhD studentships available to international students?

In the past, PhD studentships were only available to UK students. EU students could apply for a partial ‘fees-only’ studentship that didn’t cover maintenance costs.

However, since the 2021-2022 academic year, all international students are eligible to apply for full PhD studentships. So, if you’re an international student hoping to study for your PhD in the UK, you’ll be able to benefit from this funding!

It’s important to note that most universities charge international students higher tuition fees than UK (home) students. However, international students will only get enough funding to cover the home tuition fees (plus your maintenance stipend). This means you’ll need to find additional funding from elsewhere or pay the difference yourself. 

Around 30% of studentship funding from the UKRI is allocated to international PhD students. This can make studentships highly competitive. Despite this, a studentship is one of the best options for a fully funded PhD in the UK for international students.

How to get accepted for a PhD studentship as an international student 

In order to increase your chances of being accepted for a competitive studentship, it’s essential that you have excellent grades. Low grades (below a 2:1) mean you’ll likely get filtered out early in the application process.

Another crucial element to the success of your application is a compelling research proposal. You should convey how your prospective PhD advisor’s research has motivated and inspired you. Getting relevant research experience can also help give you an edge over your competitors.

Lastly, English language proficiency tests, such as IELTS, can be useful to prove that you are capable of undertaking a UK PhD.

You can easily look for PhD studentships through sites such as Find a PhD.

PhD scholarships and grants

If studentships are not offered in your research field, scholarships and grants are alternative ways to gain PhD funding. These are usually not associated with a particular PhD programme or university. The UK government or independent charities usually fund PhD scholarships for international students. 

Commonwealth PhD scholarships

These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). They are available to citizens from eligible (‘least developed’) countries in the Commonwealth. 

Each scholarship covers approved airfare, tuition fees, a monthly maintenance stipend, and a family allowance if you have dependents. 

For the application form, you must have at least two educational references and a supporting statement from a proposed supervisor in the UK.

Other UK PhD Scholarships

Several other PhD scholarships are available to international students studying in the UK. Many of these are funded by charities and trusts. 

Newton Fund PhD Scholarships

These scholarships are funded by the British Council and offered to students from partner countries to undertake PhDs in the UK. These are usually in STEM subjects. If you are from one of these partner countries, you will need to apply to the Newton scheme associated with that country. 

Newton PhD scholarships usually cover tuition fees, living costs, and other costs such as visa fees. 

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

The Carnegie Trust funds PhD research at Scottish universities. International students can apply. You just need to have studied for your undergraduate degree at a Scottish university and achieved a first-class degree.    

This scholarship includes a stipend for living expenses, UK home-rate tuition fees, and a research allowance.

Gen Foundation grants

This Gen Foundation was set up to promote cross-cultural exchange between Japan and the rest of the world. However, these grants are open to all nationalities, provided you are studying Food Science or technology.

This is a grant rather than a scholarship; the value awarded is decided based on the individual application. The amount is usually between £500 and £5000.     

Country-specific funding 

There are also a large number of PhD scholarships and grants designed for students of particular nationalities. Often looking for country-specific funding for your nationality can be an effective way of finding suitable funding for your PhD.

For example, the Australia Day Foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to Australian citizens studying in the UK. This grant is for course fees and materials.

University-specific funding 

Some scholarships and grants depend on your acceptance by a specific university in the UK. These are usually funded by the universities themselves or external charities. There may be other restrictions on the funding, such as required grades or nationality.

For example, the Saïd Foundation offers full scholarships (tuition fees and living expenses) to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, or Palestine citizens. You can apply if you're one of these citizens and are studying for a PhD at Oxford or Cambridge. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must have also previously held a teaching post in your home country. 

How UniHomes can help

After you’ve sorted out your PhD funding and been accepted to your dream research programme, it’ll be time to look for a place to live. 

At UniHomes, we offer a huge range of fantastic student properties, including modern studio flats, in student cities across the UK. The best part? All our properties include all bills, so you won’t have to worry about setting up complex bills. You can just focus on your research!

Check out what properties we have near your university to find the perfect student accommodation for you.