Top 10 UK Scholarships For PhD Students

Are you thinking of pursuing a PhD in the UK, but the financial burden worries you? Look no further; The UK offers a range of scholarships specifically tailored to support PhD students, whether they are UK nationals or international students. In this blog, we will uncover different types of PhD scholarships for international students in the UK and their eligibility. So sit tight and explore scholarships in the UK!

Top 10 PhD scholarships in the UK

The United Kingdom is a famous choice for students planning on studying abroad thanks to its well-established education. Still, sometimes the fees seem like a burden holding you back from applying. But we bring you solutions for this problem! These PhD scholarships for international students will help you reach your dreams. The following are the top 10 PhD scholarships in the UK you should keep in your scholarship list. 

1. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

If you are a non-UK citizen and planning to pursue a full-time program at the University of Cambridge, you can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, as it is one of the best PhD scholarships in the UK. The Scholarship covers PhD, one-year postgraduate, MSc, or MLitt courses and is also available for current students who wish to pursue another degree. The selection process evaluates candidates based on their academic achievements, motivation for choosing the course, leadership potential and commitment to improving the lives of others. The students who tick all these boxes receive full funding for their studies, including a maintenance allowance of £17,500 per pay for up to 4 years, two-way economy class airfare, visa expenses and immigration health surcharge. 

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• Citizenship of any country outside the UK.
• Application to pursue one of these full-time courses:
• PhD
• MPhil/MLitt
• Any one-year postgraduate course

2. Carnegie PhD Scholarship

This is yet another PhD scholarship in the UK that students get competitive for. Suppose you demonstrate exceptional academic abilities and plan to pursue a PhD at a university in Scotland. In that case, you can apply for scholarships from the Carnegie Trust for Universities in Scotland. These scholarships of £17,904 cover tuition costs, living allowances and research expenses and can be renewed for up to 3 years of study and up to 6 years of part-time education. You can also apply for an extension of up to 42 months by submitting a case for such an extension at the time of nomination, which will be considered part of the award. The Trust aims to award 12-15 scholarships for doctoral studies across all Scottish Universities in the 2022-2023 academic year.  

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• Applicants must have a First Class Honours undergraduate degree from a Scottish university to qualify for the scholarships. 
• This First-Class Honours degree must be in an area relevant to the planned doctorate study. 
• Students in their last year of an undergraduate degree who are anticipated to graduate with a First-Class Honours degree may also apply. 

3. Scotland's Saltire Scholarship

This is yet another PhD scholarship in the UK the Scottish government offers in collaboration with Scottish educational institutions. These scholarships are designed to support students from Canada, India, China, Japan, Pakistan and the US to study full-time PhD students. The Saltire Scholarship aims to promote Scotland as a destination for academic excellence and to encourage cultural exchange between Scotland and other countries. This UK PhD scholarship tuition fee is for one academic year of full-time study, with up to 50 available scholarships each year. If you're one of the lucky few, you will receive a living allowance of £8000 for a year of study in Scotland. Students pursuing disciplines such as science, healthcare, technology, arts, and renewable energy can apply for this Scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria 
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• You must be a resident of any of the following countries: India, China, Canada, USA, Pakistan and Japan.
• You must have an official call letter from a recognized Scottish University.
• You must be able to demonstrate that they can meet the living expenses in Scotland.
• You should not have studied previously in Scotland.
• You must meet the language requirements.
• You should not have received the benefits of the Saltire scholarship previously.

4. The Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship is a comprehensive PhD scholarship in the UK that covers the entire cost of postgraduate studies in any field at any UK university. Students who are from diverse backgrounds and disciplines and who show exceptional intelligence and personal potential may be one of the few that are qualified for the Marshall Scholarship. Around 100 scholarships are awarded yearly, which cover one or two years of study, depending on the program you've chosen. Moreover, if you get selected for the Marshal Scholarship, you'll receive an annual stipend of £27,000. Now doesn't that sound like a sweet deal?

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• Be a United States of America citizen at the time of application.
• Pass your first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college in the United States by September 2023.
• Achieve a grade point average of 3.7 on their undergraduate degree at the time of application. Rounded GPAs are not accepted.
• Graduate from their first undergraduate college or university after April 2020.
• Not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University, or have taken GCSE or A Levels at school in the UK.

5. Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries

The Commonwealth strives to provide financial aid to exceptional students from all over the world who possess the potential to make a positive impact on global development. Every year, approximately 800 students from commonwealth countries are granted the chance to be selected and pursue their desired academic program at one of the esteemed institutions in the United Kingdom. Commonwealth Scholarships are highly sought after, making this one of the best PhD scholarships in the UK.
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• A citizen or permanent resident of any one of the commonwealth countries
• The applicant must have an undergraduate degree in the upper second class
• The candidate should also have a relevant master's degree.
• The applicant must be financially incapable of pursuing higher studies in the UK

6. Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarship 

The Imperial College London President's PhD scholarships in the UK are an amazing program that covers tuition fees and other expenses for 50 talented students to study at a prestigious university like Imperial College London. And guess what? It's not just for full-time students, but part-timers can apply too! So if you aim to take your research game to the next level and pursue a PhD in your chosen field, this is the opportunity for you!

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• The applicant must have completed the postgraduate degree with distinction.
• Only fresh applicants, not those already enrolled in the course, are eligible to apply for the Scholarship.
• No nationality restriction

7. Oxford University- Clarendon Scholarship

The Clarendon scholarship is a well-known PhD scholarship in the UK that does not require a separate application form. If you apply for an Oxford University PhD programme, you are automatically eligible to apply for this Scholarship. The application deadline may vary depending on your preference programme but typically falls in January. If awarded this Scholarship, you'll receive full tuition coverage and a living stipend of £15,609.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• GPA score of at least 3.7 if the mark is out of 4
• Outstanding academic achievement at the Master's level
• Previous transcript
• Proof of previous university prizes and awards.

8. University of Cambridge: Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme

The University of Cambridge is looking for 25 exceptional PhD students from all walks of life and areas of expertise who have to make a real contribution to the academic world with their top-tier research programs. Most students will be affiliated with St Catharine's College, while the rest will be placed in other colleges. The deadline to apply for this PhD scholarship in the UK varies from department to department but for most programmes. The successful students will receive a comprehensive package that includes coverage of the university, including coverage of the university composition fee, a personal allowance of £6,000 throughout their studies, an annual stipend of £18,000 and even coverage of student visa costs. 

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• Have merit in your Master's degree in addition to holding a first-class or second-upper-class honours degree

9. University of Exeter- PhD Scholarship 

The University of Exeter is offering two parts of funding for students: 1) research master's in Economics and a PhD program in either Finance or Economics. As a part of this PhD scholarship in the UK, you will be required to work as a teaching or research assistant for around 180 hours, about 23 days per year. But don't worry; this can be beneficial in enhancing your research and educational skills. The funding includes a combined stipend and teaching allowance of £19,000 per year for those 180 hours. Plus, students can apply for additional funding to cover research, development and conference travel expenses. 

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• An upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area.
• A Master's degree at a Merit level or equivalent in a relevant subject area (some programmes may require a Distinction level).
• Meet the English language requirements for the programme they are applying to. 
• Provide references that support their academic and research potential.
• Submit a well-developed research proposal that aligns with the research priorities 
• Meet any additional programme-specific requirements, such as relevant work experience or knowledge of a specific subject area.

10. Aston University College of Business and Social Sciences

If you apply for this PhD scholarship in the UK, you'll study at the College of Business and Social Sciences and Humanities. Multiple students seeking admission to any of these school programmes are automatically eligible to apply for up to 6 fully-funded PhD studentships. Suppose you're successful in receiving these PhD scholarships in the UK; in that case, you'll be receiving full coverage at the international rate and an annual maintenance grant of £15,580 pounds for the duration of your three-year program. 

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this UK scholarship, you must:

• Have merit in your Master's degree and a first-class or second-upper-class honours degree.
• Meet the English language requirements for the programme they are applying to. 
• Provide references that support their academic and research potential.

So if you are considering a PhD scholarship in the UK but are worried about the cost, it is worth exploring the various UK scholarship PhD options available. These scholarships can support you in pursuing your academic goals and making your dreams a reality! You can also check out the amber scholarships that aim to help students from all over the world who possess the required qualifications and win a scholarship of up to £10,000. Seize this excellent opportunity and submit your application for the amber scholarship now and reach your goals 2X faster!