Top 10 UK Scholarships For PhD Students

Are you thinking of pursuing a PhD in the UK, but the financial burden worries you? You’re not alone! A PhD in the UK can cost anywhere from £4,500 to £25,000 per year for domestic students and up to £40,000 for international students. Add in living expenses, and the total can easily cross £100,000 over three to four years. But here’s the good news; billions of pounds are awarded in PhD scholarships in UK, grants, and funding yearly to help students like you. The UK is home to over 100,000 doctoral students, with 40% being international students. Universities, government bodies, and private organizations offer a variety of fully funded PhD in UK for international students, tuition waivers, and research grants to make education more accessible. In this blog, we’re diving into the top PhD scholarships in UK, their eligibility criteria, and how you can apply. 

Top 10 PhD Scholarships in the UK

The United Kingdom ranks among the best countries to study abroad, hosting over 600,000 international students every year. With world-class universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London, the UK is a global hub for innovation and research. But let’s be real; PhD tuition fees are costly, and living costs in cities like London add another £15,000–£20,000 annually. That’s where PhD scholarships in UK come in! These scholarships for international students will help you reach your dreams. The following are the top 10 PhD scholarships in the UK you should keep on your list:

1. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

University: University of Cambridge
Duration: Up to 4 years 
Scholarship Award: Covers full tuition fees, provides a maintenance allowance of £17,500 per year, airfare, visa expenses, and immigration health surcharge.
Courses: PhD, MSc, MLitt, and one-year postgraduate courses
Deadline: 7 January 2025
Eligibility Criteria: Citizenship of any country outside the UK. Application to pursue full-time courses like PhD, MPhil/MLitt, and any one-year postgraduate course.

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. 

2. Carnegie PhD Scholarship

University: Any Scottish university
Duration: Up to 3 years (full-time); up to 6 years (part-time)
Scholarship Award: Covers tuition fees, provides a stipend of £17,904 per year and includes research expenses. 
Courses: PhD programs
Deadline: Varies by coures
Eligibility Criteria: First-class honors undergraduate degree relevant to the planned doctorate study and students in their last year of an undergraduate degree who are anticipated to graduate with a First-Class Honours degree may also apply. 

This is yet another PhD scholarship in UK that students get to compete for. Suppose you demonstrate exceptional academic abilities and plan to study PhD in the UK at a university in Scotland. In that case, you can apply for scholarships from the Carnegie Trust for Universities in Scotland. This scholarship of £17,904 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 2025-26 academic year.  

3. Scotland's Saltire Scholarship

University: Recognized Scottish universities
Duration: One academic year
Scholarship Award: £8,000 towards tuition fees for one year of full-time study.
Courses: PhD programs in science, healthcare, technology, arts, and renewable energy
Deadline: Yet to be announced
Eligibility Criteria: Resident of India, China, Canada, USA, Pakistan, and Japan, official call letter from a recognized Scottish University, should not have studied previously in Scotland, meet the language requirements, and should not have received the benefits of the Saltire scholarship previously.

This is yet another PhD scholarship in the UK that the Scottish government offers in collaboration with Scottish educational institutions. These scholarships for PhD in UK are designed to support students from Canada, India, China, Japan, Pakistan, and the US to study full-time. 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. 

4. The Marshall Scholarship

University: Any UK university
Duration: 1 to 2 years
Scholarship Award: Covers full tuition fees, provides an annual stipend of £27,000, and includes other allowances.
Courses: PhD and other postgraduate programs
Deadline: 24 September 2025
Eligibility Criteria: United States of America citizen, grade point average of 3.7 (rounded GPAs not accepted), 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.

The Marshall 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 who 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 Marshall Scholarship, you'll receive an annual stipend of £27,000. Now, doesn't that sound like a sweet deal?

5. Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries

University: Various UK universities
Duration: Typically 3 to 4 years
Scholarship Award: Covers tuition fees and airfare and provides a living allowance.
Courses: PhD programmes
Deadline: 15 October 2024
Eligibility Criteria: A citizen or permanent resident of any one of the commonwealth countries, an undergraduate degree in the upper second class and a relevant master's degree, financially incapable of pursuing higher studies in the UK. 

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.

6. Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarship 

University: Imperial College London
Duration: Up to 3.5 years
Scholarship Award: Covers full tuition fees, provides a stipend of £22,900 per annum, and includes a consumables fund of £2,000 per annum for the first 3 years.
Courses: PhD programmes across various disciplines
Deadline: 10 March 2025
Eligibility Criteria: Fresh applicants, Postgraduate degree with distinction.

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; 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!

7. Oxford University- Clarendon Scholarship

University: University of Oxford
Duration: Varies depending on the course
Scholarship Award: Covers full tuition fees and provides a generous grant for living expenses.
Courses: All full-time and part-time DPhil (PhD) courses
Deadline: January 2025
Eligibility Criteria: GPA score of at least 3.7 if the mark is out of 4, transcripts, and proof of previous university prizes and awards.

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

8. University of Cambridge: Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme

University: University of Cambridge
Duration: Up to 3 years 
Scholarship Award: Covers full tuition fees, provides a maintenance allowance, and includes research expenses.
Courses: PhD programmes
Deadline: Specific dates vary
Eligibility Criteria: Have merit in your Master's degree in addition to holding a first-class or second-upper-class honours degree.

The University of Cambridge is looking for 25 exceptional PhD students from all walks of life and areas of expertise who can 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 successful students will receive this PhD scholarship in UK that includes coverage of the university composition fee, a personal allowance of £6,000, an annual stipend of £18,000, and even visa costs. 

9. University of Exeter- PhD Scholarship 

University: University of Exeter
Duration: Up to 3.5 years
Scholarship Award: Covers tuition fees and provides a maintenance allowance in line with UK research and innovation rates.
Courses: PhD programmes
Deadline: 28 February 2025
Eligibility Criteria: Upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area, Master's degree at a merit level, English language requirements (IELTS or TOEFL), research proposal, additional programme-specific requirements, and references that support academic and research potential.

The University of Exeter is offering two parts of funding for students; the first is a research master's in Economics, and the second is 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 hours. Plus, students can apply for additional funding to cover research, development, and conference travel expenses. 

10. Aston University College of Business and Social Sciences

University: Aston University
Duration: Typically 3 years
Scholarship Award: Covers full tuition fees (Home or Overseas rate) and provides an annual maintenance allowance (e.g., £19,237 for the 2025/26 academic year).
Courses: PhD programmes in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy, Operations, Information Management, Work and Organisation, Law, Social Sciences, Humanities, English, Languages, Applied Linguistics, Politics, History, International Relations, Sociology, and Policy.
Deadline: 11 April 2025
Eligibility Criteria: Master's degree and a first-class or second-upper-class honours degree, English language requirements, and references that support their academic and research potential.

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 scholarships in UK. 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 for the duration of your three-year program. 

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 £12,000. Seize this excellent opportunity and submit your application for the amber scholarship now and reach your goals 2X faster!