Funding a PhD

Learn about the different types of funding and explore the opportunities available

There are several ways researchers can fund their PhD. As pursuing a PhD can be expensive, many opt for scholarships, fellowships and studentships to fully or partially fund their degree. Navigating this area can be tricky, so we have prepared some information for you to help you understand the differences between the types of funding available and where you can find these opportunities.

How do the different types of funding work?

Different organisations may have different meanings for these terms, but there are a few general characteristics that distinguish the different funding opportunities.

Scholarship: A PhD scholarship awards an amount of money to an individual student to help them pay for the costs associated with completing their degree, like school fees and living expenses, but does not include stipends. Scholarships are usually based on merit and are sometimes need-based, meaning that eligibility for the scholarship depends on the financial situation of the student.
Fellowship: Fellowships can last from a few weeks to a few years and are often sponsored by a specific association, organization, institution, or government. But a common misconception is that fellowships always come with financial aid. Fellowships are usually awarded for doctoral research based in a specific specialised area and offer students opportunities to strengthen their resumes. They are merit-based, but often not need-based like scholarships.
Studentship: Another avenue of gaining funding is securing a studentship. While both scholarships and studentships provide funding for PhD students to cover the fees and living costs, the main difference is that a studentship involves work on a specific research project. A studentship is also sometimes referred to as a teaching or research assistantship. Some examples of PhD studentships include those offered by the UK's Research Councils, where the studentship funding is tied to the PhD student’s project. They are either linked to advertised PhD opportunities or awarded to students for the projects they propose.

What are some of the opportunities available?

There are many funding opportunities available. We gathered some of the key funding opportunities in the EU and UK. Each opportunity has its individual eligibility criteria, so it is advisable to look through them in detail. Requirements also might change over time, so make sure you always check the official sites.

Scholarships offered by your institution and government

It is recommended to look for funding opportunities offered by your institution, home government and the government of where you’re studying. Institutions often have scholarships for students studying at that institution, such as the Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University and the President's PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London. Likewise, governments also offer scholarships for their local students studying abroad or international students studying there. For example, the Italian government offers grants to foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad and the French Foreign Ministry also offers scholarships to foreign students.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation which will run from 2021 to 2027. Under Horizon Europe, work programmes set out funding opportunities based on the area of research. The goals for Horizon Europe are to work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

Eligibility: Eligibility depends on the specific funding opportunity, but generally, applications are open to individuals and organisations from EU countries and the so-called associated countries.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

For doctorate and post doctorate researchers, the MSCA is the most relevant programme under Horizon Europe as it seeks to boost a researcher’s career through mobility and innovative training. Opportunities under the MSCA include the MSCA Doctoral Networks and MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Eligibility: Same eligibility criteria as Horizon Europe but there are additional criteria depending on the type of funding that you apply for.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is a public body and consists of 9 funding councils, such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). They fund researchers, businesses, universities and other institutions.

Eligibility: Open to local and international students studying in the UK, but there are additional criteria depending on the specific funding opportunity that you apply for.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)

The CSC awards scholarships and fellowships for Commonwealth students to study in other Commonwealth countries in a specific given sector, such as science, health, peace and inclusion.

Eligibility: See here to find your eligibility based on your home country for the various programmes offered by the commission.

EURAXESS

EURAXESS is a job searching tool that is updated daily for professional researchers, which includes thousands of PhD scholarships, fellowships and job postings in and outside of the EU. By using these filters, you can find PhD positions funded by the MSCA. EURAXESS also offers a range of services, such as providing advice on visas, pensions and taxations.

Eligibility: Eligibility depends on the specific funding opportunity.

Funding opportunities for those in the UK, Italy and France have been detailed above. Opportunities in other countries include:

Austria: Find grants and fellowships on OeAD
Belgium: scholarships in Flanders (scroll down to find the opportunities for specific universities) and more funding
Czech Republic: scholarships in EU and International Affairs
Germany: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarships and research grants
Netherlands: scholarships and grants (for specific Dutch universities)
Poland: scholarships
Spain: grants and scholarships (for Spanish students only)
Turkey: full time scholarships

Other tips

Other tips to help you find PhD funding are below.

Studying abroad with Erasmus+

Erasmus+ helps to arrange student and doctoral candidate exchanges within Erasmus+ Programme countries and Partner countries. Eligible students can apply for Erasmus+ funding for their travel and subsistence costs.

Studying abroad with the UK Turing Scheme

The Erasmus+ equivalent for the UK is the Turing Scheme which students in the UK can apply for if they wish to embark on an international study or placement opportunity.

PhD studentships

Opportunities for PhD studentships are often listed on university websites, but some are only made available by departments once the student is undertaking the degree program. Another way to secure a studentship is through approaching a potential supervisor who can help you find opportunities that are not advertised at all.

Associations and other institutions

Academic associations and some institutions have small grants, travel bursaries or scholarships available. It is always advisable to research in your study area. Click on this card to find out what UACES can offer PhD students and early career researchers researching in the field of European studies in our funding opportunities section.