PhD Funding – A Checklist of Possible Sources

Are you thinking about completing a PhD however you are not sure about funding options? In this article, Henrietta Nagy will share some helpful advice on how to get funding for a PhD in the UK as well as self-funding your studies. Henrietta is a Learning and Development Professional and Coach with over a decade of experience in the Higher Education sector.

PhD Funding and what is it?

You may complete a PhD for a wide range of reasons: to become an expert in your field, to improve your career prospects and to expand your network etc. Your studies will provide you with the opportunity to become part of a closely-knit academic community and to dive deep into your area of interest. A PhD could be a life changing experience. Funding concerns should not stop you from achieving your aspirations.

There are three different ways of funding your PhD: fully, partially and self-funded.

Fully funded scholarships cover academic fees and living expenses. However, these could be very competitive and will tend to be awarded on academic merit. 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).

Many candidates have a so-called portfolio funding approach. They may use a range of different awards and sources. This could be a useful way of securing funds as you would not depend on one major (and competitive) funding.

As a PhD candidate, you may receive partial funding. This means covering some of your academic fees and expenses. If you receive partial funding, you may also use your own savings or may receive help from your family. If you are self-funding your studies, you would normally use your own savings to cover your fees and costs.

Research Councils to support PhD Funding

Research Councils make significant investments into doctorate research every year. However, funding is normally available through the participating universities rather than the research councils themselves. Universities set up Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) to receive funding. It is then up to the universities to decide who to award studentships to, based on academic merit. The application process can be competitive, however.

Research council studentships include fees and a minimum stipend per annum which is tax-free. You can find more information on the studentships via the universities’ websites.

Academics funding their own studentships

Universities, colleges and research institutes also fund their own studentships. You can find listings 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. If you are currently working for a university, it is also worth exploring if the university would provide reduced fees for staff completing their PhD.

Help fund research (Commercial and charitable organisations)

A number of non-academic organisations help fund research at PhD level in collaboration with the university hosting the study.

Please see below a list of major funding organisations below:

• The Wellcome Trust
• Cancer Research UK
• Leverhulme Trust
• The British Federation of Women Graduates

Commercial organisations may also want to invest in their employees’ development and contribute to the funding of their PhD studies. Especially in the technology, medical and legal sectors, companies may consider a PhD as professional development. You may find it helpful to ask your current employer if they would be willing to fund your PhD studies. Organisations may also approach universities to fund doctoral research as their contribution could contribute to the success of their projects. Do take a look at your selected university’s website for more information.

Self-funded PhD:

If you are having difficulty getting funding from the above sources, you may choose to fund your own way through a PhD. You could be eligible for Professional and Career development loans. 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 not be able to work during your PhD as part of the stipulations of the award. As an overseas candidate, you might find it helpful to first explore funding opportunities in your own home country. The jobs.ac.uk website lists some excellent PhD opportunities as well as a wide range of jobs.

jobs.ac.uk offers a wide range of PhD articles to help you with your journey:

• Before your PhD
• During your PhD
• After your PhD

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