Scholarships and Student Funding

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships

The University will offer PhD scholarships for students starting their PhD research at the University.

Background

In order to attract the best and brightest PhD students, the University seeks to offer not only unparalleled research facilities and superb supervision, but also to provide development opportunities which will support our research students as they progress beyond their PhD, through an exciting scholarship scheme.

Access

The University of Edinburgh has been working for some time to embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in its activities and to widen participation (WP) for students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. The Doctoral College is committed to embedding EDI in all of its policies and processes, and by widening access to postgraduate study to traditionally underrepresented groups, including BAME students and those from the most deprived communities in Scotland and the rest of the world. The Doctoral College wishes to attract the greatest diversity of applications to this scheme and will ensure that recruitment processes are robust and unbiased.

Award

Each scholarship covers the University tuition fee as well as a stipend of £18,622p.a. Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarships are awarded for between three and four years as agreed by the School/Deanery (or pro-rata for part time).

**For the Business School only: Four year EDCS funding is only available for applicants to the 4 year integrated PhD programmes. Applicants on 3 year PhD programmes are eligible for 3.5 years of EDCS funding but the award holder would be funded by the Business School for an additional 6 months.***

Eligibility

The awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2024-2025.

Applicants must have already applied for admission to a full-time or part-time on campus PhD research programme of study at the University. We encourage applicants who wish to apply for this scholarship to make contact with their academic school regarding any admission deadlines.

Please check the Entry Requirements for your proposed programme of study for details of other acceptable English language qualifications. 

You may apply for the scholarship prior to obtaining the necessary English language test results but the results should be uploaded as soon as possible.

These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.

Criteria

Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential. Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent.

Other factors such as financial status, nationality and the proposed field of study are not taken into account.

The University will not generally consider candidates who have already obtained a PhD, or formal equivalent, as a result of direct research training.

Training

Undertake a package of training and development which will help them to develop the necessary skills required to meet their career choices and offer them a breadth of development opportunities in areas such as teaching, public engagement, entrepreneurship, data science, and research.

Terms and Conditions

Applying

Applications are no closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Applications deadlines will vary by School/Deanery and will be linked to the application deadline for programmes.

Further information about each school can be found by clicking on the specific school link below table.

 
School Number of Scholarships Available 3 1/2  Year Tenure 4 Year Tenure Closing Date
Biological Sciences 1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 27th November 2023 deadline has passed.
Biomedical Sciences 1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 29th February 2024 deadline has passed.
Business School  1 Yes Yes ** Please see the Award section above for further details.** Applications are now closed as the 29th February 2024 deadline has passed.
Chemistry   3 No Yes

Applications are now closed as the 4th January 2024 has passed.

Clinical Sciences 1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 11th March 2024 deadline has passed.
Divinity  1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Economics  1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 4th January 2024 has passed.
Edinburgh College of Art   1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Engineering 1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 7th March 2024 deadline has passed.
Geosciences  3 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 19th February 2024 deadline has passed.
Health in Social Sciences 1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
History, Classics and Archaeology  1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Informatics  1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 8th February 2024 deadline has passed.
Law 1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Literatures, Languages and Cultures  1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Mathematics 1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 19th February 2024 deadline has passed.
Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences  1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 29th February 2024 deadline has passed.
Moray House Education  1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences 1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.
Physics and Astronomy 3 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 19th January 2024 deadline has passed.
Royal (Dick) Veterinary Studies 1 No Yes Applications are now closed as the 5th March 2024 deadline has passed.
Social and Political Science  1 Yes No Applications are now closed as the 1st February 2024 deadline has passed.

Selection Procedure

The University will use the information you provide on your scholarship application form together with the information contained in the supporting documentation (reference and academic transcript) which you submitted as part of your application for admission to administer and assess your scholarship application and to select successful applicants.

Shortlisted candidates should expect to be invited to attend an interview which will take place either in person or by telephone.

Notifications

All applicants will be notified of the outcome by the relevant school.   For further information, please contact the school directly.