Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships
The University will offer PhD scholarships for students starting their PhD research at the University in the 2023-2024 academic session.
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)
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
Please check the table below as each School has an individual deadline date and application process.
In order to gain access to the scholarship application system, applicants must have applied for admission to the University of Edinburgh. Please note that, following the submission of an application for admission, it can take up to five working days for all system checks to be completed and for access to be granted.
The online scholarship application form is located in EUCLID and can be accessed via MyEd our web based information portal at https://www.myed.ed.ac.uk
When logging in to MyEd, you will need your University User Name and password. If you require assistance, please go to http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance If you have not applied for admission, please go ahead and do this and you will receive your University User Name and password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications deadlines will vary by School/Deanery and will be linked to the application deadline for programmes.
| 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 has passed. |
| Biomedical Sciences | 1 | No | Yes | TBC |
| Business School | 1 | Yes | No | TBC |
| Chemistry | 3 | No | Yes |
4th January 2024 |
| Clinical Sciences | 1 | Yes | No | TBC |
| Divinity | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Economics | 1 | No | Yes | 1st February 2024 |
| Edinburgh College of Art | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Engineering | 1 | No | Yes | 7th March 2024 |
| Geosciences | 3 | Yes | No | TBC |
| Health in Social Sciences | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| History, Classics and Archaeology | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Informatics | 1 | No | Yes | 8th February 2024 |
| Law | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Literatures, Languages and Cultures | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Mathematics | 1 | No | Yes | TBC |
| Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences | 1 | No | Yes | TBC |
| Moray House Education | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 3 | No | Yes | TBC |
| Royal (Dick) Veterinary Studies | 1 | No | Yes | TBC |
| Social and Political Science | 1 | Yes | No | 1st February 2024 |
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.