Best 10 PhD Scholarships In The UK 2023/24

Looking into the near future for your PhD scholarship, this list of PhD scholarships in the UK will help you know what to apply for and when to apply for it and stand a bigger chance of winning. The list consists of those scholarships that are opening later this year or early next year. So you have ample time for more research on which one suits you.

What Are PhD Scholarships?

PhD scholarships are types of funding awarded to individual students to help them complete a PhD program or any other doctorate program. These scholarships are just one of the types of funding institutions and governments offer to students in search of higher and better education in this particular program.

This type of scholarship also comes with the usual selection criteria:

  • Merit-Based – To win a PhD scholarship on this criteria, you will have to be academically talented. Be among the most brilliant applicants proving from your existing qualifications and CV
  • Need-based – To win a PhD scholarship or any other scholarship based on this criteria, you must have proof of coming from a background where it might be harder for you to study for a PhD. One other eligibility count of this is that you must come from a social or demographic group that is under-represented at the PhD level.

It is also necessary to know that, some PhD scholarships awarded combine these two criteria. That is by targeting students with academic excellence and also coming from a poor or less represented social or demographic group. Make sure you fit the listed criteria before you apply.

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PhD Scholarships In The UK 2023/24

This list includes scholarships, grants and fellowships that fund students in their pursuit of higher education and career in their desired fields.

1. Rhodes Scholarship At Oxford University

Rhodes Scholarship offers more in addition to covering your tuition fees during your time in the school. The scholars of these scholarships enjoy major benefits such as a yearly stipend of £17,310 which covers living expenses and accommodation.

After selection of scholarship, the Rhodes Trust will cover the application fee, and visa to and from the UK – for the beginning and the end of studies in Oxford – among other benefits.

  • Institution: University Of Oxford
  • Fields Of Study: Any Postgraduate degree [ subject to limited restrictions ]
  • Number Of Scholarships: 95 every year.

Read more on this scholarship and application criteria here

 2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

This is a Bill and Melinda Gates scholarship at the Cambridge university to help students who are intellectually outstanding, committed to improving the lives of others and has the leadership potential to pursue a full-time post-graduate degree in any available subject at the University of Cambridge. This is for students outside the UK.

  • Number Of Scholarships: 80 scholarships with approximately 2/3 of them being offered to PhD students.
  • Level Of Study: PhD
    – Master Of Science [MSc]
    – Master Of Letters [MLitt]
    – Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
  • Institution: Cambridge University

Read more on this scholarship and its application process here

3. Rotary Foundation Global Scholarships Grants

This is a fully-funded scholarship for those who are interested in research into the fields of Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Basic education and literacy and economic and community development.

This scholarship goes beyond covering tuition to passport/visa, inoculations, travel expenses, school supplies, Room and Board, household supplies, Language training courses and local transportation expenses. But there are also items that are not eligible for funding under this scholarship.

  • Institution: Any approved university where there is a host Rotary club or district, outside of the applicant’s home country.
  • Level Of Study: Graduate Degree course work or research into the above-listed fields.

Read more on the Rotary Foundation Global Scholarship grants 

4. Clarendon Scholarship By Oxford University

This is one of the fully-funded PhD scholarships in the UK for international students. It is a highly competitive scholarship with selection criteria based on academic merit and potential. As a fully-funded scholarship, it covers scholars’ course fees as well as grants for living expenses up to £15,009.

You will be automatically considered for Clarendon if you apply by the December or January deadline, whichever is relevant to your course. You do not need to submit a separate application.

  • Number of scholarships: 140 new scholars each year.
  • Level Of Study: Masters
    – PhD
  • Institution: Oxford University.

Read more on the Clarendon scholarship by Oxford University

5. Louis-Dreyfus – Weidenfield Scholarship.

The Luis-Dreyfus-Weidenfield scholarship and leadership programme supports outstanding postgraduate students from transitioning and emerging economies throughout Africa, Asia and South America.

The Louis Dreyfus – Weidenfield Scholarship and Leadership Programme is part of the Weidenfield Scholarships and Leadership Programme which cultivates the leaders of tomorrow by providing outstanding university graduates and professionals with the opportunity to pursue fully-funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford in conjunction with access to a comprehensive programme of leadership development, long-term mentoring and networking.

  • Institution: Oxford University
  • Level Of Study: PhD
    – Masters.

Read more on this scholarship, its benefits and how to apply here.

6. Facebook PhD Fellowship 2023.

This fully-funded scholarship from Facebook made the list of PhD scholarships in the UK because scholars from all over the world can access it at an accredited university in their respective countries. It covers two years and its fees, a $42,000 annual stipend and conference travel aid. The fellowship is geared towards encouraging and assisting promising doctoral scholars in innovative and applicable studies in fields relevant to computer science and engineering.

  • Level Of Study: PhD
  • Institution: Facebook – Scholars study at any accredited university in any country.
  • The number of scholarships: 36 or more.

Read more about this scholarship and its application process here

7. Chancellor’s International Scholarship By The University Of Warwick

Chancellor’s International Scholarship by the University of Warwick is a fully-funded scholarship for outstanding international applicants. The scholarship covers full -tuition and maintenance stipend in line with the UKRI rate of £15,609 for full-time award holders, research, training and a supporting grant of £5,000.

Applicants for a Chancellor’s International Scholarship must also be applying for a PhD at the University of Warwick.

  • Institution: University Of Warwick
  • Number Of Scholarships: 42 for 2022/2023 entry.
  • Level Of Study: PhD

Read more on this scholarship here

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8. University of Liverpool: Accounting and Finance Subject Group Scholarship

This is one of the PhD scholarships in the UK that takes on a slightly different form as a Graduate Teaching Fellowship (GTF). If you have a first or upper second-class honours degree plus a distinction for your master’s degree besides being committed to research, this GTF allows you to collect teaching experience together with your PhD studies.

Under the Accounting and Finance Subject Group, you will have the opportunity to complete a teacher training programme offered by the University of Liverpool. A living stipend of 15,609 pounds plus a fee waiver will be awarded to exceptional applicants.

  • Institution: University Of Liverpool
  • Level Of Study: PhD

9. Imperial Marshal Scholarship

This scholarship is mainly for an American student who wishes to study at a British university. It is based on academic achievements and also excellence in leadership roles throughout the USA. It is a fully-funded scholarship covering tuition fees, cost of living, thesis, annual book grants and research grants as well as daily travel grants. It is widely considered one of the most prestigious scholarships for the U.S

The Application form for the 2023 competition will be available in early June 2022.

  • Level Of Study: Postgraduate programs
  • Institutions: Any accredited UK university
  • Number Of Scholarships: Between 30 to 50 scholars are awarded every year.

Read more about the Imperial Marshall Scholarship here

10. UCL Critical History Of Arts Scholarship

University College London is pleased to offer a Critical Art History Scholarship to a PhD student who is especially committed to the new critical approaches to Art History. The scholarship covers full tuition costs for UCL at local / European prices and provides a maintenance grant.

  • Level Of Study: PhD
  • Institution: University College London.
  • Number Of Scholarships: Undefined

Read more on this scholarship and its application process here

This list of PhD scholarships in the UK consists of those for international students and UK students. Take time to read and do more research if you come across any of the scholarships you would love to apply for.

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