Funding your research degree

Research degrees can be funded in a number of ways, including scholarships, studentships or loans. The need to find funding, and when you need to apply for it, will depend on the type of research degree you want to do.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding sources

Most funding for research degrees takes the form of a scholarship or studentship. 

A scholarship will provide a certain amount of funds for a student to study at PhD level, and could cover things like tuition fees, expenses and living costs. 

A studentship is slightly different as it usually funds the completion of a specific project. This will usually be a project that is advertised, but may also be a research project idea you have developed yourself. Either way, studentship funding is always linked to a project and not the individual student.  

Scholarships and studentships are usually offered by: 

  • universities
  • UK Research and Innovation Councils (UKRI) 

Scholarships and studentships are just one way to fund a research degree. There are lots of different sources of funding available, and most students use a combination of them. Other common sources of funding include: 

  • PhD loans (which you need to pay back)
  • employer or industry sponsorship
  • graduate teaching assistantships
  • charities and trusts 

Decide if you need to find funding

Whether you need to find funding will depend on the type of research degree you want to do. 

Funding for projects 

If you choose to apply to an existing project, there are three likely scenarios in relation to funding: 

  • the project has confirmed funding, which means you do not have to find funding yourself
  • the project has potential funding available but not confirmed
  • the project has been defined, but there is no automatic funding source, in which case you would be expected to source your own funding 

You should check the specific funding details for any project you’re interested in by checking the project advertisement. 

Search PhD research projects 

Funding your own research idea 

If you choose to develop your own research idea or apply to a project that does not have confirmed funding, you will need to investigate and apply for funding yourself. 

Check funding requirements for your chosen programme on the degree finder 

When to find funding

Usually, you can only apply for funding once you have applied for a project or have confirmed your research with a supervisor.  

However, we recommend that you begin investigating potential sources of funding as soon as possible.  

It is not unreasonable to begin searching for funding one year before the start date of your programme.  

If you plan to apply for self-directed research, it's a good idea to research funding sources at the same time as you are developing your proposal and looking for a supervisor.  

Writing a research proposal

Finding a research supervisor

How and where to find funding

There are many different sources of funding available to postgraduate researchers. 

Most funding bodies will specialise in a particular subject or research area, so it’s a good idea to investigate the types of research they tend to fund before you apply to them. 

Writing a funding proposal 

You will need to explain your research in your funding application. Your research proposal can help with this, but you will usually need to write a separate funding proposal.  

All funders will have different eligibility criteria, guidelines, deadlines and rules around what they expect in a funding application. It is important to pay close attention to the specifications of any funding body or organisation you apply to. A large number of funding proposals are rejected simply because they do not follow the rules and guidelines set out by the funding body.   

Funding bodies 

In the UK, one of the main sources of funding is the UK research councils. You can look at the relevant research council in your field and see if they have any opportunities available: 

Funding bodies support PhD students in different ways. For example: 

  • some will pay tuition fees only
  • some will page tuition fees and include a stipend to cover living or travel costs
  • some will pay a one-off award to ease the financial burden of study 

Each funding body will have its own eligibility criteria. At PhD level, funding tends to be awarded on academic merit, but some will also consider other criteria, such as financial background or gender. 

University of Edinburgh scholarships and loans 

We offer scholarships and student funding opportunities. You will usually need to have applied to study with us first, before you can apply for a scholarship or funding.  

Scholarships for postgraduate study 

You should also check the details of your chosen programme on the degree finder as some schools and departments may have extra funding resources available.  

Check the degree finder for potential funding

Government postgraduate loans 

If you are a UK national, you may also be eligible for a postgraduate loan from the government. 

UK Government and other external funding 

Other sources of external funding 

Funding may be available from external funding bodies such as:  

  • trusts and charities
  • research foundations
  • government agencies
  • the private sector
  • your home government 

Your prospective supervisor and previous undergraduate/masters study advisors may be able to help you find other sources of funding and guide you when applying for that funding. 

Also, the following organisations have lots of useful resources to help you find funding: 

  • Vitae is an organisation that aims to help researchers with their professional development and can offer advice on finding sources of academic funding.
  • The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is a popular resource helping all postgraduates, regardless of subject or nationality, to find funding for PhD, Masters, and PGCE study. 

Using your own funds or working part-time 

If you are planning to work part-time while you study, you should make sure you are eligible to work in the UK. Check the conditions associated with any offer of study, any loans or scholarships you plan to take, and your visa (if you are an international student).  

The University sometimes offers part-time employment to full-time postgraduate research students, but the hours of work are limited to an average of nine hours each week across the academic year. We recommend you apply this limit to any employment outside your studies, in order to ensure you still have enough time to focus on your research. 

Employer sponsorship 

If you are planning to study a subject that is related to your current job, then your employer may be willing to sponsor you.

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