Country

PhD Scholarships in the UK for International Students

UK doctoral programmes offer 3–4 year funded positions with stipend and tuition coverage.

36 scholarships currently match this view.

Top matches right now

Real scholarships from this list — no sign-up needed to browse.

See all 36 →

What this page covers

UK PhD funding ranges from research council studentships to charity-funded positions.

  • UKRI and EPSRC studentships
  • Gates Cambridge fully funded
  • 3–4 year programmes

UK doctoral tips

  • Contact potential supervisors before applying
  • Research council deadlines vary by university
  • Check if fees are at home or international rate

PhD scholarships in the UK

UKRI studentships, Gates Cambridge, and doctoral awards.

Open full scholarships explorer

Doctoral Sanctuary Studentship in Engineering and Design

Palestinian-focused eligibility
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

UK university scholarship for refugees and asylum seekers at Bath (South West). Fee waiver £1,000 training support fund £19,237 bursary each year

star_networkView details

Rhodes Scholarship — Syria, Jordan, Lebanon & Palestine

Living-cost support available
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

Fully funded postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Palestinians apply through the Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine (SJLP) constituency.

Rhodes TrustView details

Goldsmiths Palestinian Scholarship

Palestinian-focused eligibility
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Please note, if you are applying for a two-year postgraduate course, the scholarship will only cover one year. Applicants who have applied for an integrated degree are eligible; however, those who have applied for an Integrated Foundation Certificate are not. You must meet the general eligibility criteria and regulations . You must also: Applications are now closed for 2026/27 entry. Applications will reopen in January 2027. Successful applicants will be selected on a competitive basis. Initial shortlisting by eligibility criteria will be completed by our Scholarships Co-ordinator. All applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are then forwarded to the next selection stage.

Goldsmiths, University of LondonView details

Said Foundation Scholarships

Palestinian-focused eligibility
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

Official Said Foundation postgraduate scholarship for Palestinian and neighboring-country students pursuing eligible study in the United Kingdom.

University of Sheffield — Sheffield Global Scholarship

MOI waiver available
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Sheffield Sanctuary Scholarship provides full tuition fee waiver and a bursary for asylum seekers and refugees at postgraduate level. MOI letter accepted in lieu of IELTS. Palestinian students with asylum seeker or refugee status in the UK are eligible.

university_directView details

UK Government – Support for Students from Gaza

Palestinian-focused eligibility
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Government policy enabling evacuation of students with full UK scholarships, including biometrics in third countries and FCDO coordination.

UK GovernmentView details

University of Leicester – Gaza & HESPAL Scholarships

Palestinian-focused eligibility
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

Learn more about the Gaza support initiatives taken on by the University of Leicester. You currently have JavaScript disabled in your web browser, please enable JavaScript to view our website as intended. The University has issued a statement calling for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in Palestine and Israel. Here are some of the actions we as a University of Sanctuary community have been taking so far (some of which are still in development): We have a number of scholarships that Gazan students can apply for: Like the universities, Gaza’s hospitals have all been severely damaged or destroyed, and medical infrastructure been targeted, so there is an urgent need to support doctors (and medical students) so that they are able to return to Gaza to help rebuild the healthcare system when it is possible to do so. To this end we have developed an innovative scheme - the Displaced Student Initiative - whereby displaced medical students from Gaza and other conflict areas can complete their medical degrees as visiting students at the University of Leicester. We currently have two Gazan students studying with us via this scheme. Further information can be found through contacting Pro

University of LeicesterView details

University of Stirling – Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL)

Palestinian-focused eligibility
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

University courses by subject Site search Site search Show/hide mobile menu Scholarships Arts and Humanities Health Sciences and Sport Business Natural Sciences Social Sciences General PhD funding opportunities Health Sciences and Sport PhD funding opportunities General Undergraduate scholarships Postgraduate scholarsh

University of StirlingView details

University of Glasgow — Sanctuary Scholarship (after admission)

Duolingo accepted
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Undergraduate/Graduate, Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

The University of Glasgow uses cookies for analytics. Find out more about our Privacy policy . privacy settings accept Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences. Analytical cookies help us improve our website. We use Google Analytics. All data is anonymised. Clarity helps us to understand our users’ behaviour by visually representing their clicks, taps and scrolling. All data is anonymised. The University of Glasgow Sanctuary Scholarship has been created to support applicants with Refugee or Asylum Seeker status who are currently living in the UK and hold an offer to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2026/27. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship. The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAA

University of GlasgowView details

Warwick Doctoral Access Scholarships- Sanctuary

MOI waiver available
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

UK university scholarship for refugees and asylum seekers at Warwick University (West Midlands). Fee waiver Maintenance grant £5000 (Research courses only, Research Stipend)

star_networkView details

University of Oxford – Palestine Crisis Scholarship Scheme

MOI waiver available
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

Scholarship scheme for students affected by the crisis in Palestine.

University of OxfordView details

CARA Fellowship Programme for At-Risk Academics

Living-cost support available
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, PhD, Postdoc, Faculty

Link verified

What we do Home > what we do > What we do Cara - the Council for At-Risk Academics - has been working since 1933 to support academics at risk. Our Fellowship Programme is a rescue mission for academics in immediate danger. At any time, some 350 at-risk academics are in placements, or are being helped through the process of finding a safe place to continue their work, with their families too. Our regional programmes support individuals working on in their home countries despite the risks, and those in exile nearby. They also work with higher education institutions whose work is at risk or compromised. Our Syria Programme was established in 2016, and worked until 2024 with some 200 Syrian academics in exile, mostly in Turkey. We also partner with other organisations, including with the British Academy in the 'Researchers at Risk' programme for Ukraine-based academics, which was launched in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion. We now manage all the payments to nearly 180 grantees. We are also participating in the EU's Inspireurope+ programme (2022-25), as the lead for Work Package 2, ‘ Guidance for Researchers at Risk ’. In all that we do we honour the aim set out by our founders in 1933, “to prevent the waste of exceptional abilities exceptionally trained” - knowing how important such abilities are to the future of each country, and to the world. Cara’s Fellowship Programme Cara is ready to help academics from any country in the world Cara's Fellowship Programme Further Support for Cara Fellows Help to find temporary refuge, a place you can work and learn until you can return home Further Support for Cara Fellows Cara’s Syria Programme Providing support to academics affected by the Syria crisis Cara’s Syria Programme Close

University of Bristol Sanctuary and Scholarship Support

MOI waiver available
🇵🇸 Palestinian-friendly

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Bristol's Student Hardship Fund helps enrolled students who face unexpected financial difficulties during their studies. International students are eligible. Grants cover essential living costs such as rent, food, and travel.

University of BristolView details

London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

The London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS DTP) enables social science research students to join and develop a research community that springs from the interface between the social science disciplines with health and medicine, the natural and physical sciences, engineering, and the arts and humanities. The LISS DTP is funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) and led by King’s College London , in partnership with Imperial College London and Queen Mary University of London . Students joining the LISS DTP are registered at either King’s, Queen Mary or Imperial, and all students will have access to LISS DTP Training Programme and Events. LISS DTP funded studentships see students working with some of the world’s leading experts, and building communities of students, academic leads to network in similar disciplinary areas covering six research areas: The LISS DTP delivers a rich and varied training programme for social science students across our partner institutions. We offer Core and Advanced Social Methods Training as well as short courses led by our students, academics, and partners. The LISS DTP Training programme is available to A

UKRI / ESRCView details

Questions and Answers | Ulster University Scholarships

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

If I receive a conditional offer for a Salam Scholarship in 2026-27, does that mean I am automatically approved for my programme/PhD at Ulster University?

University of Leeds — University of Leeds — Sanctuary Scholarship (fees + living costs) (after admission)

Full tuition coverage

United Kingdom • Undergraduate/Masters/PhD, Masters/PhD

Link verified

University-internal funding at University of Leeds. Available after admission — apply to the university first; this award is handled by the university itself, not an external application. Covers tuition in full or part. Curated: Sanctuary Scholarship for forced migrants and displaced students (asylum seekers, refugees and those in refugee-like situations, including displaced Palestinian/Gaza students). Typically a FULL tuition-fee waiver PLUS accommodation and a maintenance stipend covering living costs. Usually requires a university offer first — confirm eligibility criteria and the (often early) deadline on the official funding page. Historical fit: Average acceptance rate across related opportunities is 22.1%.

university_internalView details

Cara Fellowship Programme

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • PhD, Postdoc

Link verified

Fellowships for academics at risk from conflict zones, placed at UK universities.

University of Southampton Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

The VC's Scholarship at Southampton provides full tuition fee coverage to outstanding international PhD students. Particularly strong in Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Oceanography, and Social Sciences.

top_uk_fundingView details

University of Manchester — Research partnerships Postgraduate research Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships Researcher development Research environment Research vacancies (after admission)

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • Undergraduate/Graduate

Link verified

University-internal funding at University of Manchester. Available after admission — apply to the university first; this award is handled by the university itself, not an external application. Auto-discovered after accepted university update for user None. Snippet: Research Research highlights Advanced materials – research highlights Biotechnology – research highlights Cancer – research highlights Energy – research highlights Global inequalities – research highlights Research structure Research institutes Research platforms Research facilities Our Faculties Research strategy and achievements Research Explorer Researchers Publications Projects Research impact | Historical fit: Average acceptance rate across related opportunities is 22.9%.

university_internalView details

EPSRC CASE PhD Studentship

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

Search scholarship opportunities. 4 years tuition fees at the Home rate and a stipend of £21,237 plus £5,000 per annum industry Please note: This scholarship is available to new entrants only. Students already studying the course are not eligible. Application process Please choose Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Program and Control and Power Research Group, then indicate Prof. Eric Kerrigan as a potential supervisor when making the application. The application should include a covering letter, research statement and your CV. For queries regarding the application process, please contact [email protected]. Additional information A PhD Studentship in Optimal Control Strategies in Large-Scale Spatio-Temporal Maritime Systems Using Data-Driven Physics-Informed Machine Learning Applications are invited for a PhD studentship, to be undertaken at Imperial College London (Control and Power Research Group, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering). This studentship is funded by an EPSRC CASE award and industrial partner Andrew Moore & Associates. Andrew Moore and Associates are a leading global maritime consultancy with their UK office based in Sheffie

university_directView details

Apply for our scholarship

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Apply for our scholarship

Cambridge Trust Scholarships

Living-cost support available

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

Gates Cambridge, Cambridge Trust and other scholarships for international graduate students.

National UK Sanctuary Scholarships Directory

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Over 80 universities offer scholarships, bursaries and fee waivers for people who have claimed asylum in the UK. Each scholarship has different eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and levels of financial support. Use the filters and search function to find a scholarship that suits you. This list is compiled and updated by STAR, but the scholarships… This list is compiled and updated by STAR, but the scholarships are administered by individual universities. To enquire about a scholarship or to make sure that you have the most up-to-date information, please contact the university that you are applying to. New! You can also find information about scholarships and other support on Displaced Student Opportunities UK – a new online portal featuring opportunities that support refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK to access university. Please note: If you have come to the UK through a resettlement scheme for Afghan nationals (ARAP or ACRS) or through visa routes for Ukrainians, you may not be eligible for these scholarships. Where scholarships specifically mention the Ukraine schemes or indefinite leave to remain, we have added this to the table below. If you are unsure, co

STAR NetworkView details

University of Leeds – Sanctuary Scholarship

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

We offer scholarships for forced migrants to the UK. The Sanctuary Scholarship is open to people who wish to study any undergraduate or postgraduate taught (Masters) degree. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and £10,000 a year towards study costs. If you receive the Sanctuary Scholarship, you won’t need to pay the money back. In addition, you may be offered a place on an optional pre-sessional language course (6 or 10 weeks in Summer 2026) which will enable you to meet any language requirements attached to your offer to study. There are a limited number of scholarships available and you must apply. If your application is successful, we will invite you to an interview. Not everybody who applies is invited for an interview. Applications for the scholarship for 2026 entry are now closed. Information about scholarships for 2027 entry will be released in early 2027. You can apply for this scholarship if you have an offer or if you have applied for any of the following degrees, full-time or part-time: Unfortunately, you cannot apply for Sanctuary Scholarship funding for postgraduate research and PhD study.

University of LeedsView details

Commonwealth Scholarship

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the main UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. The CSC is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office . The CSC operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and is a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. To date, over 34,000 people have taken up Commonwealth Scholarships since the first group of 175 Scholars arrived in the UK in 1960. Since then the scheme has constantly developed, adapting to the very different world of the present. You can read more about what we do in the CSC’s impact report . The CSC champions sustainable development and supports Commonwealth Scholars to drive innovation, lead change, and advance knowledge in their home countries and beyond. By building a community of Scholars, Fellows, and Alumni who can use their expertise to address development challenges, the CSC aims to create a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable world for all. Environmental governance in Bangladesh is shaped by intersecting pressures on its riv

UK GovernmentView details

LSE Graduate Support Scheme for International Students

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

Global and Online Degrees International students Meet, visit and discover LSE Scholarships, studentships, loans and tuition fees Each year LSE offers generous scholarships to its graduate students. There are also funding opportunities from external organisations, research councils and governments around the world. Ever

London School of Economics and Political ScienceView details

Management PhD Scholarships - University of York

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

Finance your research into business and management with a fee waiver and generous stipend. Funding. Grant equivalent to the Research Council's UK National ...

Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

Fully-funded scholarships for doctoral research projects with a focus on History, Literature or Languages Since 2012, The Wolfson Foundation has committed some £13 million to support doctoral studies in the humanities through nine carefully selected universities (including the University of Birmingham). The Foundation’s aim is not only to support some of the most exciting students, but also to make a statement about the value of the humanities. The Foundation believes that high-quality academic research in this field is of critical importance to British society. The scholarships are awarded in three disciplines that align closely to the Wolfson Foundation’s interests: History, Literature and Languages. Scholarships are available to students who commence their study at the start of the 2026 academic year. These awards are not available to current Doctoral students. The scholarships are worth £37,250 each year over three years (or 50% pro-rata over six years for part-time students). The award covers tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, and some research and training costs. *For UK postgraduate research students, the University fee level is set at Research Council rates and as such is

PhD Scholarships and funding – University of Edinburgh Business ...

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

One fully-funded scholarship is available for study within the Business School doctoral programmes. Deadline, The deadline for this scholarship has now passed.

Funds for Women Graduates (FfWG) — Foundation Grants

Living-cost support available

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

Maintenance grants helping women postgraduates in their final year meet living costs during study. Living-cost support only — it does not pay tuition — so it complements a tuition scholarship.

Funds for Women Graduates (FfWG)View details

UCL Financial Assistance Fund for International Students

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Link verified

University College London offers emergency financial assistance to enrolled international students experiencing unexpected financial hardship. Grants range from £500 to £3,000 for tuition shortfalls, living costs, or emergency expenses.

bridge_fundingView details

Cara Fellowship Programme (Council for At-Risk Academics)

Living-cost support available

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD, Postdoc

Link verified

Support for academics forced to flee — placements at UK universities with a fellowship covering stipend and costs. Cara works with displaced scholars including those from Palestine and the wider MENA region.

Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics)View details

Postgraduate research funding - York Law School, University of York

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • Master's, PhD

Link verified

The Tan Kah Kee Scholarship offers postgraduate scholarships for Singapore citizens and permanent residents pursuing full-time PhD or Masters degrees. Funding.

Postgraduate Funding - Durham University

See scholarship details

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

With the support of our AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award and the Faculties of Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences, this scheme supports outstanding candidates on ...

Fully funded MRes/PhD Scholarships - UCL School of Management

MOI waiver available

United Kingdom • PhD

Link verified

Fully funded MRes/PhD Scholarships. Scholarships available in: ... We invite applications for the full-time MRes/PhD Programme within the three research groups at ...

King's College London — International PhD Scholarships (after admission)

Duolingo accepted

United Kingdom • Masters/PhD

Link verified

University-internal funding at King's College London. Available after admission — apply to the university first; this award is handled by the university itself, not an external application. Auto-discovered after accepted university update for user None. Snippet: Funding opportunities for international postgraduate researchers at King's | Historical fit: Average acceptance rate across related opportunities is 22.9%.

university_internalView details

Frequently asked questions

How long is a UK PhD?

Typically 3–4 years full-time.

Explore related scholarships

Ready to find your scholarship?

Browse live results or create a free account for personalised matches.

Already have an account? Sign in