PhD Positions & Scholarships in United Kingdom 2026–2027 — Page 2
161 verified phd positions & scholarships in united kingdom for 2026–2027 are open right now. The soonest deadline is 28 October 2026 — closing-soon entries are flagged in the list. Hosted by University of Manchester, The University of Edinburgh and University of Cambridge. Listings are re-verified daily against official sources.
Studying in United Kingdom with funding
161 verified phd positions & scholarships in united kingdom for 2026–2027 are open right now. The soonest deadline is 28 October 2026 — closing-soon entries are flagged in the list. Hosted by University of Manchester, The University of Edinburgh and University of Cambridge. Listings are re-verified daily against official sources.
The UK is one of the most popular destinations for funded study. PhD studentships are commonly funded through UKRI research councils (EPSRC, BBSRC and others), university scholarships and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs). Master's funding is more competitive but CHEVENING, COMMONWEALTH and university-specific awards exist.
Common funding types
•Fully funded studentships (tuition + stipend)
•UKRI minimum stipend with London weighting
•Partially funded fee waivers
•Salary-based positions for some programmes
Typical levels
•PhD studentships
•Master's scholarships
•Postdoc fellowships
English requirement
Most UK universities require IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent). Some accept prior study in English.
Timing
PhD deadlines roll year-round; taught Master's deadlines cluster between October and March for autumn entry.
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Synthesis for a Healthy Planet (CSHP CDT) offers a fully-funded four-year PhD programme delivered jointly by the Universities of Oxford and York. The programme trains the next generation of synthetic chemists to address global challenges in Human Health, Energy & Materials, and Food Security. Next deadline: 13 November 2026.
✓ Fully FundedGBP 21,805 per year (2026/27 UKRI rate, tax-free)
The Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing CDT combines language technology with responsible design and interdisciplinary research. Its application process begins with a first-stage online form.
The University of Essex recruits a Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Government within the DIViNE MSCA Doctoral Network on political violence and democracy. The fellow will pursue doctoral research on political violence, institutional reform and democratic resilience, contributing to the network's comparative research programme.
The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford advertises a DPhil studentship on investigating and modelling brain dynamics across species, based in Dr Andrea Luppi's research group and supported by his ERC Starting Grant. The project develops computational models of how brain activity is organised dynamically across species - bridging human and animal neuroimaging and electrophysiology - to understand which principles of brain organisation are conserved through evolution and how they break down in disease.
The DPhil in Cardiovascular Science (Cardiovascular Disease Prevention) at Oxford is a four-year programme funded by the British Heart Foundation. It combines interdisciplinary training with research at the intersection of population health, systems biology, and data science/AI. Final application deadline: 1 December 2026.
Durham's Inspiring Excellence Scholarships are merit awards for international students applying to taught master's programmes. Awards are considered alongside your course application, so the practical deadline is the admission round of your chosen programme, with values and eligibility listed on Durham's scholarships page.
Partially FundedPartial tuition-fee awards for international
Edinburgh’s E5 NERC Doctoral Training Partnership supports environmental research. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their chosen project with its supervisor before applying.
PhD at University of Edinburgh developing eco-friendly and high-performing organic photovoltaics using sustainable materials and manufacturing methods. Competitive funding available. Deadline: 31 Dec 2026. Funding is not guaranteed: self-funded applications are welcome, and eligible Home students may compete for scholarships.
Partially FundedCompetitive funding may be available for 3
ACES-STAR, the relaunched Erasmus Mundus master in aquaculture, environment and society, is delivered from three centres of excellence — Scotland, Crete and France — coordinated through SAMS. Scholarship rounds in recent cycles have closed between late January and late February, with the 2027 dates posted on the official site.
Fully funded PhD at University of Edinburgh examining environmental and health impacts of titanium ore deposits on communities near mining operations. £21,805/year stipend. UK students only.
4-year fully funded PhD programme across Manchester, Glasgow, and Oxford. Robotics and AI for Net Zero. UKRI stipend £20,780 plus £10,000/year TechExpert for Home students.
EPSRC FIBE3 CDT (Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero) at the University of Cambridge offers a fully funded 1+3 year MRes + PhD programme starting October 2027. Focuses on infrastructure challenges for the net-zero transition. Fully funded for eligible Home students, with very limited international funding. Application fee: £20. Deadline: 14 April 2027.
Bath Spa University invites applications for ESRC-funded PhD studentships through the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP), with Bath Spa pathways in education, management and business, and sociotechnical futures. The internal Bath Spa application round closes at 11:59pm on 8 November 2026, ahead of the SWDTP final deadline of 12 January 2027, so candidates intending to nominate Bath Spa as their host should complete the university's research-degree application early.
The University of Leeds, as part of the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership, offers a range of social science PhD studentships for 2027/28 entry. Open to UK and international applicants. Covers fees at UKRI rates plus a maintenance grant of £21,805 (2026/27 rate). Multiple award types available: +3.5, +3.75, and 1+3.5. Deadline: 20 January 2027.
Fully funded PhD at University of Edinburgh investigating the chemistry of lanthanide and actinide metals and oxides under extreme conditions. £21,805/year stipend. UK/EU students.
A 4-year fully funded PhD programme training researchers in materials chemistry, digital intelligence, and automation, offering 10+ cross-disciplinary research projects.
A 4-year fully funded PhD programme training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors, offering enhanced financial support.
The Wellcome Sanger Institute’s four-year PhD programme trains researchers in genomics through experimental and computational rotations. Students later select a laboratory and register for a Cambridge PhD.
The MSEI Lab at Imperial College London offers a fully funded PhD in AI-driven 3D ultrasound imaging and autonomous robotic guidance. Supervised by Dr. Dandan Zhang. Deadline: January 2027.
PhD studentship at the University of Manchester (Department of Materials) in AI, digital engineering, textiles and wearable technologies. The project is developed jointly between the successful applicant and supervisor. Fully funded for 3.5 years, starting January 2027. Stipend £21,805 per year (2026/27 UKRI rate). Deadline: 30 March 2027.
✓ Fully FundedGBP 21,805 per year (2026/27 UKRI rate, tax-free)
This PhD project will enhance the mechanical properties of concrete materials using graphene products, assessing mechanical and durability properties to identify market-ready products.
Partially FundedCompetitive university funding may be available
