PhD scholarships come in several forms: funded projects advertised by a university, government studentships, named scholarships such as Gates Cambridge, and country schemes for students from specific nations. The best route depends on your subject, your nationality and the country you want to study in. A fully funded PhD usually means tuition plus a stipend, but living costs are not always covered.
If you are searching for phd scholarships, you probably want to know what types exist, what they pay, how to find them, who is eligible and when to apply. This guide gives a map of the options, with a UK focus where the sources are strongest, and links to our detailed guides on individual awards. The facts come from two FindAPhD pages (an international funding guide updated on 29 October 2025 and a funding overview last updated on 3 March 2025), a University of Portsmouth page on PhD scholarships for 2026 to 2027 entry, and a StudyInternational article published on 9 April 2024 and modified on 25 December 2025. All are secondary or university sources, they are partly dated, and they conflict on some stipend figures, which we flag. Always confirm amounts and deadlines with the funder and the university. If a language test is your barrier, our scholarships without IELTS guide explains other routes.
What Types of PhD Scholarships Exist?
FindAPhD lists funded projects, research council studentships, named scholarships, government loans, university funding, and country schemes. The list below follows its international guide.
The second FindAPhD page says these options all do the same job, helping you pay for the PhD and for yourself during it, but they vary in size and format. It does not define the term “fully funded,” so ask each funder exactly what is included.
What Do PhD Scholarships Usually Cover?
Tuition, a stipend, and sometimes travel, visa, healthcare and research costs. FindAPhD says coverage varies by scheme.
Some awards cover only fees and course materials, and some exclude living costs. The University of Portsmouth page shows how this works in practice: some bursaries cover tuition fees only, while others cover UK rate tuition fees for three years plus a stipend in line with the UKRI rate, listed as £21,805 for 2026 to 2027. The same page says student visa and immigration health surcharge costs are not covered. FindAPhD’s international guide lists the UKRI stipend at £21,805 a year, tax free, while its other page shows £20,780, which is likely an older year. The StudyInternational article adds that a PhD costs about US$30,000 to US$40,000 a year before living costs, so a funded place has a high value.
How Much Do PhD Scholarships Pay?
It depends on the scheme, and the sources disagree on at least one figure. Use the list as a guide only.
- UKRI studentship: £21,805 a year, tax free (FindAPhD international guide, Portsmouth page).
- UKRI studentship, older figure: £20,780 a year (FindAPhD funding page).
- Gates Cambridge: £17,500 a year (FindAPhD international guide).
- Wellcome Trust: a stipend that rises each year, no figure given.
- University of Iowa business PhD: about US$20,000 for nine months (StudyInternational).
The Gates Cambridge figure conflicts with our own Gates Cambridge scholarship guide, which uses a newer 2026 to 2027 rate of £23,152 taken from September 2026 articles. FindAPhD’s number is probably out of date, which shows why you should check the funder. Many other schemes in the sources list no amount.
Which Countries Offer Funded PhDs?
The sources cover the UK, Hungary and the United States, and our site covers more. StudyInternational lists ten programs.
Its list includes the University of Debrecen in Hungary through Stipendium Hungaricum, and US programs at Iowa, Columbia, Washington University in St. Louis, Michigan, MIT Sloan, Rice, Brown, Penn and Yale. For the US examples, funding terms include full tuition, health insurance, stipends and guaranteed support for four to six years in several cases, according to the article. It warns that some programs require part time teaching or administrative work in return, so a stipend can come with duties. Because the article is from 2024, check current terms. Our Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship guide explains the Hungarian route, our DAAD scholarship guide covers Germany, our MEXT scholarship guide covers Japan, our Chinese Government Scholarship guide covers China and our Australia Awards scholarship guide covers Australia.
Who Is Eligible for PhD Scholarships?
It depends on the scheme, and nationality rules vary widely. FindAPhD lists examples.
- Gates Cambridge: open to citizens of any country outside the UK.
- Wellcome Trust and Gen Foundation: open to all nationalities, though the Gen Foundation’s 2022 application period was suspended.
- Newton scholarships: open to citizens of 17 listed countries, mainly for STEM.
- Saïd Foundation: citizens of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon or Palestine who hold a teaching post at home.
- Marshall and Fulbright: American citizens.
- Commonwealth scholarships: depend on the applicant’s country category.
- Country schemes: many are limited to citizens of one country, such as Australia, Canada, China, India, Pakistan or Thailand.
FindAPhD also says EU and EEA students have been treated as international students since 2021, so without settled or pre-settled status they may pay higher fees and may not qualify for doctoral loans. They can still apply for UKRI studentships. The Portsmouth page says most of its projects are open to UK, EU and international applicants unless the advert says otherwise.
How Do You Find PhD Scholarships?
Search funded project lists, check your country’s schemes and contact supervisors. FindAPhD gives practical steps.
- Browse funded PhD project lists, or search by university or subject.
- Filter the database by international funding.
- Check country schemes that match your nationality.
- Look at charities and trusts.
- Contact your home country’s Ministry of Education.
- Subscribe to funding newsletters for updates.
The second FindAPhD page says to check university funding first, since institutions offer many award types. It also says most add-on scholarships apply only after you receive a PhD offer. Our Fulbright scholarship guide covers a route for Americans and others abroad.
How Do You Apply for a Funded PhD Project?
Choose the project, contact the supervisor, then apply through the form in the advert. The Portsmouth page lists the steps.
- Choose a subject area and check the eligible projects and entry criteria.
- Contact the named supervisor before applying, and send a CV and a research outline.
- Apply through the online form in the project advert and submit every document.
- Quote the project code. Email applications are not accepted.
The page gives 15 January 2027 as the deadline unless the advert says otherwise, and says shortlisted applicants are interviewed after the deadline. FindAPhD says deadlines range from September to May and some schemes open only once a year. Our documents required for scholarship application guide covers the paperwork, and our motivation letter for scholarship guide helps with the statement.
Should You Use a PhD Loan?
A loan is a fallback, not a scholarship. FindAPhD says UK students may be able to get a doctoral loan of up to £31,122 from Student Finance.
Both FindAPhD pages list the loan among the funding types, and the international guide warns that EU and EEA students without settled or pre-settled status may not qualify. A loan has to be repaid, so compare it with funded projects first. If you are an international student, the loan is usually not the main route, and scholarships, studentships and country schemes are where most of the effort should go.
Do PhD Scholarships Come With Work Duties?
Sometimes. StudyInternational says some programs require part time teaching or administrative work in return for the stipend. Others are pure research awards.
That matters when you compare offers. A stipend that includes teaching duties may leave less time for your thesis, while a fellowship with no duties may pay less. Ask the department how many hours the duties take and whether the stipend continues in summer. The article also says funding can come from government bodies, charities and businesses, and advises building a funding portfolio, which means combining several sources instead of relying on one.
Are Visa and Health Costs Covered?
Often not, so check. The Portsmouth page says student visa and immigration health surcharge costs are not covered by its bursaries.
Other awards do cover them. Our Gates Cambridge scholarship guide lists visa costs and the health surcharge in its package, and StudyInternational notes that some US programs include health insurance. Add the cost of your visa to your plan, and read our study visa in USA guide if you aim for the US. When an offer says fully funded, ask for a written list of what is included.
What Is the Best Time to Apply?
Start 9 to 12 months before the start date. This is our suggestion based on the deadline ranges.
With deadlines from September to May and add-on awards that need an offer first, early planning matters. A common order is to pick the topic, contact supervisors, apply for the project, then apply for named scholarships once you hold an offer. Some deadlines for 2027 entry fall in January, so start now if you aim for next year.
How Do You Spot a Scholarship Scam?
A real PhD scholarship does not charge a fee to be considered. Be careful with offers.
Be careful when a website or agent:
- Sells a place on a funded PhD for a fee.
- Guarantees a scholarship.
- Asks for payment to a personal account.
- Uses a lookalike site and not the university’s domain.
- Asks for your passport details on a non-official page.
Use the university site and the funder’s own page.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Applying without a supervisor, missing offer-first rules and trusting old figures cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Applying for a scholarship before you have a PhD offer when the scheme requires one.
- Not contacting the supervisor.
- Missing the project code.
- Assuming “fully funded” includes visa and health costs.
- Trusting an old stipend figure.
- Missing a nationality rule.
- Ignoring teaching duties attached to a stipend.
- Sending the application by email when the form is required.
When unsure, ask the funder and the department in writing.
FAQs
What are PhD scholarships?
Funding that pays tuition and often a stipend while you study for a doctorate.
What does fully funded mean?
Usually tuition plus a stipend, but living, visa and health costs are not always included.
How do I find PhD scholarships?
Search funded project lists, check country schemes and contact supervisors.
Can international students get PhD funding?
Yes, but eligibility varies. UKRI funding for international students is limited, per FindAPhD.
When should I apply?
Deadlines range from September to May. Start 9 to 12 months ahead.
How much is a UKRI stipend?
£21,805 a year for 2026 to 2027 in two sources, tax free.
Conclusion
PhD scholarships range from funded projects and research council studentships to named awards and country schemes. Check what each one covers, confirm your nationality is eligible, contact supervisors early and watch the deadline, which may fall in January or later. Do not rely on old stipend figures. Confirm every detail with the funder and the university.
