PhD Research Opportunities

UK/EU

The Airey Neave Trust - funding for refugees in higher education. The Trust focuses its attention on Home Office approved refugees, already in the United Kingdom who need to perfect their knowledge of English and to re-qualify in their professions. Support is concentrated in the higher education field, principally post graduate work. Those people with refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom should submit as proof a letter from the Home Office. Asylum seekers, refugees with asylum status in countries other than Britain, overseas students in the UK on a student visa, British citizens, and refugees now holding British citizenship are excluded.

AXA Research Fund - PhD Fellowships

• AXA wishes to fund up to thirty three-year PhD studentships of a value of €25,000 per annum, to support the emergence of the world's scientific leaders from the very beginning of their careers. The subject of the research must fall within one of the themes identified by the AXA Scientific Board. In order to apply, you must first be nominated by your institution. 

The BBC Performing Arts Fund supports aspiring music makers and performers. The Fund announces different schemes throughout the year. Check the Fund's website for more information.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
The BBSRC is a non-departmental public body and aims promote high-quality basic, strategic and applied research relating to the understanding of biological systems.

The Biotechnology YES Programme. The Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) supports postgraduate researchers with its mentoring, advice and practical workshop competition. Deadline for applications is usually June.

The British Chamber of Commerce in Germany Foundation – Scholarships. The British Chamber of Commerce in Germany Foundation invites applications for its scholarships to allow British and German students to study or conduct research in Germany or the UK, respectively. The award is intended to provide supplementary financial support, not to defray the full cost of the proposed course of study or research. Applicants should be undertaking full-time courses of study at universities leading to degrees, diplomas or equivalent qualifications. Applicants must be aged under 30 years at the application deadline, which is 30 June annually. For more information please see the BCCG website

The British Charitable Foundation for Women Graduates, trading as Funding for Women Graduates (FfWG) provides some funding to aid women graduates studying for a PhD in the UK. There are three strands of funding:

• Foundation Grants - will not normally exceed £4,000 and will only be available for the final year of a PhD or DPhil (full time) or from the third year onwards (part time). Applicants from Britain and overseas are eligible to apply. This grant assists with living expenses; evidence of ability to pay fees is required. Closing date is 14 May and awards are announced in July for the following year of study.
• Emergency Grants - will not normally exceed £1,500 and are offered to women graduates who face an unforeseen financial crisis during the course of their research studies. Applicants from Britain and overseas are eligible to apply. Evidence of ability to pay fees is required. Closing dates for applications are in March, June and November each year.
• Theodora Bosanquet Bursary (TBB) - offered annually to women graduates whose research in History or English Literature requires a short residence in London during the summer. Two bursaries are provided annually to cover the cost of up to four weeks' stay in a London hall of residence. Closing dates for applications are 31st October each year.
• For more details and to apply, please see the FfWG website.

Directgov – The official British Government website for finance information for all students studying in the UK 

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The ESRC funds research and training in social and economic issues and are an independent organisation. Their small grants scheme welcomes applications for travel expenses only.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funds postgraduate researchers through a suite of training grants - see the EPSRC website for more information.

• Doctoral Training (applications are accepted through the institution at which you intend to study, usually at the beginning of May).
• Training and Secondments provide postgraduate students with the opportunity of getting the skills and experience required by the industry. These programmes include the Industrial Fellowships which give industrial researchers the chance to carry out research or course-development in a UK university or academic researchers to work in a UK business; and Industrial CASE awards which allow companies take the lead in defining and arranging PhD projects with an academic partner of their choice.
• Collaborative training programmes. Selected universities receive substantial long-term funding from the EPSRC  for collaborative training.
• International Doctoral Studentships aim to give leading research teams in the UK the ability to recruit outstanding graduate students from anywhere in the world. Universities that have EPSRC-supported Portfolio Partnerships or Interdisciplinary Research Centres can transfer up to 10% of their yearly institutional Doctoral training grant into the International Doctoral Scholarships scheme. 

European Doctoral College, Strasbourg. Research Grants
Grants to enable talented students of European countries to prepare a PhD in two different European institutions: one in Strasbourg and one in a European country of the student’s choice (not France). Students will prepare their doctorate as part of a research project involving the two universities. Students in all subjects are accepted. The city of Strasbourg has three universities which all specialise in different areas (Louis Pasteur, Marc Bloch and Robert Schuman universities). Funds are available for travel abroad and participation in international conferences and summer schools. Applicants must be accepted for a PhD at a university of Strasbourg or in another European university; and have obtained financial support for the PhD. See the University of Strasbourg site for more information.

German Historical Institute London - Scholarships. Deadline: 31 March and 30 September each year.
These fund research visits by British and German postgraduates to Germany or Britain respectively. The scholarships may last for up to six months. Applicants should have completed one year’s postgraduate research, and should be studying either German history or Anglo-German relations.

Leverhulme Trust Study Abroad Studentships Deadline: usually early January each year
These awards support an extended period of advanced study or research at a centre of learning in any overseas country (except USA). Applicants must have been resident in the UK for at least five years at time of application and must hold an undergraduate degree from a UK institution. They should be under age 30 or, if older, make a strong case for special consideration. Details of each year’s scheme are usually published on The Leverhulme Trust's web site in September with a closing deadline in early January.

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Rubicon Scholarship Programme
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research invites applications for the Rubicon programme. Grants enable researchers from abroad to spend one year conducting research in the Netherlands. The Rubicon programme is open to all scientific disciplines. Depending on the nature of the project, applicants may conduct field research. Postgraduates who are currently engaged in doctoral research, or recent doctoral graduates, may apply. Women are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted by individual researchers. 

Prospects
The UK's official graduate careers website, Prospects, gives you links to useful information on courses, institution and funding. Information about possible sources of funding for postgraduate study in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is in "Funding My Further Study" 

Rosetrees Trust
Rosetrees is a private foundation that provides grant funding for medical and science researchers whether established or young and promising with the potential to become future leaders in their field and achieve extraordinary improvements in human health. Rosetrees provides flexible grant funding as well as medical research travel grants for researchers to spend a short period of time in a laboratory/research institution abroad to further their research, foster new ideas and work collaboratively

Society for Italian Studies - Postgraduate Student Bursary Fund. Deadlines: 15 June and 15 December each year.
This fund is designed to support Postgraduate students by facilitating their attendance at UK and ROI conferences which are not directly funded by the Society for Italian Studies (i.e. bursaries are not available for the SIS Biennial or Interim Conferences). Bursaries are normally available for students giving a conference paper, but individual circumstances will be considered. In order to be eligible for a bursary, students must also apply to their home institution for funding and must have the support of their Head of Department. Please note that the requested amount for a bursary should not normally exceed £100. All applicants must be members of the Society for Italian Studies.

North America

The Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF) provides funding of £500-£3000 for Canadian postgraduate students already enrolled and studying in the UK. See the CCSF website for more information.

Florence Mary Mackenzie Bequest - provides supplementary grants to Canadian students studying Medicine and related sciences, to cover or contribute to fees, travel costs, books, etc. Applications in writing only to Mr G. Bentinck, Peterkins Solictors, 100 Union St, Aberdeen AB1 1QR

Foundation for the Canadian Studies in the UK - seeks to provide financial support for well-qualified and talented British and Canadian citizens, who are permanent residents in the UK, to conduct doctoral research, at a UK University, containing a substantial Canadian element and with relevance to Canadian Studies in the UK. Host institutions will be expected to provide 'matching funding' to make up the balance of the home/EU tuition fees. Maximum grants are £2,000 per annum full-time and £750 per annum part-time. PhD degree-granting institutions may apply and students may be in his or her first, second, or third year of doctoral study (part-time up to fourth year of study).

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. See http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. They are funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and administered by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC) in the UK. For full information on applying for a scholarship and the Marshall Aid Charity Commission please visit visit www.marshallscholarship.org.

Commonwealth/Worldwide