UKRI is the largest funder of PhD students at Cambridge.
Funding comes from the UK government and provides:
International students are now eligible for a limited number of Research Council studentships. If you have an eligible UKRI doctoral studentship, you'll receive a bursary to cover the difference between the Home and Overseas fee.
UKRI is made up of seven Research Councils: studentships and doctoral training are provided across seven subject areas.
Cambridge is part of the Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership (OOC DTP).
Applicants from Oxford, Cambridge, and the Open University are nominated for the funding. Nominees are then ranked into a single list.
You can only apply to one of these three institutions for Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC funding.
Check the Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP website for details about AHRC funding at Cambridge.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funds studentships across 5 research themes:
The Economic and Social Research Council funds studentships in a range of social science areas:
There are 26 eligible departments in the University.
Find out more on theCambridge ESRC DTP website.
The ESPRC funds studentships via the Cambridge EPSRC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) across:
The Cambridge ESPRC also has Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) within specific areas of research. They also support funded studentships each year.
Check theCambridge EPSRC website for details of DTP and CDT studentships.
The MRC funds studentships across the School of Clinical Medicine and the School of Biological Sciences.
You must apply to specific projects that fall under the following themes:
Visit theSchool of Clinical Medicine andSchool of the Biological Sciences websites for more information.
The Natural Environment Research Council funds approximately 12 studentships a year. You need to apply to specific projects within 3 major research themes:
Find out more on theCambridge NERC C-CLEAR DTP website.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council funds studentships in:
Check the relevant website for details.
To apply, you submit your application for funding to the University or partnership institutions.
Some studentships need you to propose a project and others have set lists you can choose from.
Selection is based on academic excellence and how your research project fits with the supervisor or research group.
We welcome applications from students from underrepresented groups in postgraduate study.
Search the University's database of postgraduate funding opportunities.
