Vice Chancellor's International Scholarships

Vice Chancellor's International Scholarships (University of Bath)

You pay a reduced international tuition fee of about 14,700 EUR per year (£12,400) for 3.5 years of your PhD. That is a big cut. The full overseas PhD fee is around 36,000 EUR per year (£30,450), so over the funded period you save roughly 74,000 EUR (about £63,000). Your reduced fee can rise by at most 8% a year during those 3.5 years. After that, the full international fee rate applies again. The University of Bath gives up to 40 of these awards per faculty each year, so up to 160 new international PhD students in total.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are applying for a full-time PhD at the University of Bath and are not already doing a PhD there.
• Fee status: You count as a fee-paying international (Overseas-status) student.
• Subject: Your programme is in the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering and Design, or the School of Management.
• Grades: You hold or are predicted to hold a Bachelor's degree equal to a UK First Class Honours, or a Master's degree equal to a UK Distinction.
• English: You meet the English language requirement for your programme when you apply.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply. You just need to meet UK visa and immigration rules, including ATAS clearance if your offer requires it.
• Other funding: Partial funding from a government ministry or sponsor is fine. But you cannot combine this award with another University of Bath or UKRI scholarship.

How to apply

There is no separate application. You apply through the normal online PhD form. In the "Funding Your Studies" section, pick "Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship" from the drop-down menu. The general deadline for overseas PhD applicants is three months before your start date (for example 30 June 2026 for an autumn 2026 start). A decision usually follows within about six weeks.

How realistic are your chances?

With up to 160 places a year and no interview stage, the main hurdle is the grade bar: a First Class Honours Bachelor's or a Distinction Master's. If you clearly meet that standard, count as a fee-paying international applicant, and pick one of the four eligible faculties, your prospects are solid. Apply early, well within the three-month overseas deadline, because you must first secure your PhD place and supervisor through the normal admissions process.