SGSSS (ESRC) PhD Studentships - School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

What you get

You get a fully funded PhD place. Your tuition fees are covered and you receive a tax-free living stipend (a regular payment to cover your costs) of about EUR 24,900 per year (£20,780 for 2025/26) for 3.5 years. You also get a research training grant to pay for conferences and travel. The money comes from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS), a group of 16 Scottish universities. The University of Edinburgh runs the funding. Fees are covered up to the UK "Home" rate (at least £5,006/year). If you are an international student, you may need to pay the difference between the Home fee and the higher international fee yourself.

Who can apply

• Level: You are starting, or in your first year of, a PhD. If you do not yet have a Master's, you can apply for a 1+3.5 award: you first take the MSc in Social Research at Edinburgh, then start your PhD funding from 2027.
• Field of study: Your PhD is in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies or in Chinese, within the SGSSS Linguistics area.
• University: You study at the University of Edinburgh and meet its PhD entry requirements.
• Grades: You normally hold a relevant degree with strong results (First Class Honours or equivalent), and preferably a Master's of similar quality. A first-class degree is not strictly required: SGSSS also weighs your work and life experience, resilience and potential.
• Nationality: UK "Home" applicants are the main group. A few places are open to international applicants, with a maximum of two international nominations per subject per university.
• No double funding: You do not already hold UKRI-level PhD funding or an equivalent award.

How to apply

Contact the subject lead, Dr Sumin Zhao, for advice before you apply. There are two steps for 2026 entry. First, apply online for your PhD programme (Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies or Chinese) by 5pm UK time on Thursday 20 November 2025. Then submit your funding application through the SGSSS Apply system by 5pm UK time on Monday 24 November 2025. Selection runs through three review rounds, and successful candidates hear back in early May 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is narrow: only two PhD subjects at one university qualify, and international places are capped at two per subject, so the field is small. If you are a Home applicant with a strong record in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies or Chinese, and you line up your supervisor early, your prospects are solid. International applicants compete for very few places, so contact Dr Zhao well ahead of the November deadlines.