Research Fees and Scholarships (Research Graduate School, University of Bedfordshire)

Fees and funding for research degrees at Bedfordshire

The Research Graduate School at the University of Bedfordshire funds research degrees like a PhD, MPhil or Master by Research through several routes. If you already earned a bachelor's or postgraduate degree at Bedfordshire (including the former University of Luton or the DMU Bedford Campus), you get a 20% discount on your first year's tuition fees for a PhD or Master by Research. This applies whether you study full or part time. The university also advertises paid research studentships, which are grants for students working on a specific university research project. The amount and number change from project to project. You find them on the Research Graduate School website and on jobs.ac.uk.

For reference, standard tuition (2025/26) is about EUR 6,500 (£5,550) per year full time for a Home PhD, MPhil or Master by Research, and about EUR 19,700 (£16,900) per year for international students. Home students can also apply for a UK government Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to about EUR 35,300 (£30,301) to help cover fees and living costs.

Who can apply

• Degree level: For a Master by Research you need a good honours degree (2:2 or better). For a PhD or MPhil you usually need a master's degree.
• Where you study: You study at the University of Bedfordshire in the UK.
• Field of study: Any research subject the university supervises.
• Nationality: Open to Home and international students. The government Postgraduate Doctoral Loan is only for Home students.
• Alumni discount: You get the 20% first-year discount only if you already hold a degree from the University of Bedfordshire or its predecessors.

How to apply

You apply online through the university portal, with a research proposal, academic transcripts and references. There are no fixed deadlines. You can apply any time of year, as long as a supervisor has capacity. Individual advertised studentships may set their own closing dates.

How realistic are your chances?

The alumni discount and the government loan are close to automatic once you meet the conditions, so if you fit them, they are reliable. Funded studentships are the competitive part: only a handful exist at any time and each ties you to a specific project. Your prospects depend heavily on matching an advertised topic and applying before it fills.