Cranfield University - Cranfield University PhD Studentships

Cranfield University PhD Studentships

You will receive a scholarship of fully funded PhD place. Your tuition fees will be covered in full. You will also receive a tax-free living allowance (a regular payment to cover your living costs) of around 29,000 EUR per year. The exact amount depends on the specific project and its funding body. The funding covers the entire duration of the project, usually 3 years, although there are also some four-year programmes. Cranfield University, near Bedford in the United Kingdom, offers these scholarships as part of specific, advertised research projects in the fields of engineering and the natural sciences, ranging from aerospace and clean energy to AI, robotics, materials science and offshore wind energy. Each project is supported by a funding body such as UK Research and Innovation, the EU’s ‘Horizon Europe’ programme or an industry partner. You will be supervised by two academics and will have access to specialised laboratories and international research partners.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a first- or second-class honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent international qualification in a subject area relevant to the project.
• Field of study: The projects cover the fields of engineering and the natural sciences, including aerospace, the automotive industry, clean energy, hydrogen, materials science, computer science, AI and robotics, the environment, water and space. Each project sets its own thematic requirements.
• Where you study: You’re studying at Cranfield University in the UK.
• Nationality: Many projects are open to students of all nationalities, including international students. However, some projects are restricted to students from the UK and Ireland (paying domestic fees); please therefore check the specific project conditions.

How to apply

You apply online via Cranfield’s application portal for the specific project you wish to join. There is no standard application deadline. Applications are accepted throughout the year; however, each project has its own application deadline, and places may be filled before this date. For some projects, such as the positions at the Centre for Doctoral Training, an interview is required; you should therefore apply as early as possible.

How realistic are your chances?

Each scholarship is linked to a specific project with particular academic requirements. This means you are only competing with other applicants who match this exact profile, rather than with all PhD applicants. If your degree and background are a good fit for a particular project and you apply early, before the interview slots are filled, your chances are good. The number of fully funded places is limited, so a clear match with the specified research topic is more important than a broad CV profile.