Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

EPSRC PhD studentship

You will receive tax-free stipend of about £20,780 per year (around 24,500 EUR) to cover your living costs whilst undertaking a PhD in engineering or the natural sciences at a UK university. A scholarship is a regular living allowance. In addition, your home student tuition fees (approximately £5,006 per year) will be covered for you. You will also receive a research grant of approximately £940 to cover laboratory work, travel expenses and conference costs. The funding usually runs for 3.5 years. Since October 2024, it may be extended to 3.75, 4 or 4.5 years depending on your circumstances, for example if your PhD includes a Master’s year or a placement. The funding comes from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the UK Government’s main funder of research in these fields and part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The EPSRC does not pay the funds directly to you. It transfers the money to the universities, which then award the scholarships.

Who can apply

• Level: You would like to study for a PhD at a British university or, in some cases, complete a research master’s degree.
• Field of study: Your field of study is engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics and statistics, or computer science and IT, including artificial intelligence.
• Grades: You must hold at least an upper second-class honours degree (a 2:1) or an equivalent qualification. For some degree programmes, a Master’s degree with research training is also required.
• Nationality: Anyone can apply. British nationals, those with ‘settled status’ or ‘pre-settled status’, and those with indefinite leave to remain are considered ‘domestic’ students and will receive the full scholarship (scholarship plus tuition fees).
• International applicants: Applicants of other nationalities may also apply. However, international students may occupy no more than 30% of the places per intake period. You may only be granted a fee waiver without a living allowance, unless you meet the eligibility criteria based on a long-term stay in the United Kingdom or an exemption.

How to apply

You do not apply directly to the EPSRC. Instead, you apply for a PhD place at a UK university and tick the relevant box on the application form to be considered for an EPSRC scholarship. Each scholarship is linked to a specific research project. Apply early, as many universities set their own internal deadlines and places are snapped up quickly.

How realistic are your chances?

These scholarships are among the most important sources of funding for PhDs in the natural sciences and engineering in the United Kingdom; they are therefore very well known, and competition is fierce, particularly for the fully-funded places available to home applicants. Your prospects depend heavily on whether you can secure a specific project with a supervisor who is willing to support you. A compelling 2:1 and a good fit with an advertised topic are more important than a broad-ranging application. International applicants face an even tougher challenge, as only 30% places are available for them each year.