UCL Department of Economics - ESRC Postgraduate Studentships

Benefit

You will receive a comprehensive support package for your PhD studies. Your tuition fees will be covered in full, and you will receive a tax-free living allowance (a regular payment to cover your living costs) of at least £23,805 per year, approximately 27,825 EUR including the London allowance. The funding covers a period of up to 54 months, with the exact duration depending on your study pathway. The standard +3.5 pathway funds a 3.5-year PhD programme. The 1+3.5 pathway initially involves a one-year Master’s programme, bringing the total duration to up to 4.5 years. The +4.5 programme funds up to four years of study with integrated training. For each programme, up to six months may be added for additional training and a paid placement in academia, government, the private sector or a charitable organisation. Funding is provided by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and channelled through the UBEL partnership of six London universities.

Eligibility

• What it funds: A postgraduate programme (MPhil/PhD) in the social and economic sciences.
• Field of study: You choose one of the 30 areas of specialisation, including economics, finance, business administration, psychology, politics, human geography, law and criminology, international development, history, education and much more.
• University: You are studying at one of six London universities: UCL, Birkbeck, SOAS, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Greenwich or the University of East London.
• Grades: As a rule, you will have a degree with an ‘Upper Second’ (2:1) or a ‘First-Class Honours’ classification, or a Master’s degree from a recognised university. Both a UK degree and an equivalent foreign degree are recognised.
• Supervisor: You have found a supervisor at a partner university and discussed your doctoral research proposal with them before applying.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities. British nationals and those with ‘Settled Status’ or ‘Pre-Settled Status’ are considered domestic students. International students may also apply, but visa costs will not be covered.

How to apply

First, speak to a potential supervisor and the head of your chosen degree programme. You should then submit a brief preliminary application via the online portal by the deadline in November (9 November for the 2027 round). Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a full application, which must be submitted by early February.

How realistic are your chances?

As this is a fully-funded, prestigious scholarship, competition is fierce. For international applicants, there is a fixed cap: no more than 30% scholarships may be awarded to them (in a recent round, only 10 out of 485 international applicants were successful). Domestic students who clearly meet the academic requirements have a better chance. A compelling, well-structured research proposal, developed in collaboration with a committed supervisor, is what sets applicants apart from the rest – so make sure you start the relevant discussions early in the autumn.