School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh - Research Scholarships

Research Scholarships at Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences

You will be offered a funded PhD place in Biology, usually for 4 years. Most scholarships are full scholarships. These cover your tuition fees, certain study-related costs and a monthly living allowance (a ‘scholarship’). A smaller number are partial scholarships and cover only tuition fees and/or part of your living costs. For the main programme, EASTBIO, the scholarship is based on the minimum amount set by the UK Research Council. Most recently, this amounted to approximately 21,900 euros per year (£18,622 for 2024/25, approximately 1,830 euros per month), plus around 5,900 (£5,000) per year for research training, although this amount is reduced in the final year. Funding comes from various sources, including the faculty itself, charitable organisations, the Edinburgh Doctoral College, the Darwin Trust and UK research councils (BBSRC, NERC, MRC and EPSRC).

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a PhD programme (research-based programme), not a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme that includes teaching.
• Field: Your project is in the field of life sciences, for example in agricultural and food sciences, animal sciences, biochemistry and cell biology, genetics and developmental biology, or plant and microbiology.
• Where you study: You are doing your PhD at the University of Edinburgh. The EASTBIO partnership also includes Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews and Stirling.
• Nationality: The Research Council’s scholarships are primarily aimed at students resident in the United Kingdom and the EU. Up to 30% of the EASTBIO places will be awarded to the best international applicants.
• Grades: As a general rule, an honours degree at ‘First Class’ or ‘Upper Second Class’ level is required. A degree at ‘Lower Second Class’ level may be accepted if you also hold an outstanding Master’s degree.

How to apply

Each PhD project is advertised separately. You should apply via the university’s online system (EUCLID) after checking the entry requirements for the relevant project. Please contact the supervisor before applying, as they will propose one candidate per project. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview, which will begin with a short presentation on a previous research project. Application deadlines vary depending on the funding body: The application deadline for EASTBIO/BBSRC is around 16–17 January, for NERC (E5) around 6 January and for MRC Precision Medicine around 13 January.

How realistic are your chances?

The selection process for these scholarships is very competitive. Being offered a place depends on you being nominated by a supervisor and then performing well in the interview. Places for international students are limited, so applicants from the UK and the EU with a ‘very good’ or ‘very good’ second degree have the best chances. Get in touch with your supervisor at an early stage and tailor your background to a specific project to improve your chances.