phd student uk

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

Undergraduate courses
Events and open days
Fees and finance
Postgraduate courses
How to apply
Postgraduate events
Fees and funding
International students
Continuing education
Executive and professional education
Courses in education
How the University and Colleges work
Term dates and calendars
Visiting the University
Annual reports
Equality and diversity
A global university
Public engagement
Give to Cambridge
For Cambridge students
For our researchers
Business and enterprise
Colleges & departments
Email & phone search
Museums & collections
Course Directory
Qualification types

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Postgraduate Study

Why Cambridge overview
Chat with our students
Cambridge explained overview
The supervision system
Student life overview
In and around Cambridge
Leisure activities
Student unions
Music awards
Student support overview
Mental health and wellbeing
Disabled students
Accommodation
Language tuition
Skills training
Support for refugees
Courses overview
Department directory
Funded studentships
Part-time study
Research degrees
Visiting students
Finance overview
Fees overview
What is my fee status?
Part-time fees
Application fee
Living costs
Funding overview
Funding search
How to apply for funding
University funding overview
Research Councils (UKRI)
External funding and loans overview
Funding searches
External scholarships
Charities and the voluntary sector
Funding for disabled students
Widening participation in funding
Colleges overview
What is a College?
Choosing a College
Terms of Residence
Applying overview
Before you apply
Entry requirements
Application deadlines
How do I apply? overview
Application fee overview
Application fee waiver
Life Science courses
Terms and conditions
Continuing students
Disabled applicants
Supporting documents overview
Academic documents
Finance documents
Evidence of competence in English
Terms and Conditions
Applicant portal and self-service
After you apply overview
Confirmation of admission
Student registry
Previous criminal convictions
Deferring an application
Updating your personal details
Appeals and Complaints
Widening participation
Postgraduate admissions fraud
International overview
Immigration overview
ATAS overview
Applying for an ATAS certificate
Current Cambridge students
International qualifications
Competence in English overview
What tests are accepted?
International events
International student views overview
Akhila’s story
Alex’s story
Huijie’s story
Kelsey’s story
Nilesh’s story
Get in touch!
Events overview
Upcoming events
Postgraduate Open Days overview
Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
Virtual tour
Research Internships
How we use participant data
Postgraduate Newsletter

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's principal research degree for graduate students and is available in all faculties and departments.

A Cambridge PhD is intellectually demanding and you will need to have a high level of attainment and motivation to pursue this programme of advanced study and research.

In most faculties, a candidate is expected to have completed one year of postgraduate study, normally on a research preparation master's course, prior to starting a PhD.

Completion normally requires three or four years of full-time study, or at least five years of part-time study, including a probationary period.

Terms of research are normally consecutive and, for full-time students, require residency in Cambridge. Not all departments offer part-time research degrees.

Various routes to the PhD are possible and, if you are made an offer of admission, it will be made clear whether you are required to study for a master's degree or certificate in the first instance, or will be admitted directly to the probationary year for the PhD. You are registered for the PhD only after a satisfactory progress assessment at the end of the probationary year (five terms for part-time degrees). The assessment is designed also to focus your mind on the stages necessary for the completion of your research within the normal time limit and to address any structural problems that have arisen during the first year. Students must pass the first year assessment in order to continue their PhD study.

During your PhD, your effort will be focused on writing a dissertation. The word count of the dissertation is dependent on the department and the Student Registry or Educational Student Policy will be able to tell you the maximum word limit. This must represent a significant contribution to learning, for example through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of a new theory, or the revision of older views, and must take account of previously published work on the subject. Some Cambridge dissertations go on to form the basis of significant publications.

Although you will spend long hours working independently, your department and College will both support you throughout your PhD. You are also able to attend regular seminars in your subject area and could be involved in teaching, perhaps giving seminars or supervising, or in the social life of your department and College.

PhD course search

Go to the Course Directory and filter courses using the relevant checkboxes.

Term Information

Explanation of terms, postgraduate admissions office.

Admissions Statistics
Start an Application
Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

Bringing a family
Current Postgraduates
Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Contact the University
Accessibility
Freedom of information
Privacy policy and cookies
Statement on Modern Slavery
University A-Z
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Research news
About research at Cambridge
Spotlight on...

Imperial College London Imperial College London

Looking for funding?

Use our scholarships search tool to look for available scholarships. Also explore our latest funded PhD vacancies .

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most common type of doctoral degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve.

It normally takes between three and four years of full-time work to complete. It is also possible to undertake a PhD part time, over five to six years.

The main activity of a PhD is to carry out an original research project under the direction of one or more supervisors, to be written up as a thesis.

Different routes to achieving a PhD

There are a number of ways to achieving a PhD at Imperial:

by undertaking a course of study based on your own research proposal
by joining a research project that comes with funding attached (known as a studentship)
by combining it with Master's study in an integrated route that typically lasts four years

Pursuing your own research idea

To search for PhD opportunities based on your own research proposal you first need to identify a research group within Imperial whose area of expertise best matches your idea.

Use the links below to search the different PhD opportunities within our academic departments, centres and institutes. This includes information about current studentships and often guidance on finding a supervisor.

Our interdisciplinary approach means our expertise often spans departmental boundaries – and so do our courses – so you may find opportunities in an unexpected area of the university.

Faculty of Engineering

Aeronautics
Bioengineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
School of Design Engineering
Earth Science and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Brain Sciences
Department of Immunology and Inflammation
Department of Infectious Disease
Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction
Department of Surgery and Cancer
National Heart and Lung Institute
School of Public Health

Faculty of Natural Sciences

Life Sciences
Mathematics
Centre for Environmental Policy

Imperial College Business School

Doctoral programme

Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

PhD in Arabic, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish Studies
PhD in science communication studies

Global Challenge institutes

We have six Global Challenge institutes, which were created to address some of society's biggest challenges.

If you have an idea for a PhD that falls within the remit of one of our Global Challenge institutes please contact them directly to discuss before making a formal application.

Data Science Institute
Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment
Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
Institute for Security Science and Technology
Institute of Global Health Innovation

Energy Futures Lab does not offer PhD programmes, but does deliver the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures .

Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies | Imperial College London-Technical University of Munich

We have recently formed a strategic partnership in education, research and innovation with the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany’s most international and entrepreneurial universities, producing highly ranked research, like Imperial, in science, engineering and medicine.

As part of the partnership, Imperial and TUM have launched a 'Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies' with the aim of co-developing cross-disciplinary clusters of PhD students who will have access to world-leading academic supervisors and state-of-the art facilities at both institutions.

The first round of the programme will focus on the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Robotics'.

Find out more about the Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies and apply

How to apply for a PhD in the UK

Applying for a phd is not quite as daunting as you might think. a postgraduate student recruitment officer from the university of sussex shares his tips for putting together a phd application.

Ben Osborne

There are many different reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD – to move into an academic role at a university, to continue studying a subject you are passionate about or to further your career.

Whatever your motivation, many students are now choosing to pursue a PhD abroad. This guide will help you understand how to apply for a PhD at a UK university and answer any questions you might have around doing PhDs.

How to apply for a PhD

Application rules and methods vary for each university. The number of courses that you can apply for in a year will vary. For example, at the University of Sussex , you can apply for up to three postgraduate courses per year using the postgraduate application system.

If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You can also apply to different universities to improve your chances of being accepted to a PhD course of your choosing.

What qualifications do I need?

Each PhD will have specific entry requirements and you will also need to meet a university’s general entry requirements. This may be an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification. For some PhDs you may need a master’s qualification, and you may be asked to attend an interview.

International students may also be required to prove language proficiency. This will vary across institutions so do check what level universities expect before starting your application.

Applicants should always check the specific entry requirements in a university’s online prospectus before making an application.

When should I start applying?

This will depend on when your term start date is. Most research degrees will start in September but some courses offer additional entry points in January or May.

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May, and the deadlines for applying are usually one month before the course start date for UK applicants, and three months before for international applicants.

If you’re applying for funding from an external organisation you’ll need to be aware that they may have different deadlines for the funding application. So give yourself plenty of time to research your funding options, and ensure you know how long the application process takes.

Many universities offer a number of funded PhD opportunities and PhD scholarships for UK and international students, and it’s always worth investigating funding routes such as research councils and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas.

In some cases, it may be possible to study a PhD by distance which means you’ll be able to learn online and have virtual meetings with your supervisor.

If this is something you would be interested in doing you should check before applying whether your university can accommodate this option.

Nine things to know before doing a PhD Starting a PhD during the pandemic Studying for a part-time PhD: the challenges and the benefits Is it possible to do a three-year PhD as an international student?

How should I look for a supervisor?

Usually if you are applying for a funded project, or to a research centre or group, you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitability for working in that area, and if successful you will be allocated a supervisor.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic, and you will be expected to write a research proposal. In some cases you may only be required to provide a summary of academic interests and this can be used to match you to a researcher that suits you.

If you are proposing your own research topic, there may be a research database at your university that you can search, or your university will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. It may be possible to request supervision by a particular member of faculty – this will be considered but not all requests can be accommodated.

If you do find a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them directly to check their availability for supervising you.

It is a good idea to draw up a shortlist of two to three potential supervisors, and take an in-depth look into their research history. You can also find out more about your potential supervisors by looking in the reference sections of academic textbooks and searching for articles in research databases and academic blogs.

When you contact your potential supervisor, it is important to tell them something interesting about yourself, and explain your research interests and how you feel your research proposal matches their expertise.

How do I write a research proposal?

If you are proposing your own research you will need to write a strong proposal that formulates a precise, interesting research question, and establishes the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking.

You’ll need to make sure your proposal describes the data or source material your research requires, and outlines a clear and practical methodology that enables you to answer the research question and that states clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research, and what new areas it might open up.

The precise content and structure of your research proposal will depend on your subject area, and the University of Sussex has some helpful resources on our website to guide you through the process.

How long does the application process take?

Completing an application and writing a research proposal may take some time and should not be left until just before the application deadline.

It’s not easy to give a definite idea of how long it takes to hear if your application has been successful, as it will depend on when the application is made and the nature of the specific PhD, and you would need to meet any conditions contained within the offer before you can start the PhD.

What are the associated costs?

There won’t typically be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees. If a university does charge application fees they will usually be between £50-£100.

The tuition fees for students studying in the UK are set by UK Research and Innovation . Fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for lab-based subjects per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, but there are a number of funding routes you can apply for to help with this. As well as PhD scholarships and funded research projects there are research council awards, PhD loans for those eligible, and various organisations to which international students can apply for funding, such as The Gen Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

It’s important to be aware of the costs involved, but it’s also worth remembering that the educational, career and personal benefits of PhD study can be worth it.

.css-185owts{overflow:hidden;max-height:54px;text-indent:0px;} How to apply for a PhD in the US

Giulia Evolvi

Women in STEM: undertaking PhD research in cancer

Grace McGregor

PhD diary: Where do I begin?

Charlie Pullen

International Students’ Guide to Pursuing a PhD

Katie Baker
November 28, 2023

Pursuing a PhD program in the UK as an international student is a serious undertaking, one that can feel exciting, daunting, and confusing in equal measure; however, for those in pursuit of academic excellence, there are few better options than the UK.

The UK is steeped in rich educational heritage, is home to several world-renowned institutions, and has become a beacon for scholars across the globe, and perhaps most importantly, in this context, top UK universities are famous for offering fully funded PhDs to international students.

In this international students’ guide to pursuing a PhD in the UK, we will ease your transition into the UK academic landscape by covering everything from the entry requirements to how to apply for PhD programs to the forms of support you can expect to receive while you’re obtaining your doctoral title away from home.

PhD Program Entry Requirements for International Students

As an international student, you will need to prove your readiness to undertake doctoral research in your subject area and demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and contribute to your chosen institution’s academic community.

The entry requirements may differ depending on your field of study and if you are applying for a fully funded scholarship. However, typically, these are the minimum requirements you will need to meet:

Academic Qualifications – Generally, you will need a master’s degree (or equivalent) relevant to the program you are applying for. Some universities may accept a first-class or upper-second-class honours degree. Research Proposal -If you are proposing your own research plan (as opposed to applying for a pre-defined project), you will need to submit a research proposal with your application. Your proposal should cover the aims and objectives of your research and highlight your research abilities, including evidence of your academic achievements.

References & Experience – To support your application, you will also need two to three references from academics familiar with your work. It may also be beneficial for certain programs to have evidence of relevant work experience

Proof of English Language Proficiency – Your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score should be a minimum of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the exam. However, Humanities doctoral students may need a higher score of 7.0 – 7.5. Using the Test of English as a Foreign Language System (TOEFL), you will need a minimum score of 90.

Interview Attendance – To assess your suitability for a PhD program in the UK, you may be asked to attend an interview, but don’t worry; UK universities make it easier for international students by conducting interviews via video conferences.

Students studying on a table outside with a coffee in the middle of them

PhD Application Tips for International Students

The motto ‘Better late than never’ may work in some instances, but when pursuing a PhD program in the UK as an international student, this becomes an exception. You should begin the research and application process at least one academic year in advance to ensure all the prerequisites are met.

The research and planning phase will include researching universities, reaching out to prospective supervisors, and tailoring your personal statement and proposal for each research department.

It also is important to start thinking about Visa requirements, how you will support yourself while you study in the UK, and if you will need to undergo health checks (depending on your home country) early in the application process. Regarding your funding, you will want to research grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities specific to international students.

Once you have met all these requirements, you have made the first significant step towards becoming a doctoral student in the UK. Always ensure you have checked the specific entry requirements for the institution and research department you are applying to join; the entry requirements and fees can vary significantly!

How to Choose a PhD Program in the UK as an International Student

The UK is home to 166 universities, of which, 103 are in the 2023 round-up of the Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings. You may feel spoilt for choice initially, but by asking the questions below, you will quickly shorten your list of options and find the best UK university to match your skills and career objectives.

What is the calibre of the research quality?
Which universities have suitable PhD Supervisors on their faculty?
Which universities have the best funding opportunities for international students?
Which universities have state-of-the-art facilities relevant to your research area?

In addition to the unique strengths and weaknesses of each university in the UK, you will also want to consider which area of the UK you would be happiest studying in. Each campus has its own culture; choose one which aligns with your preferences.

Once you have a short list of universities and PhD programs you would like to apply for, you can start your application process by drafting your proposal and CV, gathering digital and paper copies of relevant documentation, preparing for your TOEFL or IELTS tests, finalising your application, and preparing for your entry interviews. Once you have accepted an offer, don’t hesitate before starting the Visa application process.

What Support is Available for International Doctoral Students?

Universities in the UK are well-versed in hosting international PhD students; they ensure a wealth of support services are available to make the adjustment period as smooth as possible.

Most universities have dedicated offices for international students, which can provide expert guidance on everything from visas to accommodation to cultural integration to financial advice. If English isn’t your first language, you can also access free language support, which will help you polish your communication and academic writing skills.

International students are also free to utilise mentoring and wellbeing services and career services or engage with research seminars, workshops, and conferences, designed to facilitate the integration into the academic community in the UK.

Final Thoughts

After reading this International Students’ Guide to PhDs, you may have noted that significant planning and research are required, but don’t let that hold you back from getting involved with world-leading innovative research in the UK.

The UK is at the forefront of cutting-edge research in several areas; from the sciences to the humanities, research in the UK is backed by significant investment. Furthermore, UK academic institutions are microcosms of cultural diversity; they offer a rich tapestry of perspectives capable of enhancing personal and academic growth.

Other benefits of joining a UK university to acquire your doctoral title include the doors to international career opportunities globally-respected UK PhDs can open and the shorter duration of the programs, in comparison to other countries. Few students who choose the UK as their academic oyster come to regret it!

Do You Get Paid for a PhD?

Do You Get Paid for a PhD? For many students who don’t have the luxury of never worrying about money, one of the main considerations

Where Can a PhD in Finance Take Me?

Where Can a PhD in Finance Take Me? In the dynamic world of finance, a PhD is not just an academic accolade; it’s a launchpad

Blonde woman wearing a blue jumper drinking a coffee while deciding to study a PhD in London

Should I Do a PhD in London?

Should I Do a PhD in London? Embarking on a PhD journey is a significant decision, one that shapes your academic and professional future. Once

Enquire with us

We are here to help and to make your journey to UWS London as smooth as possible. Please use the relevant button below to enquiry about a course you would like to apply, or to clarify any questions you may have about us and our admission’s process. After you submit your enquiry, one of our advisers will get back to you as soon as possible.

Cookies on our website

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our site. And we'd like to serve you some cookies set by other services to show you relevant content.

How to apply for a PhD

We are looking for ambitious, talented and motivated students. You'll have the passion to make new discoveries, the drive to test new theories, and the willingness to go above and beyond.

PhD student looks through a microscope in a science lab at the University of Sussex

How do I apply?

To find out more about our degrees see our PhD degrees . You apply using our postgraduate application system.

Choose your PhD

Sussex is the perfect place to find a postgraduate research course that allows you to follow your passion and develop your research interests.

a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil). There are more than 50 degrees to choose from
Integrated PhDs in the University of Sussex Business School
full-time or part-time PhDs
all courses start in September and some courses offer additional entry points in January or May
the opportunity for research students registered elsewhere to visit Sussex . For more information see our handbook .-->

Distance learning may be available for some PhD courses. Before applying, you should check whether this mode of attendance is supported for the PhD you wish to undertake with the relevant School.

Find out more about our PhD degrees

Check our entry requirements

Our specific entry requirements are listed with each PhD degree .

You also need to meet our general entry requirements, usually an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or equivalent international qualification.

You may also be required to have a Masters qualification. If you are applying to the University of Sussex Business School, you may wish to choose the Integrated PhD, which contains an initial year of rigorous training in the research skills needed to become a skilled practitioner. If you are unsure which route to apply for, please apply for the Integrated PhD.

If you are an international student, you need to meet our English language requirements , or successfully complete our Pre-sessional English course .

You may also be asked to attend an interview.

Find out more about our entry requirements for UK applicants

Find out more about our entry requirements for international applicants

Choose a research topic or project

If you apply for one of our funded projects or to a research centre or group you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitablility for working in that area.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic and you will normally be expected to write a research proposal. Some areas may only require a summary of academic interests and they will use this to match you to potential supervisors. Before applying check the requirements for your subject area .

Find a supervisor

If you are joining a funded project at Sussex, you will already have a supervisor allocated to you.

If you are proposing your own research topic , you can find a supervisor to support and advise you.

If you think you have found a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them to check their availability for supervising you

You can either ask a member of our faculty to be your supervisor if you think they have the expertise to support you or we will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. If you ask to be supervised by a particular member of faculty, this will be considered but not all such requests can be accommodated.

Apply to Sussex

You apply directly to Sussex using our postgraduate application system .

You can apply for up to three postgraduate courses. If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You must submit the following documents when you apply:

research proposal/research statement
summary of academic interests (this is optional depending on the subject area you are applying for)
degree certificates and transcripts. If the originals are not in English, certified translations must be provided
your English language qualification, where applicable
two academic references – including one from your most recent university. Or you can provide contact details for your referees and we will email them.

Follow our tips for applying to Sussex

Find out about our admissions policies

Deadline for applications

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May.

The recommended deadline for applications are:

International applicants: Three months before course start date Home/EU applicants: One month before course start date.

PhD applications received after these deadlines may be considered, but we cannot guarantee you will be able to commence your studies at your requested entry point.

Where you are applying for funding or scholarships, check the deadlines for your application. In some cases, you may need to have an offer from us before you can apply for funding.

Check fees, funding and support

We have a number of PhD funding and scholarship opportunities.

If your application is successful, you will have your fee status assessed . If your fee status is unclear, we will ask you to complete a questionnaire . If you disagree with the outcome of your fee status assessment, you can appeal .

Fees information is listed with each PhD degree

Receiving an offer

We will notify you through our postgraduate application system if we decide to offer you a place .

Your offer may include conditions – for example, completing your undergraduate or Masters degree with a certain grade or meeting our English language requirements . In the University of Sussex Business School, your offer may be for the Integrated PhD rather than the PhD. This will happen if the School feel you need the additional training in research skills which the initial year of the Integrated PhD provides.

If you are an international student studying a certain science- or engineering-based course you must apply for Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance after you receive your offer.

Find out about ATAS clearance on the Student Hub .

If you decide to accept our offer, you can notify us using the postgraduate application system .

You can still accept your offer even if you have not yet secured funding. However, you should have funding in place when you start at Sussex.

Confirming your place

If your offer is unconditional, we may still need to verify your qualifications .

If your offer is conditional, you should send in your results by email as soon as they are available, so that your place can be confirmed.

If you are unable to take up your place, you can request to defer your entry to another available entry point (up to a maximum of 12 months).

If your application is unsuccessful and you are not sure why, you can request feedback .

Before you start at Sussex

You will be sent information about joining us in the months before you start your research.

For most students, the registration process is completed online. Registration opens in:

early September, if you are starting at Sussex in September
December, if you are starting at Sussex in January
early April, if you are starting at Sussex in May.

If you are an international student and you need a visa to study in the UK , you complete most of the registration process online. To register, you need to attend in person, so we can take a copy of your passport and visa.

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

conference attendance
language training
overseas research visits
internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

non-medical personal assistance
specialist equipment
extra travel costs
general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about this subject area

PhD Education / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

View full page
Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 19 January 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024

Programme options

Programme overview.

2nd in the UK for Education (Complete University Guide 2024).
The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK for Education research (overall GPA, REF2021).
Learn with research-active experts in the field of education and work with highly diverse cohorts of students and staff.
Contribute to improvements in the overall wellbeing of students, their families and communities throughout the world through research.

Please enable JavaScript to watch this video.

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and programmes. On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see Open days.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £3,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Your fees will cover the cost of your study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation (excluding graduation robe hire).

Payment of tuition fees will also entitle you to membership of The University of Manchester library, the Students' Union and the Athletic Union.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Environment, Education and Development studentships is 19 January 2024.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
School of Environment, Education and Development Postgraduate Research Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
School of Environment, Education and Development Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Studentship - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

What is a PhD?

A PhD is a postgraduate degree. It stands for ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and is one of the highest academic qualifications you can achieve.

Courses involve both research and academic learning where you take on a significant amount of independent work.

For most PhDs, you’ll research for, write and publish an extensive thesis on a specialist subject area.

How long is a PhD?

PhDs courses usually last between three to four years if you study full-time. Students often extend their thesis deadlines and finish the work in their fourth year. If you study part-time, courses can last six or seven years.

Courses can begin anytime throughout the year, though most studentships (doctorate scholarships) start in September or October.

What qualifications do you need for a PhD?

You usually need a good second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject area, or equivalent. Many courses also ask for a master’s degree.

When applying, you may need to demonstrate an ability to conduct research. This could be by showing your experience of independently working on a research project. You’ll probably also have to submit a research proposal that outlines what you’ll be studying.

How is a PhD taught?

There’s very little teaching involved in a PhD degree. Your course may begin with five or six hours per week of classes where you learn about research methods and techniques. Aside from this, you’re in control of your studies, though you’ll receive some guidance from an academic tutor.

How is a PhD assessed?

PhD students are assessed mainly by a thesis, and a closed oral examination where examiners ask questions about the thesis.

Degrees are usually graded as pass or fail.

What skills do you learn during a PhD?

As well as subject-specific skills, you develop transferable skills such as:

Organisation
Research
Work habits
Project management
Critical thinking
Written communication
Presentation

How much does a PhD cost?

Fees vary widely between courses and institutions, but are commonly between £3,000 and £6,000 per year for UK students. International students often pay more.

Many degrees are partly or fully funded, and lots of students receive scholarships and bursaries. UK Research Councils provide universities with grants of around £4,000 per year for each funded PhD student.

PhD degree facts

Some new PhDs are more vocational and offer practical experiences as well as research. These are designed for those looking to advance their careers.

When applying for a PhD, you show the university that you’re the right person for an advertised position, or that you’d be suitable to complete your research proposal.

Popular PhD subjects

Archaeology, top rated universities, liverpool john moores university, heriot-watt university, bangor university, more phd advice, 5 reasons to study a phd.

A PhD is both financially draining and incredibly challenging. Lasting for 3 – 4 years (depending up...

21 st February 2020

A phd in the humanities: why.

Our PhD blogger, David Spittle, is currently studying for a PhD in English Literature (focussing on ...

06 th August 2014

Five time management tips for phd students.

Due to the limited contact time you’ll receive during y...

16 th August 2022

Staying motivated on a phd.

There will be times during your PhD where you feel like you lack motivation. Studying for these degr...

06 th June 2023

Funding your phd, how to fund a phd.

Planning on studying for a PhD but wondering how to fund it? If you’ve been researching PhDs, you’ll...

15 th August 2022

5 things to consider when you apply for postgraduate finance.

It’s no secret that studying for a postgraduate course ...

01 st September 2020

Loan options for postgraduate students.

The routes for postgraduate students to get loans for their continuing education have changed quite ...

27 th September 2022

How to fund your postgraduate course.

Knowing if you can fund your studying is a key deciding factor when taking a postgraduate degree, es...

08 th February 2023

Upcoming open days, aberystwyth university, university of gloucestershire, middlesex university.

My Account |
StudentHome |
TutorHome |
IntranetHome |
Contact the OU Contact the OU Contact the OU |
Accessibility Accessibility

Postgraduate

International
News & media
Business & apprenticeships
Contact Contact Contact
A to Z of courses
Course types
Masters degrees
Postgraduate diplomas
Postgraduate certificates
Microcredentials
Postgraduate modules
Postgraduate distance learning
Postgraduate qualifications
Postgraduate entry requirements
How will I study?
Tutors and assessment
Support, networking and community
Disability support
Fees and funding
Postgraduate loan
Credit or debit card
Employer sponsorship
Mixed payments
Credit transfer
OU bursaries
Grant funding
Study costs funding
Carers' Bursary
Care Experienced Bursary
Disability financial assistance
STEMM bursary
Over 60s bursary
Creative Writing Scholarship
Hayes Postgraduate Scholarship
Disabled Veterans' Scholarships
How to apply
Research degrees
Research areas
Degrees we offer
Fees and studentships
Application process
Being an OU research student
Student views

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

What is a phd.

A PhD is a Doctorate of Philosophy, a prestigious qualification which is the highest level of degree that a student can achieve, demonstrating talent, academic excellence and a thirst for knowledge. In a modern knowledge-based economy, highly educated and skilled people such as doctoral graduates, are in great demand. They form the most highly educated and skilled group in the UK and internationally. Many will go on to use their skills within academia or in research-intensive occupations in industry. However, there will be others who will draw on their research background and the skills gained through a doctoral degree in a wide variety of other occupations. Examples of the type of employment opportunities taken up by PhD holders can be found at Vitae: researcher careers .

What will I get from a PhD?

You will get a huge sense of personal achievement. Our doctoral training programme will help you develop transferable skills that will be invaluable in your subsequent career. The research techniques and methodologies you master will enable you to make a direct contribution to the advancement of knowledge in your particular subject area.

Successful candidates are awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and are permitted to use the title ‘Dr’.

How does it work?

The maximum registration for a PhD programme is four years with full-time study, or eight years with part-time study.

All PhD students are initially registered for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and the PhD registration is confirmed after the successful completion of an upgrade assessment (at the end of year 1 for full-time students and year 2 for part-time study). You will be registered for a PhD when you pass this upgrade. Your academic progress will be monitored throughout your degree studies, via formal progress reports and regular meetings with your supervisors.

You complete a body of primary, novel research and submit a doctoral thesis of up to 100,000 words, which you then defend via an oral examination (the viva) to the satisfaction of the examiners. Your thesis must meet the expectations specified in the Quality Code .

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary according to the research topic and/or specific studentships. The normal minimum entrance requirement is an upper second class honours degree or masters degree, relevant to the proposed area of study, from a recognised higher education institution in the UK or other recognised degree-awarding body. The comparability of qualifications from outside the UK with The Open University requirements will be determined through reference to UK ENIC .

The research topic pages (within research areas ) give details of specific entry requirements, and provide contact details to discuss your suitability for the PhD.

English language proficiency

To study with us, you will need to have a good command of English. If your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate your competence in the English Language in all four elements (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The University requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent). If you are an overseas student, you must have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration and provide your certificate and grade with your application.

Application closing dates

Entry may be permitted for direct registration with The Open University at the following points of year: October and February. This ensures that students benefit from development and training in peer groups. For further information on how to apply, see our Application process section. Application deadlines may differ between research topics and studentships; full details of topic application period is detailed in the topic page (within research areas ).

PhD student, Hannah Sargeant. Her research is focussed on water production from Moon rocks as part of the ProSPA instrument that will be flown to the Moon in 2025.

My PhD journey so far has been a wonderful learning experience that made me reflect upon my beliefs and stretch my thinking.

The sweetest thing about the PhD is that you’ve worked hard for it. It is an opportunity to make an original contribution to an academic area I have always found fascinating.

Your questions

For advice about applying for a research degree, or sponsoring a research student, email the Graduate School or call +44 (0)1908 653806.

The Open University

Study with us
Supported distance learning
Funding your studies
International students
Global reputation
Apprenticeships
Develop your workforce
Contact the OU

Undergraduate

Arts and Humanities
Art History
Business and Management
Combined Studies
Computing and IT
Counselling
Creative Writing
Criminology
Early Years
Electronic Engineering
Engineering
Environment
Film and Media
Health and Social Care
Health and Wellbeing
Health Sciences
International Studies
Mathematics
Mental Health
Nursing and Healthcare
Religious Studies
Social Sciences
Social Work
Software Engineering
Sport and Fitness
Postgraduate study
Masters in Art History (MA)
Masters in Computing (MSc)
Masters in Creative Writing (MA)
Masters degree in Education
Masters in Engineering (MSc)
Masters in English Literature (MA)
Masters in History (MA)
Master of Laws (LLM)
Masters in Mathematics (MSc)
Masters in Psychology (MSc)
A to Z of Masters degrees
Accessibility statement
Conditions of use
Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Manage cookie preferences
Modern slavery act (pdf 149kb)

Follow us on Social media

Student Policies and Regulations
Student Charter
System Status
Contact the OU Contact the OU
Modern Slavery Act (pdf 149kb)

great PhDs for bright people

Browse by discipline.

Targeted PhDs

12 PhD Positions in Classical or Medieval Studies

Tuition Fees

For UK ‘home’ students, the tuition fee for a PhD varies between £3,000 to £6,000 per academic year. For 2023/24 programmes, most universities opt for £4,712 per year within this range. Although this number may seem a little odd, it’s commonly adopted due to being the indicative rate set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for UK universities.

International Fees

Unlike for UK applicants, the rates for international students don’t align with the indicative level set by UKRI. Following the implementation of Brexit, EU students now follow the same fee rates as other international students. International students will find that their tuition fees are higher than those of home students. For example, at the time of writing, the average annual PhD tuition charge at the University of Dundee is £4,825 for home students undertaking an Engineering PhD. This same average is £25,305 for international students.

International applicants will also find that the fee for PhDs in STEM subjects are greater than those in non-STEM subjects. For example, at the University of Bristol, a doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering costs £25,300 per year whilst a doctorate in Medieval Studies costs £20,100 per year.

To summarise, international students can expect a tuition fee of between £16,000 to £25,000 per year, with an average of around £19,600 per academic year. Non-STEM subjects will generally be at the lower end of the range, whilst STEM subjects will be at the higher end of the range.

Part-time Fees

The above fees are based on full-time postgraduate study. If you’re doing a part-time PhD, you can expect the fee to be half of these amounts. Although this may appear to be a cheaper option, keep in mind that the average duration of part-time PhDs are twice that of full-time PhDs. Therefore, the total tuition cost will amount to the same value and the end of both courses.

Other Degree-related Costs

Research support fees.

If your research project requires a high use of consumables, equipment or other resources, you may have to support the cost of these through an additional annual fee. This additional annual fee, often referred to as either a ‘research support’ or ‘bench’ fee, often apply to laboratory-based STEM research projects. Bench fees vary between different projects, even those within the same field. Therefore, it is best to speak to the admissions team on a project-by-project basis to receive anything useful.

Another cost you will need to account for is travelling. As part of your degree, many supervisors will expect you to attend conferences, training workshops, or other collaboration opportunities. As a result, you will often need to travel to various destinations which aren’t always limited to the UK. Although some programmes will cover these costs, it’s not unheard of that some positions will expect you to fund this yourself. It’s impossible to put a value on this, as the extent of travel depends on each project. Therefore, it would be wise to speak with the admissions team and current PhD students. They can provide you with an accurate estimate and let you know whether the university will cover the expenses.

Overtime Period Fee

When you’re enrolled into a PhD programme, you will be given a period to complete your PhD within. This period is known as your ‘registration period’ and is usually 3-4 years for a full-time PhD and 6-7 years for a part-time PhD. If you’re given an extension due to not completing your PhD study within this time, you will need to pay an overtime registration fee. Although the amount depends on each university, the University of Leeds sets theirs as £290 for 2023/24.

Living Costs

From a 2022 survey of over 2,300 university students , the average living cost, covering expenditures such as rent, bills, food and recreation, was £924 per month. This equates to £11,088 per year.

Although this is an average cost, your true cost of living will depend on your location. Living in major cities such as London will draw significantly higher rent and travel costs than living in more rural locations. Although your living situation will in large be driven by the university you undertake your PhD with, you should factor it in when deciding which universities to apply to.

To put this into perspective, the survey average of £11,088 per year uses a rent average of £418 per month. In London, this average increases to £650 a month and can surpass £1,000 if staying in university halls or private student accommodation. This is supported by University College London (UCL) who state you should expect an average rent of £1,028 per month if living in private accommodation around their university.

Tip – You can use this handy calculator for an estimated average cost of living for any UK university. All you need to do is select the university, and the calculator does all the rest.

If you’re an international student, you should factor in return flights back home. Although this may seem like a small expenditure compared to tuition fees and rent, they can add up quickly depending on the frequency and distance of your trip.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How to Fund Your PhD

Studentships.

A studentship is a form of scholarship for doctoral students. They can either be partially funded, which cover tuition fees only, or fully funded, which also covers living costs through a ‘stipend’.

Studentships can be found in various places. Research Councils (RCUK) and European Social Fund (ESF) make funding available to university departments, who in turn make the funding available to doctoral students. Therefore, you will find that there are many postgraduate funding opportunities available to you, with the best places to look being the RCUK and ESF websites and the university departments themselves. External institutions which focus on research and development such as research trusts and charities would also be a useful place to look for a funded PhD.

Doctoral Loans

If you’re a UK student, you may qualify for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan from Student Finance England. This form of financial aid is available for nearly all postgraduate research degrees undertaken in a higher education setting. They will allow you to borrow up to a total of £28,673 for 2023/24 courses .

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Teaching Assistantships are a form of studentships which allow you to teach undergraduates as part of your research degree. This not only helps improve your academic skills, but it also enables you to receive a salary whilst you’re studying. As well as teaching assistantships, some departments also provide opportunities for demonstrations, marking papers, and tutorial support. The amount you can earn through these schemes will depend on how many hours you work and what agreements you make with your supervisor or course leader.

Working Whilst You Study – Part-time PhDs

A research student may opt for a part-time PhD as opposed to a full-time one. Although this would double the duration of their studies, it allows them to take on a part-time job to improve their financial situation. For students going down this route, it would be highly beneficial to pick up a part-time role in a position related to your industry. This will help refine your skills and increase your employability within this career role should you choose to pursue it after your degree.

If you’re an international student, keep in mind that you’ll likely be on a study visa. Therefore, there’ll be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do alongside your study.

How Does This Compare to the Fees in Other Countries?

When considering the tuition fee of PhDs across different countries, the United Kingdom is generally considered as being in the ‘middle-ground‘ region.

A handful of countries offer PhD programmes for free. These include, but are not limited to, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Norway and Poland.

The middle-ground region comprises countries such as Austria, Spain, Russia and New Zealand where postgraduate fees range from £1,400 to £4,000 per academic year.

The upper-end region comprises countries such as Hong Kong and the United States, where postgraduate tuition fees for a PhD student can go up to £33,000 per year.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Clearing Universities & Courses

Clearing advice.

Recommended Clearing Universities

Popular Course Categories

Course Search & Discover

Start the search for your uni. Filter from hundreds of universities based on your preferences.

Search by Type

Search by region.

Recommended Universities

Ravensbourne University London

London (Greater) · 88% Recommended

University of Reading

South East England · 98% Recommended

Arts University Plymouth

South West England · 90% Recommended

Search Open Days

What's new at Uni Compare

University of Surrey

Surrey has been ranked 4th for overall student satisfaction [NSS 2023].

Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths offers creative, cultural and social courses - click here to learn more!

Ranking Categories

Regional rankings.

More Rankings

Top 100 Universities

Taken from 65,000+ data points from students attending university to help future generations

About our Rankings

Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students.

Guide Categories

Advice categories, recommended articles, popular statement examples, statement advice.

What to include in a Personal Statement

Personal Statement Tips

Phd students.

The PhD is a long-standing UK qualification and has been part of the fabric of UK universities for as long as higher education has been around.

How do PhD students cope with the stresses of PhD qualifications and how many papers should a PhD student publish?

What is a PhD student?

A PhD research student takes on a project focusing on a particular topic. They will zone in on a research hypothesis, explore it and write up the results. Once they complete this they obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree - which is the highest level of higher education.

A PhD research student will spend between three to seven years - full or part-time - completing their thesis which will add value to the research world in their chosen subject.

What does a PhD student do?

So, what do you do as a PhD student? Doctorate students work on a research project or hypothesis for several years, completing a large piece of work that is original in that subject area. The thesis will provide new research and insight in its contribution to that field.

Other than completing their huge thesis, a PhD student could be teaching, with many teaching or working as assistants within their department at university. Some institutions expect their PhD students to do this, whilst others offer it as an optional extra. You could find yourself assisting with lectures or tutorials and helping with supervising undergraduates.

Most PhD students are still full-time students, they are often passionate and engrossed in their particular field and work part time jobs whilst completing their degree.

But if you’re wondering how many papers does a PhD student publish? It’s typically their thesis that is completed in the end, but this could change after their doctorate, as many continue in the academic field.

However, regarding how many papers should a PhD student read? This is entirely down to the individual learner, although it’ll most likely be hundreds. A thesis can be 80,00-100,000 words, and the amount of research needed is substantial, much more than the 12,000 word Master’s dissertation. This is why it takes so long to complete.

What is it like to be a PhD student?

The life of a PhD student will vary for each person but the foundations will be the same; studying, working, and research.

PhD student life is full of papers, reading and analysing, as well as researching their own topic. It may include lectures and seminars that they teach as part of their Doctorate, it might involve a part time job they do on weekends, but every PhD student’s day-to-day life can differ.

Some may document their journey through a PhD student blog, whilst others may still live at home, much like individuals in any area of life, they’re all unique.

Working towards a doctorate is a lengthy and intense process - but it offers huge rewards. The average age of a PhD student in the UK is usually someone in their 30s. PhD’s expect their students to have a Master’s and undergraduate degree which take some time to complete. Further, most PhD’s cost a lot if you can’t secure funding so this may take time-saving up for. Because of all of this PhD students can range from 22-years-old to 60 - the possibilities are endless.

What makes a good PhD student?

There isn’t an essential checklist to being a good PhD student, but there are several things you can do to ensure you keep yourself on track.

Strong time management is one of the vital parts of studying for a Doctorate. Treat it as a full time job and set enough time aside each day to work on it, it’s a long and difficult process that can be broken down into pieces and seem more manageable. This will help when you’re writing your thesis, as all the time and effort you’ve put into it will start showing, as well as providing experiences of working to a schedule. Although you should put a lot of time into your work, it’s just as important to enjoy life, socialise and allow yourself ‘down time’.

Don’t send large pieces of work to your supervisor - they also have large workloads - instead, send short submissions regularly to receive constructive and helpful feedback. This will be more productive as you’ll have the chance to assess the points highlighted instead of having less support on huge pieces of work that are thousands and thousands of words.

It’s fine if other areas of life are taking up too much of your time, like teaching, being a student representative, or work and life commitments. If this is the case address the situation maturely and calculate how much time you can give and what you need to realign. It may be that you work fewer hours or you stop going out three times a week.

Your PhD degree or other areas in your life should work in a balance. For example, how many hours should a PhD student work? This is down to you and how much you have to get through each day and week.

How to manage your time as a PhD student?

For any prospective PhD student, the average week can depend on a number of factors; your learning style; the subject area; work patterns and facilities like lab access; what stage you are at for your PhD; what you have agreed with your supervisor; personal preference for working patterns and the university’s regulations.

Some students can work between 25 to 70 hours a week - depending on all of their commitments. Completing a doctorate is hard work and the individual areas of the thesis require different demands on your time. Peer pressure and overbearing supervisors may contribute to feeling like it’s taking up a large part of your life, but address each issue as it comes along and it won’t feel so uncomfortable or that it’s ‘too much work’.

It’s important to remember that your supervisor and university want you to complete a successful PhD and they are essentially supporting you - they want you to come out with something amazing!

For a lot of people, finishing a PhD degree is a huge academic achievement, as it’s the final product of several years of commitment, higher education, and the earned right of being specialised in your topic.

Who can supervise a PhD student?

A strong and positive student-supervisor relationship is vital to the success of your degree. Supervisors are appointed to supervise any work you do.

Supervisors are friendly enough people, but if you feel you need to work on your relationship, be honest about it with them - you’ll be with them for several years! And the final resort is changing your supervisor by speaking to the department and university, however, this is an extreme circumstance that most PhD students don’t need to do.

How much does a PhD student earn in UK?

This is down to how much the university pays it’s PhD students for working at their establishment as a lecturer or in student support. The PhD student salary for UK universities can vary, so it’s worth checking before applying to study for a doctorate at that establishment. Not all universities require their PhD students to work whilst they study, if this is the case, you won’t get a ‘salary’ but may receive financial support for living costs and tuition fees.

Next, there are many different types of PhD student jobs available outside the university grounds. University towns or cities usually have higher retail and restaurants available, because of the student life and atmosphere in general. These are great at offering more flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, which can be perfect for your research.

However, a PhD student salary is something that can’t be calculated as an average, as it’s down to the individual and how much they are working.

How much does it cost to fund a PhD student?

This is an important question if you live at home, with parents, with a partner or even on your own. There is PhD loan student finance in the form or PhD studentships or scholarships from universities, research councils and charities. There is also a PhD student loan provided by the government which you end up paying back via your earnings afterwards.

Securing funding can be a major worry for a lot of PhD students as it costs a pretty penny to complete the doctorate. However, there are lots in place to aid those who are embarking on the journey. For example, PhD student council tax is free, meaning students don’t have to pay council tax. If you are living with one other person who isn’t a student, they can apply for 25% off of their bill, as they’re seen the same as a single person living in the accommodation. But this isn’t in place for a full household (unless you’re all students!). Additionally, as soon as you submit your PhD you must start paying your council tax.

Next, as a lot of PhD students are mature or at an older age than the typical student population, some may be interested in buying a home with a partner, friend or even on their own. Because of this, many wonder about PhD student mortgage options. A mortgage is a contract with the bank on a property, where the bank or building society will buy the property, and you pay back what you owe in mortgage repayments every month. It isn’t the easiest thing to secure, and if you’re studying for a PhD you should work out if you can afford to apply for a mortgage before going ahead with either. Doctorate students don’t earn a high salary, as they are studying and working around their research project.

However, it could be a viable option following the completion of your PhD and once you secure a job. For international student PhD funding in UK, it can differ as most universities offer places to those living in the UK. It doesn’t mean there aren’t options out there, as some institutions have clauses they can work around to offer PhD studentships or scholarships to international students.

It’s worth checking with your chosen universities to find out if they provide funding to international students before applying.

Are there student loans for PhD programs?

The student loan game is changing in the UK and the government now offers a PhD student loan. The student finance PhD loan offers up to £25,000 for those wanting to become an academic doctor. The amount you receive is not based on you or your family’s income and is not means-tested.

However, for anyone looking into PhD funding student finance options they should know the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may take your loan into account when working out any benefits you receive, if you’re applying for Universal Credit, as an example.

The PhD student loan is paid directly to you and you can use it for your fees and living costs, and it’ll be divided equally across each year of your course.

You can also apply for it in any year of your degree, but if you apply after your first year you might not get the maximum amount, as it’s goal is to support PhD students throughout the entire doctorate. If you apply after the first 12 months you might receive around £10,906 per year.

What is the difference between PhD student and candidate?

So, what’s the difference between PhD student and PhD candidate? They are actually separate things with a thesis or final exam in the way. It works similar to a postgraduate diploma and a Master’s degree, where people are awarded the diploma if they don’t complete or choose to do the dissertation at the end.

A candidate is someone who has fulfilled all the requirements for the PhD degree except the thesis. This could also be an option for anyone who needs a break - PhDs are a long and difficult process!

Some institutions allow you to become a Candidate of Philosophy instead, or grant a Master’s degree en route to the doctoral degree. It can also be referred to as PhD ABD, which means ‘All but Dissertation’.

In theory, everyone is a PhD candidate or student until they submit their project or thesis, but the title has to be awarded by the university if you choose to take a break or not to finish your final dissertation. Not all universities offer the option of becoming a PhD candidate, so if you’re having troubles during your doctorate talk to your supervisor as the first port of call.

How to make money as a PhD student?

Funding a PhD can be tough - but it’s not impossible. Many choose to take on part time jobs, either at the university or outside. First, most PhD student employment status is someone who is working - as the rent and living costs aren’t going to pay for themselves!

If you need to make money, look at writing your CV as a PhD student. You’ll need to apply for jobs that’ll offer hours that can work around your schedule. A PhD student CV doesn’t need to go into detail about your doctorate or research if you’re looking to work in the retail, food or warehouse sector.

Set up your CV like you would for any job opportunities you regularly would, input your greatest achievements and set it out smartly and clearly. Then you can apply for jobs that suit your needs and ability.

How to write a reference letter for a PhD student?

When PhD students are applying for their course via a Research Council or university they will usually write a proposal. This may include a reference letter, or a recommendation letter for a PhD student from a professor they’ve worked with before. They allow the panel or admissions department to discover why they should offer a place to that individual.

When you are looking to fill out your proposal, you should seek a letter from someone who has seen your hardwork and who is able to sing your praises - because you want to show the best side of you!

If you’re writing a reference for a PhD student, focus on the good things they’ve done, especially within the academic and research field. A PhD student needs to be focussed, committed, dedicated and hardworking, as well as holding many other great attributes.

postgraduate Universities

Postgraduate uni's.

Photo of Imperial College Business School

Northumbria Uni

241 courses

Photo of University of the Arts London (UAL)

129 courses

Want to learn more about a university?

Get your questions answered by sending them an enquiry now.

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Corporate information

Applications open - PhD Placements with Open Innovation Team 2025

We are now accepting applications from PhD students for placements beginning in January 2025

The Open Innovation Team have opened applications for the 2025 cohorts of PhD placements. Students wishing to participate in the programme must submit their applications before 14 June 2024 (11:59pm).

Placements normally last three months, with students joining policy projects across a range of areas including health, justice, education, sustainability, energy, international development, and artificial intelligence.

For the first time this year, students will have the opportunity to work with the team’s new Evaluation Service. This will involve helping evaluate the impact of policies that have been implemented across government.

Over 150 students have completed placements since the programme began in 2016. Many of those students have gone on to work in professional policy roles, having developed key skills and abilities on the placement.

Find out what previous PhD placement students thought of their time with the Open Innovation Team  here .

The team will host information sessions where you can learn more about the placement and ask questions. These sessions will take place on Wednesday 15 May, 1-2pm, and Friday 31 May, 2-3pm. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in attending, or join directly using this link .

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)
Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Is this page useful?

Yes this page is useful
No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

What are you looking for?

Students and Graduates

Start your career with airbus, play your part in the future of aerospace.

Ignite your career journey with an unforgettable experience at Airbus!

We believe that learning happens with hands-on experience, and guidance from the industry’s best. That’s why we have built a series of programmes for students leaving school, taking time out to gain some industry experience, or graduating from university!

Ready to start on an adventure by launching your career with us?

Discover our exciting graduate programmes available around the world and step into a brilliant career at Airbus.

Apprentices

Gain valuable practical training with our teams across the company.

Interns & Placement Students

Join us for your internship and contribute to projects of vital importance to the future of aerospace.

Want to advance your professional capabilities? Discover our VIE and PhD offers in the world of aerospace.

Launch your career at Airbus

Visit our jobs board and discover many opportunities dedicated to students and graduates.

For students

Current Students website
Email web access
Make a payment
iExeter (students)
Programme and module information
Current staff website
Room Bookings
iExeter (staff)
Finance Helpdesk
IT Service Desk

Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou

Professor of hebrew bible and ancient religion.

[email protected]

01392 724290

Supervision

Publications.

Twitter/X: @ProfFrancesca

I'm Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion here at the University of Exeter.

I studied Theology, and then the Hebrew Bible, at the University of Oxford, where I also completed my doctorate. I spent a further three years teaching and researching in Oxford as a Junior Research Fellow, before joining Exeter's Theology and Religion team in 2005. I was appointed to a personal chair in 2011. Alongside my research and teaching, I also undertake various media activities, including writing and presenting the BBC TV documentary series Bible's Buried Secrets , which was recently re-aired on Netflix US and is currently streaming on BBC Select.

My research is primarily focused on ancient Israelite and Judahite religions, and portrayals of the religious past in the Hebrew Bible. More specifically, I'm interested in biblical traditions and ancient religious practices most at odds with Western cultural preferences, especially those bound up with the materiality and sociality of the body - whether living or dead, divine or human. Much of my research has been supported by grants awarded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, and the Leverhulme Trust.

My most recent book deals with ancient constructs of God's body: God: An Anatomy (Picador/Knopf 2021) won the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize for non-fiction, was shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize , named a best book of the year in both the Economist and Sunday Times , and serialised in abridged form on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week .

My first book explored the misrepresentation of the religious past in the Hebrew Bible: King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities (de Gruyter, 2004). In my second book, Land of Our Fathers: The Roles of Ancestor Veneration in Biblical Land Claims (T&T Clark, 2010), I furthered my somewhat morbid interests by examining the relationship between the veneration of the dead and territorial claims in the Hebrew Bible. The dead have proved to be stimulating company: I've since published a number of works examining the social and religious impacts of the human corpse upon the living, and I'm currently working on a monograph called The Social Life of the Corpse - Within and Without the Bible (forthcoming).

I've edited a number of scholarly books: Life and Death: Social Perspectives on Biblical Bodies (T&T Clark, 2021); Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah (with John Barton; T&T Clark, 2010); Ecological Hermeneutics (with Exeter colleagues David Horrell, Cherryl Hunt and Chris Southgate; T&T Clark, 2010). I'm founder and general editor of Bloomsbury's new Hebrew Bible in Social Perspective series, and I work closely with Oxford University Press as founder and co-editor of a series of monographs focusing on biblical characters, called Biblical Refigurations.

Alongside my specialisms in ancient Israelite and Judahite religions, my research interests include material religion; ancient constructs of the body and personhood; anthropological and archaeological approaches to ancient religion; the materiality and sociality of death and dying; ancient visual cultures and the Hebrew Bible; mythology and ritual; kingship in ancient southwest Asia; history and ideology in the Hebrew Bible; methods of historical reconstruction; constructs of ‘popular’ and ‘official’ religion; and ‘secular’ approaches to teaching and learning in biblical studies. I supervise a number of doctoral students working on a wide range of topics pertaining to the Hebrew Bible/early Judaisms and the socio-religious cultures of ancient southwest Asia.

I teach a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules focusing on the Hebrew Bible and its texts and language; ancient southwest Asian religions; the early cultural history of God; social and cultural constructs of death and dying; the relationship between religion and material culture; the role and place of the Bible in the modern world; and religious constructs of the body in ancient and contemporary societies.

I supervise a number of doctoral students. I am happy to consider working with candidates working on any aspect of ancient Israelite and/or Judahite societies and religions, including their mythologies, rituals, and mortuary practices; the history and literature of the Hebrew Bible; reconstructions of the past in biblical studies; personhood, gender, sexuality in ancient southwest Asia; Levantine mortuary practices; ancient materiality and material-critical approaches to the study of ancient religions; anthropology of ancient religions; anthropology of the societies giving rise to the Hebrew Bible and/or early Judaisms; cultures of the body and body modification in ancient southwest Asian and eastern Medierranean societies.

Candidates interested in working with me are very welcome to send me a 500 word outline of their proposed research and a copy of their CV.

Research students

I am surrently supervising a PhD student working on the mythological and geo-spatial locations of Bethel, and co-supervising a PhD student working on early Jewish mimesis and imitation in Mark's gospel.

Previous PhD students include:

Daniel O. McClellan, 'Divine Agency in the Ideologies of the Hebrew Bible: Cognitive Perspectives'

Rebekah Welton, ‘A Study of Meat and Wine in the Hebrew Bible in Relation to the Law of the Rebellious Son (Deut. 21:18-21)’ (AHRC funded)

Bethany Wagstaff, ‘An Anthropology of Clothing in the Hebrew Bible’ (AHRC funded)

Alan Hooker, ‘You Shall Know Yahweh: God’s Penis and Divine Sexuality in the Hebrew Bible’ (AHRC funded)

Elisabeth Cook, ‘The Foreign Women of Ezra 9-10: Identity and Exclusion in the Hebrew Bible’

David Beadle, ‘Royal Ritual Heavenly Ascent and Netherworldy Descent in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judah’ (AHRC funded)

Jonathan Morgan, ‘Land, Sin and Sacrifice in Leviticus: Towards an Environmental Ethic’ (AHRC funded)

Stuart Macwilliam, ‘Queer Theory and the Prophetic Marriage Metaphor in the Hebrew Bible’

Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.

| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |

Stavrakopoulou F. (2023) Gods, gifts and writing in ancient religious imaginations, Gifts and Books: From Early Myth to the Present , Bodleian Library, 6-21.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2023) Visual Cultures of the Hebrew Bible, Understanding the Hebrew Bible: Essays by Members of the Society for Old Testament Study , Oxford University Press.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2022) What's the World's Oldest Religion?, BBC History , pages 56-56.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2021) Public Menace: Spectrums of Abuse from the Personal to the Professional.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2021) The Materiality of Life and the Sociality of Death, Life and Death: Social Perspectives on Biblical Bodies , T&T Clark, 1-23.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2021) God: An Anatomy , Picador.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2021) Life and Death: Social Perspectives on Biblical Bodies , Bloomsbury/T&T Clark.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2019) Curating King Saul: The Transformation of a Troublesome Corpse, To Gaul, to Greece, and Into Noah’s Ark: Essays in Honour of Kevin J. Cathcart on the Occasion of His Eightieth Birthday , Oxford University Press, 19-35.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2016) The Historical Framework: Biblical and Scholarly Portrayals of the Past, The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Companion , Princeton University Press, 24-53.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2015) Religion at Home: The Materiality of Practice , The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Ancient Israel , 346-365, DOI:10.1002/9781118774199.ch19.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2015) Our Own Gods, Times Literary Supplement , no. January 30 2015, pages 24-24.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2014) Female academics: Don't power dress, forget heels - and no flowing hair allowed.
Stavrakopoulou F, Nissinen M. (2013) Introduction: New Perspectives on Body and Religion , Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel , volume 2, no. 4, DOI:10.1628/219222713x13933396528243.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2013) Monotheism, Disbelief, and the Hebrew Bible.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2013) Atheism and Feminism: Are Atheists 'Truer' Feminists?.
Stavrakopoulou F, Nissinen M. (2013) New Perspectives on the Body and Religion, Hebrew Bible & Ancient Israel , volume 2, pages 453-457.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2013) Making Bodies: On Body Modification and Religious Materiality in the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel , volume 2, pages 532-553.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2013) The Jerusalem Tophet: Ideological Dispute and Religious Transformation, Studi Epigrafici e Linguistici , volume 29-30, pages 137-158.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2013) Materialism, Materiality, and Biblical Cults of Writing, Biblical Interpretation and Method , Oxford University Press, 223-242.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2012) ‘God's Ex-Wife: what price monotheism?’ A ‘Discussion’ with Prof. Francesca Stavrakopoulou , Modern Believing , volume 53, no. 1, pages 43-46, DOI:10.3828/mb.53.1.43.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2011) Making Bible's Buried Secrets (BBC blogpost).
Stavrakopoulou F, Barton J. (2010) Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah , T&T Clark.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2010) Blessings for the Beloved: Ancient Israelite Child Sacrifice in its Near Eastern Contexts, Children and Violence in the Western Tradition , Oxbow.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2010) Abraham's Inheritance (The Bible: A History, Channel 4). [ PDF ]
Stavrakopoulou F, Barton J. (2010) Introduction: Religious Diversity in ancient Israel and Judah, Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah , T&T Clark, 1-8.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2010) Land of Our Fathers: The Roles of Ancestor Veneration in Biblical Land Claims , T&T Clark.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2010) Gog's grave and the use and abuse of corpses in Ezekiel 39:11-20, Journal of Biblical Literature , volume 129, pages 67-84.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2010) 'Popular' Religion and 'Official' Religion: Practice, Perception, Portrayal, Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah , T&T Clark International, 37-58.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2009) Ancestor ideologies and the territoriality of the dead in Genesis, A Palimpsest: Rhetoric, Ideology, Stylistics and Language Relating to Persian Israel , Gorgias Press, 73-92.
Sabri D, Rowland C, Wyatt J, Stavrakopoulou F, Cargas S, Hartley H. (2008) Faith in academia: integrating students' faith stance into conceptions of their intellectual development , TEACH HIGH EDUC , volume 13, no. 1, pages 43-54, DOI:10.1080/13562510701794043.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2008) Review of N. Laneri (ed.), Performing Death: Social Analyses of Funerary Traditions in the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean, Welt des Orients , volume 38, pages 272-275.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2007) Review of J. Job, Jeremiah’s Kings: A Study of the Monarchy in Jeremiah, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 31, no. 5, pages 128-128.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2007) Review of Prophets and prophecy in the ancient Near East, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 57, no. 2, pages 272-272.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2007) The development and symbolism of Passover until 70 CE, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 57, no. 2, pages 276-277.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2007) Review of The 'Livret Noir de Baal': The polemics between the Baal god in Hebrew Bible and ancient Israel, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 57, no. 2, pages 272-272.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2007) Review of The Sanctuary of Bethel and the Configuration of Israelite Identity, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 31, no. 5, pages 183-184.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) A prophet in debate: The rhetoric of persuasion in the book of Amos, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 3, pages 429-429. [ PDF ]
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Anthropology and biblical studies: Avenues of approach, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 3, pages 424-425.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) A Companion to the Ancient Near East, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 30, no. 5, pages 154-155.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Israel's history and the history of Israel, TLS-TIMES LIT SUPPL , pages 26-26.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) A prophet in debate: The rhetoric of persuasion in the book of Amos, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 2, pages 285-285.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) God and World in the Old Testament, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 30, no. 5, pages 135-135.
Stavrakopoulou, F.. (2006) Ancestral Advocacy and Dynastic Dynamics in the Books of Kings, What is it that the Scriptures Say?: Essays in biblical interpretation and reception in honour of Henry Wansbrough OSB , T & T Clark International.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Exploring the Garden of Uzza: Death, Burial and Ideologies of Kingship, Biblica , volume 87, no. 1, pages 1-21.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Lesbian Biblical Hermeneutics, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 30, no. 5, pages 103-104.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Ancient Israel in Sinai - The evidence for the authenticity of the wilderness tradition, TLS-TIMES LIT SUPPL , pages 26-26.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Lords of the Scrolls, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 30, no. 5, pages 121-121.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Theories, Models and Concepts in Ancient History, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 30, no. 5, pages 46-47.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) The Old Testament in Its World, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 30, no. 5, pages 8-9.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) On the reliability of the Old Testament, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 2, pages 278-279.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Women in Ugarit and Israel: Their social and religious position in the context of the ancient Near East, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 3, pages 426-427.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Women in Ugarit and Israel: Their social and religious position in the context of the ancient Near East, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 2, pages 282-283.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Blood ritual in the Hebrew Bible: Meaning and power, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 4, pages 571-572.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2006) Anthropology and biblical studies: Avenues of approach, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 56, no. 2, pages 280-281.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2005) Egypt on the Pentateuch's ideological map: Constructing biblical Israel's identity, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 55, no. 4, pages 577-577.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2005) Myth and Politics in Ancient Near Eastern Historiography, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , volume 29, no. 5, pages 46-46.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2005) The great high priest: The temple roots of Christian liturgy, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 55, no. 4, pages 570-570.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2005) Waiting for Josiah: The Judges, VETUS TESTAMENTUM , volume 55, no. 4, pages 578-579.
Cargas S, Francis H, Rowland C, Sabri D, Stavrakopoulou F, Wyatt J. (2005) 'Like a good brisk walk': The relationship between faith stance and academic study in the experience of Theology students at the University of Oxford, Discourse , volume 4, no. 2, pages 43-82.
Stavrakopoulou, F.. (2005) The Blackballing of Manasseh, Good Kings and Bad Kings , T & T Clark International, 248-263.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2004) King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities , W. de Gruyter.
Stavrakopoulou F. (2004) A Woman’s Place is in the House, Shofar , volume 23, pages 163-165.

External impact and engagement

Alongside my media work (see below), I also undertake a number of public speaking events. These include lectures at the British Museum and Smithsonian, events at the Hay Literary Festival and the London Thinks series, as well as lectures for Jewish synagogue communities, Christian cross-denominational societies, and atheist organisations. As a patron of Humanists UK, I have lectured on the roles of the Bible, religion, and atheism in ancient and contemporary societies at a number of Humanist conventions and conferences.

Contribution to discipline

Grants awarded

£45,572, Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship, 2016-17
£45,560, AHRC Early Career Fellowship, 2011.
£7,110, British Academy, 2007-2009.
"Uses of the Bible in Environmental Ethics", with David Horrell. £196,333 + c. £45,000 PhD studentship, AHRC, 2006-2009.

Editorial positions

Biblical Refigurations series, OUP
Biblical Interpretation journal, Brill (2010-13)
Library of Hebrew Bible/OT Studies series, Bloomsbury
Hebrew Bible in Social Perspective series, Bloomsbury
Special issue of Hebrew BIble and Ancient Israel journal (co-edited with Martti Nissinen)

Academic society positions

Secretary of the Society for Old Testament Study, 2010-12

Media (selected)

Three-part BBC documentary series about the Bible and archaeology, called Bible's Buried Secrets , broadcast in the UK on BBC 2 in March 2011
'Talking head' contributions to various television documentaries. Regular appearances on BBC1's debate shows The Big Questions and Sunday Morning Live
Discussion of biblical scholarship on several TV and radio programmes for both national and international broadcasters

Informing international policy

Publication on corpse abuse cited at the Supreme Court of the United States in a case about the picketing of the funerals of US soldiers by members of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church
Winner of the 2022 PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize for non-fiction
Shortlisted for the 2022 Wolfson Hisory Prize
Awarded the 2020 Rosalind Franklin Medal for public scholarship
Student Guild award for Research-inspired Teaching 2013

Television series

Bible's Buried Secrets (BBC2, 2011; Netflix US). Presenter of this prime-time, three-part documentary series.

Television programmes (selected examples)

Searching for Exile - The Debate (BBC4, 2013)

The Big Questions (BBC1). Regular appearances on this Sunday morning programme.

Sunday Morning Live (BBC1). Regular appearances on this Sunday morning programme.

BBC Points of View (BBC1, 2011).

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering , studio interview on an Australian prime-time TV news/chat show (ABC, 2016)

The Real Star of Bethlehem: Sky at Night Christmas Special (BBC4, 2015)

Secrets of the Bible (ZDF, Germany/IMG worldwide, 2014).

Bible Secrets Revealed (History Channel, US, 2013).

The Bible: A History (Channel 4, 2010).

Online television (selected examples)

‘God’: a short film for the BBC’s Story of Now interactive documentary series (2015)

‘Are we wired to believe in a higher power?’: Two short films for the BBC iWonder Guide ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3b6hyc )

‘The Real Garden of Eden’: interactive web material and film for the BBC iWonder Guide

Radio (selected examples)

Australian Broadcasting Corporations' God Forbid : a discussion with author Karen Armstrong about the history of God (13 August 2023)

BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week : an abridged serilsation of my book God An Anatomy (five episodes, 13-17 September 2021).

'God's Body' on BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking (4 November 2021).

Private Passions (BBC Radio 3, 19 September 2021).

Interview on RNZ's Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan (Radio New Zealand, November 2021).

Interview on Radio Cape Town's Afternoon Drive with John Maytham (February 2022).

Interview on FreeThought Radio, USA (January 2022)

BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze (14 October 2020)

Unbelieveable : Is Christianity Sexist? (Premier Christian Radio, 2018).

Living with the Gods: Contributor to two episodes of this major documentary series co-produced by the BBC and the British Museum, presented by Neil MacGregor (BBC Radio 4, 2017)

The Hollow Earth – A Travel Guide : Contributor to this documentary presented by Robin Ince (BBC Radio 4, 2015)

The Infinite Monkey Cage : Christmas Special (BBC Radio 4, 2014 and 2017)

Beyond Belief : Panellist on this discussion programme, debating the impact of archaeology on religion and faith (BBC Radio 4, 2014).

BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show : Hosting a debate with teenagers from a selection of faith schools in Manchester, and reporting back to the show live throughout the morning (2013)

Museum of Curiosity (BBC Radio 4, 2011).

Woman’s Hour (BBC Radio 4. 2011).

Nightwaves (BBC Radio 3, 2011): Panel discussion of TV series Bible’s Buried Secrets.

Podcast interviews (selected examples)

‘The truth about Easter’: an interview on Dan Snow’s History Hits podcast ( http://www.historyhitpodcast.com/the-truth-about-easter-francesca-stavrakopoulou/)

‘The historical reliability of the Bible’: an interview on Dan Snow’s History Hits podcast ( http://www.historyhitpodcast.com/the-historical-reliability-of-the-bible-francesca-stavrakopoulou/)

National Life Stories (in partnership with the British Library): 8 hours of interviews about my life, research, and career, recorded as an archive of podcasts ( https://www.bl.uk/projects/national-life-stories)

‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’: live podcast for The Cosmic Shed, debating the relationships between science fiction and religion ( http://thecosmicshed.com)

The Godless Spellchecker Podcast : podcast interview ( https://www.gspellchecker.com/tag/francesca-stavrakopoulou/)

Modules taught

THE1072 - Introducing Biblical Hebrew
THE1101 - The Bible: Past and Present
THE1109 - Introduction to the History and Literatures of the Bible
THE2173 - Life and Death in Israel and Judah
THE2218 - The Invention of God
THE3173 - Life and Death in Israel and Judah
THE3218 - The Invention of God
THEM122 - Approaches to Biblical Studies
THEM309 - Socialising (with) the Dead

More information

Edit profile

Connect with us

Information for:

Current students
New students
Alumni and supporters

Quick links

Streatham Campus

St Luke's Campus

Penryn Campus

Truro Campus

Using our site
Accessibility
Freedom of Information
Modern Slavery Act Statement
Data Protection
Copyright & disclaimer
Privacy & cookies

Campus News
Student News
UK HealthCare
UK Happenings
Arts & Culture
Professional News

Graduate Stipend and Benefits Committee updates fiscal year 2025 baseline stipends

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2024) — Aft er reviewing data analyses and working closely with colleges and leadership across campus, the University of Kentucky's Graduate Stipend and Benefits Committee has updated baseline graduate stipends for fiscal year 202 5 .

Beginning in the fall semester of 2022, the University of Kentucky announced its commitment to further support graduate students through enhanced compensation and benefits.

In 2023, after much work and research, the Graduate Stipend and Benefits Committee provided updates to the Office of the Provost and other college leadership. T he university then implemented baselin e graduate stipends based upon these recommendations ; colleges, graduate programs and other hiring departments had until Jan. 1, 2024, to raise any stipends that did not meet these baseline amounts.

Preliminary data showed that a majority of UK graduate programs already provided stipends on par with or higher than the average for their disciplines when compared to benchmar k institutions.

The committee worked closely with colleges and departments, hiring departments across campus, Institutional Research, Analytics and Decision Support (IRADS), and other partners to ensure that fiscal year 2024 baseline amounts were met by Jan. 1, 2024.

The multi-year plan to implement baseline graduate stipends includes:

Working with IRADS and colleges to regularly analyze current graduate stipends for all graduate programs at UK , as well as stipends provided to graduate students by non-academic units;
Participating in the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Graduate Stipend Survey, which is an annual national survey with participants including 10 SEC schools in 2022-23;
Establishing baseline stipends based on standardized data from the OSU Graduate Stipend Survey; and
Reevaluating baseline stipends annually, using this s tandardized benchmark data.

“Supporting our graduate students is something we do not take lightly because they are so vital to our Graduate School mission,” said Padraic Kenney, dean of the UK Graduate School and associate provost for graduate and professional education. “We work closely with our partners across campus to ensure we invest in their futures, just as they invest in ours.”

You can find more information about graduate student funding here .

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.

Latest Stories

Women’s forum employee educational assistance award applications open may 1, born to be wildcats: uk student leaders ready for their next steps, candidate a for dean of uk’s college of design to participate in open forum, 4 uk grads selected to address may 2024 commencement ceremonies.

UK grad ‘soars back’ after 40 years, becoming 1st to earn Ph.D. in aerospace engineering

April 30, 2024

“When I started at UK almost 45 years ago, I could not have imagined in my mind — nor even in any theoretical parallel universe — that I would be getting an aerospace Ph.D. from here,” Sinha said. “Much less to be the first recipient of the degree with an aerospace major. When you get older, you start to think about legacy, and this is a legacy that will endure.”

After receiving his bachelor's degree from UK 40 in 1983, Sujit Sinha returned more than 40 years later to become the first to earn a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering.

From the earliest days of childhood, there are those who seem to possess an unwavering clarity about their future.

Whether it's the child who dreams of exploring the cosmos or the budding artist who finds solace in strokes of color, there's a profound sense of direction.

It’s as if the essence of who they are, their passions, and their talents, are woven into the very fabric of their being.

At just 7 years old, Sujit Sinha’s aspirations were bold — and specific. “My late mother always told me that I said, ‘I’m going to work in mission control at NASA one day.’”

Despite growing up in the small town of Morehead, Kentucky, for Sinha, working in aeronautics didn’t seem out of reach.

That spark of passion was further ignited during a family trip to the Sunshine State.

“It was the summer of 1968. And of course, a must-stop was a visit to the Kennedy Space Center during the heyday of the Apollo program,” he said. “We got to tour the historic mission control building, and that was all I needed to establish my ultimate career aspiration.”

From that moment on, Sinha could often be found spending his free time building model planes and rockets. “All the way through high school, I built rockets — striving to construct ones that flew higher and higher.”

Sinha's desire to become a mechanical engineer was fueled by his unwavering determination. Yet, he recognized the importance of furthering his education, especially if he was going to land his NASA dream job.

That’s when, in August of 1979, Sinha’s journey as a Wildcat began.

“As with many students, the first two years were quite an adjustment. Since this was long before first-year engineering courses and living learning programs, it was difficult to meet other students in my major,” he continued. “As time went on, the courses were a struggle. Then, sophomore year was one of those ‘look into the abyss’ moments, where you feel like you are just about to go into freefall.”

With family support, Sinha completed those two years. And in his junior year, he found a second family at UK.

“I met many other students in mechanical engineering, and we formed a study and social group,” Sinha said. “Now, I always advise prospective students to join a study group.”

He continued to excel socially and academically, and in 1983, Sinha proudly crossed the Commencement stage with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Not unlike many recent graduates, Sinha was unclear about the path forward. He was both eager to begin his career and to continue his education.

“The education I received at UK provided me with the knowledge to take my career wherever I wanted,” Sinha said. “I stress this fact with prospective UK students. But of course, you must also be relentless in the pursuit of your goals — and have just a bit of luck.”

As luck would have it, NASA came calling.

“I received a job offer from the Marshall Space Flight Center after only having a brief discussion with a NASA recruiter on campus,” Sinha recalled. “But I learned the role was exactly the dream job planted in my mind back in 1968. It would put me in the Launch Control Center, interacting with the mission control team in Houston.”

Those in mission control are often the underappreciated champions behind every successful space mission — navigating the intricate nuances of space travel with unparalleled precision.

At just 21 years old, Sinha found himself striving to anticipate challenges before they would arise and devising split-second contingency plans.

“During a launch, I managed the Main Propulsion System (MPS) console, with responsibility of fueling the large, brown shuttle external tank with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen," he explained. "Between launches, I designed the ascent flight trajectory for each space shuttle mission. Essentially, you need to get the shuttle into orbit without breaking the wings off of the orbiter, while keeping the aero-heating on the external tank (ET) within safety limits. You may recall, the reentry failure of the Shuttle Columbia was due to a piece of the ET coming off and hitting the wing of the orbiter during ascent. I also performed post-flight trajectory reconstruction after each shuttle mission.”

During that time, NASA would pay for Sinha to get a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. While completing evening courses at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, he also continued to excel in his career — holding many positions and filling many roles at NASA throughout the '80s.

A turning point came on Jan. 28, 1986 — the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.

“Everything changed,” Sinha said.

The challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The spacecraft disintegrated 46,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral and was the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft while in flight.

“As a result, I served on the Presidential Commission’s Challenger Accident Analysis Team. As an engineer, I helped to identify and explain the technical failure that occurred, but what I did not readily comprehend was the managerial thinking that contributed to the failure,” Sinha said. “Following the accident, I decided I needed to better understand how and why business and management decision-making differs from engineering and technical decision-making.”

After six years at NASA, Sinha left to pursue an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, at the University of Pennsylvania, which ultimately led to new ventures.

“I served as a civilian consultant to the Department of Defense at the Pentagon for a couple of years,” he said. “I was mentored by a retired three-star general. He established many of the management principles for leading large organizations that I now call my own.”

Despite aspirations to continue his education, life’s demands and opportunities continued to lead Sinha down a different path — applying his mechanical engineering expertise in practical settings.

“In NASA terminology, the pursuit of a Ph.D. went into an ‘unplanned 32-year hold.’”

When asked about his career highlights, Sinha describes his time spent as a management consultant, which involved working with various high-tech and aerospace CEOs and senior executives.

“A few examples include: determining if a commercial helicopter manufacturer should introduce a new product to the market; assessing if a major aerospace firm should purchase a corporate jet maker; deciding how a U.S. commercial launch manufacturer should partner with a Russian launch provider; etc.”

Sinha also led information technology strategy, architecture and innovation at Motorola, which invented cell phones. “Leading IT innovation was exciting, as I was able to introduce many new collaboration and mobile technologies globally,” he said.

Sinha held numerous roles over the course of his illustrious career, applying his expertise in diverse capacities.

And before he knew it, years had gone by since he was an apprehensive graduate — 40 years, to be exact.

Still, Sinha considered himself a lifelong learner. So, he “retired,” began to focus more on work-life balance and contemplated his next move.

“I always had a desire to teach. So, I was definitely planning on continuing my education and earning my Ph.D.,” he said. “My parents always stressed the importance of education as a core family value. I figured that a Ph.D. was the highest degree that could be obtained in engineering, and therefore, I should certainly aim to seek this level of education.”

In 2021, the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering launched undergraduate and graduate degree programs in aerospace engineering .

Aerospace plays a significant role in Kentucky’s economy. In fact, aerospace exports are the top export in the state and number three in the United States — behind only California and Washington. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky exported more than $14.6 billion in aerospace products in 2019.

Additionally, the Commonwealth is home to 79 aerospace-related facilities, which employ more than 19,000 people, including Belcan Corp., General Dynamics, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

Housed in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , the degree pathways foster research and innovation by enhancing collaborations between UK and the local aerospace industry.

“As a member of the engineering alumni board, over time, I learned about all of the great aerospace research going on at UK,” Sinha said. “And I began to think, once again, about finishing my Ph.D.”

So, after four decades, Sinha made the bold decision to return to UK and pursue his long-deferred dream.

Despite his commitment, being a student again wasn’t without challenges.

“You have to remember, during my undergrad I didn’t even have the internet,” Sinha exclaimed. “But the biggest challenge was re-learning all the calculus. When I would study with the “kids,” they would fly through the math associated with solving problems, so I would have to stop them and have them walk me through it. I certainly would have never completed my degree without the support of my fellow, much younger, and clearly smarter, students.”

This time around, Sinha also had the support of his two sons who attended college at the same time and graduated within a year of each other.

“There is an old tenet at the Pentagon that you should not ask the troops to do something that you are not willing to do — a leadership by example approach,” he said. “This principle is another reason I went back to finish my Ph.D., since I wanted to show my boys that I was willing to challenge myself to study along with them.”

Lastly, Sinha contributes his academic success to his mentors. “I actually had four advisors (Sean Bailey, Jesse Hoagg, Alexandre Martin and Suzanne Smith) for my Ph.D.,” he said. “The support from the faculty and college administration was invaluable to completing my degree.”

From the earliest days of childhood, Sinha seemed to possess an unwavering clarity about his future.

As for his definition of success, however, he now believes that comes in many forms.

Yes, Sinha’s latest accolade could help advance his future career aspirations. But he says it was never about salary or status.

Instead, his degree represents something more intangible.

The May 2024 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. More information can be found here .

“It was the summer of 1968. And, a must-stop was a visit to the Kennedy Space Center," Sinha said. "That was all I needed to establish my ultimate career aspiration."

In 1983, Sinha proudly crossed the UK Commencement stage with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

IMAGES

PhD in Business Degree
How to apply for a PhD : PhD : Study with us : University of Sussex
Day in the Life of a PhD Student (UK)
What do you need to do before applying for a PhD Programme in the UK
PhD Students & Opportunities
How to get a PhD in the UK as an international student?

VIDEO

ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ഗവേഷക വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥി മരിച്ചു
FINDING & FUNDING a PhD! UK University Lecturer tips and suggestions
Apply for the Cheapest PhD in England 😍🇬🇧 #phd #internationalstudent #spousevisauk #2023 🇬🇧🇬🇧
A week as a Cambridge PhD student
10% rise in the PhD students stipend in the UK
Sunday Study + Gym Vlog

COMMENTS

PhD Study in the UK
Priority research areas - On top of all the support the UK already provides for PhD study, additional funding is currently being made available for pioneering work in AI and related fields. New post-study work visas - A Graduate Route visa is available to international students completing a PhD from summer 2021 onwards. It allows you to ...
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
In most faculties, a candidate is expected to have completed one year of postgraduate study, normally on a research preparation master's course, prior to starting a PhD. Completion normally requires three or four years of full-time study, or at least five years of part-time study, including a probationary period.
PhD
A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most common type of doctoral degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. It normally takes between three and four years of full-time work to complete. It is also possible to undertake a PhD part time, over five to six years. The main activity of a PhD is to carry out an original ...
How to apply for a PhD in the UK
There won't typically be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees. If a university does charge application fees they will usually be between £50-£100. The tuition fees for students studying in the UK are set by UK Research and Innovation. Fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for ...
Studying A PhD in the UK
PhD tuition fees for international students in the UK depend on factors such as the university, field of study, and location. On average, fees range from £15,000 to £35,000 per year. However, it's important to note that actual fees can vary significantly. Study a PhD or research degree in the UK.
International Students' Guide to Pursuing a PhD
Proof of English Language Proficiency - Your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score should be a minimum of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the exam. However, Humanities doctoral students may need a higher score of 7.0 - 7.5. Using the Test of English as a Foreign Language System (TOEFL), you will need a ...
How to apply for a PhD : PhD : Study with us : University of Sussex
Apply to Sussex. You apply directly to Sussex using our postgraduate application system. You can apply for up to three postgraduate courses. If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for. degree certificates and transcripts.
Get a studentship to fund your doctorate
Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training. You could get: a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)
Study in the UK: the ultimate guide for a PhD in 2024
Euraxess UK Portal for PhD and Postdoc Euraxess UK is a portal for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers looking to work or continue their research in the United Kingdom. It provides information on funding opportunities, research networks, job vacancies, and other resources to help these professionals succeed in their careers.
PhD Education (2024 entry)
PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500 PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £3,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750 Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Graduate visa: Overview
Apply for a Graduate route visa if you've been on a student visa and want to stay in the UK to work - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, bring your partner and children.
Find your ideal PhD, with the UK's most comprehensive search
International students often pay more. Many degrees are partly or fully funded, and lots of students receive scholarships and bursaries. UK Research Councils provide universities with grants of around £4,000 per year for each funded PhD student. PhD degree facts. Some new PhDs are more vocational and offer practical experiences as well as ...
PhD
All PhD students are initially registered for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and the PhD registration is confirmed after the successful completion of an upgrade assessment (at the end of year 1 for full-time students and year 2 for part-time study). ... The comparability of qualifications from outside the UK with The Open University ...
Find PhDs
Physical & Environmental Sciences 360. Politics & Government 15. Psychology 31. Social Sciences & Social Care 44. Sport & Leisure 13. Search for PhDs, research studentships, professional doctorates & more opportunities on jobs.ac.uk. Plus funding & careers advice and FREE PhD.
PhD Salary in UK
The average cost of undertaking a PhD in the UK is approximately £20,000 per academic year for UK students and £40,000 for international students. To help offset the cost of this, many students question whether undertaking a doctorate comes with a PhD salary. The salary of a PhD student is governed by three factors: whether they're ...
How Much Does a PhD Cost in the UK?
UK Fees. For UK 'home' students, the tuition fee for a PhD varies between £3,000 to £6,000 per academic year. For 2023/24 programmes, most universities opt for £4,712 per year within this range. Although this number may seem a little odd, it's commonly adopted due to being the indicative rate set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI ...
PhD Students
The PhD student salary for UK universities can vary, so it's worth checking before applying to study for a doctorate at that establishment. Not all universities require their PhD students to work whilst they study, if this is the case, you won't get a 'salary' but may receive financial support for living costs and tuition fees. ...
Funding for postgraduate study
Postgraduate Doctoral Loan. If you're starting a doctoral degree, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs. You can get up to: £28,673 if your course ...
PhD Placements with Open Innovation Team 2025
The Open Innovation Team have opened applications for the 2025 cohorts of PhD placements. Students wishing to participate in the programme must submit their applications before 14 June 2024 (11:59pm
Columbia protester asks for food for occupiers
Johannah King-Slutzky, a PhD student at the university, said: 'Like, could people please have a glass of water?' Credit: Jesus King/Shutterstock A pro-Palestine Columbia University protester has ...
Students & Graduates
Interns & Placement Students. Join us for your internship and contribute to projects of vital importance to the future of aerospace. Explore internships VIE/PhDs. Want to advance your professional capabilities? Discover our VIE and PhD offers in the world of aerospace. Explore VIE/PhDs options
Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Research students. I am surrently supervising a PhD student working on the mythological and geo-spatial locations of Bethel, and co-supervising a PhD student working on early Jewish mimesis and imitation in Mark's gospel. Previous PhD students include: Daniel O. McClellan, 'Divine Agency in the Ideologies of the Hebrew Bible: Cognitive ...
Graduate Stipend and Benefits Committee updates fiscal year 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2024) — Aft er reviewing data analyses and working closely with colleges and leadership across campus, the University of Kentucky's Graduate Stipend and Benefits Committee has updated baseline graduate stipends for fiscal year 202 5. Beginning in the fall semester of 2022, the University of Kentucky announced its commitment to further support graduate students through ...
UK grad 'soars back' after 40 years, becoming 1st to earn Ph.D. in
"I stress this fact with prospective UK students. But of course, you must also be relentless in the pursuit of your goals — and have just a bit of luck." ... In 2021, the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering launched undergraduate and graduate degree programs in aerospace engineering. Aerospace plays a significant role in ...
Alex Goff Headed to LSU for NCAA Regional
Graduate-student set to appear in NCAA regional for fourth-straight year. ... N.C. native has a 70.21 scoring average on the year, the best in a single season at UK since at least 1993-94, and has posted nine, top-15 finishes in 10 starts. Goff has accumulated 20 rounds of par-or-better during the 2023-24 campaign, including a season-low score ...

Study at Cambridge

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

PhD course search

Term Information

At a glance

University Policy and Guidelines

About this site

Imperial College London Imperial College London

Looking for funding?

Different routes to achieving a PhD

Pursuing your own research idea

Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Natural Sciences

Imperial College Business School

Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

Global Challenge institutes

Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies | Imperial College London-Technical University of Munich

How to apply for a PhD in the UK

Ben Osborne

How to apply for a PhD

What qualifications do I need?

When should I start applying?

How should I look for a supervisor?

How do I write a research proposal?

How long does the application process take?

What are the associated costs?

You may also like

.css-185owts{overflow:hidden;max-height:54px;text-indent:0px;} How to apply for a PhD in the US

Women in STEM: undertaking PhD research in cancer

PhD diary: Where do I begin?

International Students’ Guide to Pursuing a PhD

PhD Program Entry Requirements for International Students

PhD Application Tips for International Students

How to Choose a PhD Program in the UK as an International Student

What Support is Available for International Doctoral Students?

Final Thoughts

You might also like

Do You Get Paid for a PhD?

Where Can a PhD in Finance Take Me?

Should I Do a PhD in London?

Enquire with us

Cookies on our website

How to apply for a PhD

How do I apply?

Choose your PhD

Check our entry requirements

Choose a research topic or project

Find a supervisor

Apply to Sussex

Deadline for applications

Check fees, funding and support

Receiving an offer

Confirming your place

Before you start at Sussex

You might also be interested in:

Studentships and doctoral training

Additional support for your doctoral studies

Extra support if you have a disability

Who can apply

How to find opportunities

When to apply

How to apply

PhD Education / Overview

Programme options

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact details

Regulated by the Office for Students

Our cookies

Privacy overview

Manage consent preferences

What is a PhD?

Popular PhD subjects

21 st February 2020

06 th August 2014

16 th August 2022

06 th June 2023

15 th August 2022

01 st September 2020

27 th September 2022