Postgraduate Research Studentships
Each year we offer fully-funded Research Studentships to support the next generation of leading academics. Funding is available across all research areas and it typically comprises three years of funding.
Self-funders or those with external funding sources are welcome to apply via our standard route at any time of year.
Humanities and Social Sciences PhD Studentships
Eligible Subject Areas
We are offering fully-funded PhD studentships in all areas that fall within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for September 2023 entry. This includes the following eight Schools:
- School of Business and Management
- School of Economics and Finance
- School of English and Drama
- School of Languages, Linguistics and Film
- School of Geography
- School of History
- School of Law
- School of Politics and International Relations
Candidate Eligibility
All nationalities are eligible for these 3-year studentships which cover tuition fees and living expenses. Part-time applicants and current first-year students are also eligible to apply.
There are two additional awards for UK students who identify as BAME. Full details are within the below documents.
There is an additional award funded with the Stuart Hall Foundation. See below for eligibility criteria.
How to Apply
The following information was for September 2022 entry. Please check back in October for the new information for September 2023 entry.
Please read both documents thoroughly before submitting your application.
Guidance to Applicants 2022 [PDF 186KB]
HSS Stuart Hall Foundation PhD Funding [PDF 547KB]
For those who have external funding or plan to self-fund your PhD, you may apply at any time, but some areas may become full if you apply late in the cycle. You are therefore advised to apply as early as possible.
Science and Engineering PhD Studentships
Fully-funded studentships were available for September 2022 entry across this Faculty in five strategic research themes:
- Environment, biodiversity and genomics
- Green energy
- Engineering better medicine
- Social interaction, health and wellbeing
- Data-centric engineering
In addition to our general studentship competition, we also offered two studentships for UK BAME applicants.
Check back in October for confirmation of the funding available for September 2023 entry.
Eligible Subject Areas
PhD programmes across all five schools within the Faculty are eligible for the funding.
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
- School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science
- School of Engineering and Materials Science
- School of Mathematical Sciences
Candidate Eligibility
BAME Studentships:
- UK students who identify as coming from a Black, Asian or Ethnic minority background.
- The proposed research project fits within the broader range of research themes in science and engineering within our five Schools.
Queen Mary Research Studentships:
- All nationalities are eligible for some awards, Home only for others. Check with your department before applying.
- All subject areas are eligible but Schools will be posting updates about which projects they are funding on their pages. There is no guarantee of funding for a particular subject area as this is highly competitive.
Doctoral Training Studentships:
- Check the Doctoral Training Studentships page for the schemes available and how to apply.
- Some awards are for all nationalities, some are for Home applicants only.
How to Apply
Follow the step-by-step instructions on the How To Apply page before submitting your online application.
For most funding types there is one single application for admission and for funding. You should note the funding for which you would like to be considered on your application form.
Some Doctoral Training Programmes require an additional application to the funding partner. Please read the instructions on their website carefully and get in touch if you are unsure.
BAME Studentships for Postgraduate Research Students
For 2023 entry, Queen Mary University of London will be offering four fully-funded doctoral studentships (tuition fees and stipend at the UKRI London rate) to UK applicants from a BAME background.
School of Medicine and Dentistry PhD Studentships
This School is organised into seven distinct Institutes and each has their own funding sources. Typically this comes in three forms:
Research Council Grants: These will be advertised, as they become available, throughout the year. Check our list of live adverts now.
Doctoral Training Schemes: Details of each of these can be found on our doctoral training scheme page.
Charity or Industrial Funding: These will be advertised, as they become available, throughout the year.
Self-funders or those with external funding are welcome to submit a speculative application at any time of year. Prior contact with the proposed supervisor and discussion of the project is highly recommended in advance of submitting your application.
International PhD Funding Schemes
In addition to Queen Mary's studentships, we work with numerous international funding agencies to co-fund PhD studentships to support individual students from across the globe. Today, we are home to scholars from more than 50 different international sponsorship bodies.
More information about the scholarships available to you can be found on your individual country page or by using our searchable scholarships database.
The main funding partners we work with for PhD funding are:
- Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (low, middle and high-income country scholarship schemes)
- Islamic Development Bank
- China Scholarship Council
- COLFUTURO (Colombia)
- CONACyT (Mexico)
- Becas Chile
- Turkish Embassy
- Egyptian Embassy
- Pakistan Higher Education Commission
Deadlines for PhD Studentships
Applications for PhD funding for September 2022 entry are now closed. The deadlines for September 2023 entry are as follows:
- Law studentships: Wednesday 7th December 2022
- Humanities and Social Sciences Studentships and BAME studentships: Wednesday 25th January 2023 (except Law)
- Science and Engineering Studentships and BAME studentships: Tuesday 31st January 2023
- China Scholarship Council applicants for any subject area: Tuesday 31st January 2023
- MRes-PhD applicants for the School of Economics and Finance: Sunday 15th January 2023
- Projects for the School of Medicine and Dentistry: various- check the advert for the project.
- Doctoral Training Partnerships: there may be an additional application and an earlier deadline. Please check their websites carefully.
Contact Us
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us via the enquiry form or contact the relevant academic School directly.