Doctoral Research Scholarships and funding

The University has a number of awards for UK/EU and overseas candidates starting a one-year Masters programme and for PhD study, some of which are region- and country-specific scholarships. Interested candidates are strongly urged to apply. More information on these awards can be found on the scholarships and grants page.

ESRC Scholarship Competition

Economic and Social Research Council funding
The University of Birmingham is part of the ESRC Midlands Graduate School that includes Aston, Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick. 

The competition for ESRC scholarships to which eligible students beginning their studies in October 2024 is now open and the deadline for applications is 23 January 2024.

Information about the Midlands Graduate School, training pathways and eligibility for studentships, as well as the application form and guidance notes, can be found on the Doctoral Training Partnership website.

In order to be eligible for consideration for an ESRC scholarship, applicants must have applied for a PhD place in the School of Government. To apply to the Doctoral Programme, please go to the subject specific page listed below:

Find out more about the areas of research in the School of Government.

International Scholarships

To award outstanding achievement and to attract students of the highest calibre from around the world, the University of Birmingham is pleased to offer a number of international scholarships. Scholarships for international students.

For information and updates on possible further sources of funding for overseas applicants, see the webpage for the University of Birmingham Brazil Scholarships.

Central University Scholarships

These are one-year Scholarships which offer fees and - subject to availability of funds - maintenance. Some of these scholarships are subject-specific, for international students and for home students. All scholarships listed below are offered subject to available funds, and are open to both EU and international students in addition to home students, unless otherwise stated. For information on deadlines – including the date by which you must hold an offer of a place on the doctoral research programme.

Postgraduate students may use the Postgraduate Funding Database to search for scholarships and bursaries. In addition, some of the scholarship schemes open to those within the School of Education are listed below. Please read any documentation carefully for eligibility and closing dates. 

General funding advice may also be found on the Student Funding Office webpages.

Funds for current Doctoral Researchers

The School offers DR funding for the following:

  • Conference funding.  Grants are available for the travel expenses and registration fees for postgraduate research students delivering a paper at an academic conference. These are allocated competitively in three rounds each year. Deadlines for application are circulated by email before each round.
  • General research funding.  Funding from the School is available for small requests from doctoral researchers in order to cover general research costs that cannot be covered by funding from other sources. This fund will be allocated competitively by the same committee which allocates conference funds. Application process and deadlines will be advertised by email.

Further information

Tricia Thomas - Doctoral Research Student Administrator

Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 3497, Email: gandspgr@contacts.bham.ac.uk