PhD funding and financial support

Birkbeck is a research-intensive university, and we offer a range of competitively awarded PhD studentships funded by support from UK Research and Innovation, charities, government and external partners.

Find out below about current studentship opportunities, and other funding options such as doctoral loans and our flexible payment scheme.

STUDENTSHIPS EXPLAINED

Find out what studentships are, the funding they provide and other information about them.

Faculty of Business and law

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) CHASE funding

Funded by the AHRC, the CHASE consortium offers funding to MPhil/PhD research students in law at Birkbeck.

Bonnart Trust PhD Scholarship

The Bonnart Trust Scholarship offers funding for MPhil/PhD research into diversity and belonging or minorities and social justice.

Conference and research expenses funding

Birkbeck Law School offers funding for additional research expenses, such as for attending conferences and travel.

Diversity100 PhD studentships

Find out about Birkbeck's Diversity100 PhD studentships, for BAME applicants with home fee status.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) UBEL funding

Funded by the ESRC, the UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership offers funding to MPhil/PhD research students in economics at Birkbeck.

PhD studentship in organizational psychology

Birkbeck is offering a PhD Studentship in Organizational Psychology, fully funded by Volkswagen, from 1 October 2024.

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Aaron Sims PhD Scholarship

The Aaron Sims Scholarship covers the the full- or part-time, home or EU enrolment fee for Cultures and Languages PhD Students.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) CHASE funding

Funded by the AHRC, the CHASE consortium offers funding to MPhil/PhD research students in arts and humanities at Birkbeck.

BONNART TRUST PHD SCHOLARSHIP

The Bonnart Trust Scholarship offers funding for MPhil/PhD research into diversity and belonging or minorities and social justice.

Conference and expenses funding

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities provides funding to enable current MPhil/PhD students to undertake a range of activities related to their study and research.

Leo Baeck Institute London PhD Scholarship

The Leo Baeck Institute London is offering a three-year PhD scholarship in modern Jewish history and culture.

Diversity100 PhD studentships

Find out about Birkbeck's Diversity100 PhD studentships, for BAME applicants with home fees status.

Olga Turner Scholarship

This one-off bursary is awarded to part-time postgraduate students of Spanish Language/Culture.

FAculty OF Science

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) LIDo funding

Funded by the BBSRC, the LIDo Doctoral Training Programme offers funding to MPhil/PhD research students in biology at Birkbeck.

Diversity100 PhD studentships

Find out about Birkbeck's Diversity100 PhD studentships, for BAME applicants with home fees status.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) UBEL funding

Funded by the ESRC, the UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership offers funding to MPhil/PhD research in health and in psychology at Birkbeck.

Graduate teaching assistant and PhD studentships

Pursue a fully funded PhD programme while working part time as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Medical Research Council (MRC) funding

Funded by the MRC, the UCL-Birkbeck Doctoral Training Partnership offers funding to MPhil/PhD research students in biology and psychology at Birkbeck.

Training Research and Equity in Environmental Sciences (TREES) funding

Funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding, the TREES programme offers funding to MPhil/PhD research students in natural sciences at Birkbeck.

General funding and financial support

UK Government doctoral loans

MPhil/PhD research students can borrow up to £25,000 to cover the costs of studying.

Flexible payment options

If you are self-financing, you can pay for your degree in monthly instalments by direct debit at no extra cost. Enrol early and you can spread your payments across more instalments.

International scholarships

Find out about international scholarships for MPhil/PhD research, including Commonwealth Scholarships and other opportunities for overseas students.

Birkbeck bursaries for current students

Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and corporate partners, Birkbeck is able to offer some bursaries to current students.

Birkbeck hardship fund

The Birkbeck Hardship Fund is available to students who experience an unexpected change in circumstances while studying.