how much are phd fees uk

• How Much Does a PhD Cost in the UK?
• Funding a PhD

Choosing to dedicate the next few years of your life towards a PhD is no light decision. Not only will it require you to dedicate an extensive amount of your personal time, but you’ll also need to consider how you’ll fund it. This raises the question, how much does a PhD cost in the UK?

The cost of a PhD can be divided into three key areas; tuition fees, living expenses and research expenditures. The combined cost of these are approximately  £20,000 per year  for UK students and can increase to over  £40,000 per year  for international students. A more in-depth breakdown of these costs can be found below. We’ve also compared these costs to other countries and outlined the various methods available to you to fund your PhD 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.

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• Postgraduate Research

PhD fees and costs

To study a PhD, you'll need to pay the cost of tuition fees, research support fees (such as materials used in a laboratory) and be able to cover your living expenses

A funded PhD studentship may meet all or part of these costs or you may be able to find funding for your self-funded PhD or research project.  The fees below are for the academic year 2024/25.

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Paying fees

The University requires payment of tuition fees at registration for the whole of the coming academic session or for the duration of a programme that is to be completed in less than a year. However, arrangements can be made for self-supporting students to pay their tuition fees in installments.

All instalments must be arranged with the Student Administration and Support Division. If you hold a scholarship or studentship, the awarding body should provide the Student Fees section of the Student Administration and Support Division with an acceptable guarantee of payment.

If you expect to be sponsored please ensure that your sponsors understand fully their responsibilities for your fees and maintenance and that they are prepared to honour them for the duration of your studies in Liverpool.

If your sponsor does not provide an acceptable guarantee of payment, or defaults on their guarantee, you will become responsible for the payment of fees yourself. Unfortunately, the University is not able to provide financial aid or waive fees for students whose arrangements for financial support fail during the period of their studies.

Transfering funds from abroad

International students will need to ensure that they can bring sufficient funds with them for living expenses, as well as for payment of fees, or have sufficient funds sent to them in instalments throughout the year. Students from countries which operate strict foreign exchange controls should make sure that permission can be obtained for the transmission of adequate funds.

Other costs

Research support fees.

Research support fees, also known as 'bench fees', cover the cost of consumable materials used in your study. Some MPhil/PhD and taught programme projects use up large amounts of materials or ‘consumables’. In these cases you may be charged an annual Research Support Fee to help cover the cost of this. Programmes which might incur a Research Support Fee are likely to be those which are laboratory-based. You will be notified of any fee which applies in your offer letter. Research Support Fees are the same for UK, EU and International students.

Study costs

We want to try and help you prepare for the day-to-day costs of studying. These might include things like photocopying in the library, buying textbooks and specialist equipment or going on field classes. We have put together tables of additional costs for guidance, for each subject area, including where departments make contributions towards these costs.

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Fees – what you need to pay

The information below is only relevant for students who register directly with The Open University. Students who register through an Affiliated Research Centre (ARC) should contact the ARC directly if they have any questions about fees.

Annual fees

All students registered for a research degree are liable for an annual fee that covers registration, supervision, examinations and graduation.

• Where a student is in receipt of funding, their fees will be met by the funding body for the periods stated in accordance with the provisions in the offer letter. Where registration continues beyond the funded period the student will become liable for fees.
• Self-funded students are required to pay annual fees in full at the beginning of each of their academic years (usually prior to the registration anniversary date).

The annual fee depends on the research programme that you want to study, whether you are studying full time or part time, where you currently live and potentially on your nationality and immigration status.

Fees normally increase annually in line with inflation.

Annual fee amounts for 2023–24 and 2024–25 are:

Am I a UK or an international student?

UK students are those who can show that:

• they have been ‘normally resident in the UK’ – not just for educational purposes – for at least three years before the start of their course
• who can demonstrate that they are ‘settled’ in the UK.

‘Settled’ means having either:

• indefinite leave to enter or remain
• having the right of abode in the UK.

For those students who are resident outside the UK, the fee varies according to whether they are taking a research degree in a science or in an arts discipline.

Advice for international students about fees and finance for research degrees for international students can be found on the website of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) . Advice about visa requirements can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website .

Continuation fees, writing-up and resubmission fees

Continuation fees, writing-up fees.

Please note that students on Professional Doctorate courses are not eligible for writing-up fees.

Where a student enters their fourth year (full time) or eighth year (part time) of study and is no longer engaged in the acquisition of new data and is predominantly concentrating on writing up their thesis prior to submission, they will be classified as writing-up students. A writing-up student must be in a position to submit their thesis within 12 months, or by their thesis submission date, whichever is sooner.

The writing-up fee is available for a maximum of one year. Regardless of mode of study, should the student fail to submit their thesis within the ‘writing-up year’ they will become liable for the full annual continuation fee should they be granted an extension to registration.

The supervisor will need to formally confirm to the Graduate School when a student should be classified as writing up.

The writing-up fee will be invoiced at the start of the fourth year (full time) or eighth year (part time); it becomes payable halfway through the year (e.g. at 42 months of registration for full-time students and at 90 months of registration for part-time students). Where a full-time student who has been designated as at ‘writing-up’ stage submits prior to 42 months the writing-up fee will be waived. Where a part-time student who has been designated as at ‘writing-up’ stage submits prior to 90 months the writing-up fee will be waived.

Resubmission fee

Where a student is required following the final examination to resubmit their thesis for re-examination a fee will apply. The charge is made to cover costs of re-examination and additional supervision.

Before accepting an offer of registration, it is important to consider your finances over the period of your studies. If you are paying your own fees, you must make sure you can meet the cost; you will not be able to proceed with your degree if your fees are in arrears. New postgraduate research students are now eligible for student loans; information on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the Gov.uk’s doctoral loan page. Please note you are unable to apply until you have received an offer letter and you will need to ask the Graduate School for a Course Code in order to apply.

Funded students

Some students are in receipt of a studentship – that is, they have applied for and successfully been awarded funding for a fixed amount of time during their studies. Current studentships are advertised on the Studentships page . Depending on the award received, which would be confirmed in their award/funding offer letter, students typically receive a stipend and the awarding body pays the fees.

Students entering the fourth year (full time) or eighth year (part time) may become liable for a continuation fee or a writing-up fee. This may not always be covered by funding bodies and the student will be expected to pay this fee – payments by instalment can be arranged using an OUSBA account (subject to credit check). Where a student is formally recorded as ‘writing up’ (i.e. they have completed their research and are focused on writing their thesis), by the time they enter the fourth year (full time) or eighth year (part time) year, the fee is reduced.

Students are advised to check whether this is covered in their award offer letter and/or with the organisation/body making the award offer.

Self-funded students

Students who are self-funded are liable for the full fees for the duration of their study.

Students entering the fourth year (full time) or eighth year (part time), will become liable for a continuation fee unless they are formally recorded as ‘writing up’ by the time they reach the end of the third (full time) or seventh (part time) year, in which case the fee is reduced.

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.

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• Queen Mary University of London
• Postgraduate
• Research degrees
• Funding a PhD
• PhD Tuition fees

PhD tuition fees

Students enrolling on a postgraduate degree programme are charged tuition fees each year by Queen Mary University of London. The rate you will be charged depends on  whether you are assessed as a Home or Overseas student .

2024-25 Tuition Fees 

Home students beginning their PhD in September 2024 (or later) will be charged the following tuition fees:

• £4,786  for full-time research degrees 
• £2,393 for part-time research degrees 

2023-24 Tuition Fees 

Home students beginning their PhD in September 2023 (or later) will be charged the following tuition fees:

• £4,712 for full-time research degrees 
• £2,356 for part-time research degrees 

Tuition fees for Home students are set by UK Research Council (UKRI) and each year UKRI usually increases their fee and stipend levels in line with inflation. Further information can be found on the  UKRI website .

For international students (this now includes EU students), the tuition fees for 2023-24 and 2024-25 entry can be downloaded below:

2023-24 PGR Tuition Fees [PDF 436KB]

PGR 2024-25 Tuition Fees [PDF 64KB]

Some postgraduate courses may include an additional charge known as a fee band. This is to cover associated costs including equipment, laboratory consumables, specialist technical support, data processing, training and travel. You will be notified at the point of offer if a fee band is applicable.

Please note that fees are quoted at the full-time/part-time rate for the academic year you’ve applied for.  If you begin your study part-way through the academic year then your first tuition fee payment will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

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Information on how to pay

Instalment Plan

If your fees are more than £1,000 per year, you can pay in instalments. 

Fee status determines the rate of fees throughout studies at Queen Mary.

University Fee Regulations

Our regulations are updated every year, you can access a list of present and past University fee regulations here

• Schools & departments

PhD fee structure

How fees are charged for full-time and part-time PhD programmes, as well as PhDs by publication.

Full-time study

For full-time study, you will pay a total of three or four full-time annual fees (as appropriate) for the period of prescribed study under supervision.

Part-time study

For part-time study, you will pay a total of  six or eight part-time annual fees (as appropriate) for the period of prescribed study under supervision. 

Part-time tuition fees are 50% of the full-time fee applicable for the programme of study in each academic session. 

Submitting your thesis early

If you submit your thesis early, you must pay the remaining years’ fees on submission.

PhD by publication

If you submit for a  PhD  by publication, you will need to pay an examination fee on submission.

PhD programme fees

PhD programme fees for each year of study can be found on our postgraduate research fees page.

Postgraduate research fees

PhD Fees in the UK for International Students

• Maisie Dadswell
• September 6, 2023

PhD fees in the UK for international students vary based on several factors, including your field of study, the university you are doing your doctorate research with and which city the university is in. The cost of a PhD in the UK is generally anywhere from £15,000 to £35,000 for annual PhD tuition fees. To help you budget, this article will cover all the variable factors before covering several potential finance options which can help you to fund your studying in the UK. 

Even if the fees seem steep at first, don’t get disheartened; there are plenty of funding sources for international students – there is a reason why UK universities, including UWS London, are such popular academic destinations for PhD students beyond our high academic standards.

It is also worth bearing in mind that PhD tuition fees tend to increase each year in line with inflation. Always ensure you are budgeting with the most up-to-date PhD tuition fees, and take into account that for self-funded students, tuition fees may be marginally higher in the second and third years. The good news is that whatever your field of study and preferred university, PhDs will be vastly cheaper than undertaking a taught undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the UK as an international student. Along with covering the typical cost of PhD fees, we have also outlined additional expenses and living costs you may have to budget for. Luckily, as a full-time, student you’ll never have to worry about paying council tax.

PhD fees in the UK for international students

For domestic students in the UK, the average cost of PhD tuition fees is around £4,500. However, this can rise to £20,0000 – depending on the subject. The main reason there are vast differences in the price of PhD tuition fees is the resources that research students will require; typically, STEM students pay the highest tuition fees due to resources such as tech support, servicing, and equipment. The PhD students who can expect to pay minimum fees are students looking for a doctorate title in the arts, social sciences or humanities.

Part-Time PhD Fees

If you want to study part-time, you can expect to pay 50% of the full-time fees. However, this can vary, and not all PhDs are available on a part-time basis. If you are looking to be a part-time PhD student around your work or any other responsibilities, always check with the institution where you want to study if this is viable. You will also need to check if your visa restricts part-time PhD study.

Research Support Fees

Research support fees don’t apply to every international PhD student in the UK. However, you may need to pay research support fees, which will go towards covering the cost of any specialist materials you use during your research. For students carrying out their research in a laboratory setting, these support fees are also referred to as bench fees and cover the cost of any consumables used in addition to the facilities where any research and experiments are carried out. 

Some universities will include bench and research fees in the tuition fee, while other institutions will quote them separately. Even if the PhD tuition fees aren’t all-inclusive, universities will always be 100% transparent and upfront about the costs. As the additional tuition fees can vary significantly due to the nature of the research that you are undertaking, bench fees and support fees will usually be discussed during the application process. Other universities prefer to make them available on request. Typically, where applicable, bench fees range between £1,000 – £10,000. You will only pay the higher bench fees if you are using expensive equipment and consumables; most UK universities keep the rates the same for domestic and international students.

How to Enquire about PhD Fees in the UK for International Students

To ensure that you are working with the correct figures when you’re budgeting or applying for funding for your PhD fees and living expenses, always be proactive in your search for accurate information by contacting the UK universities you are keen to study with. 

When you are getting in touch with the university, state if you are an international or EU student, and pose these questions:

• How much are the fees for the programme, and what is included/excluded in the fees?
• Are there any extra-departmental research fees, printing costs or administration fees?
• Does fieldwork incur additional costs?
• Are the bench/research support fees the same for international students?
• Are there any bursaries or scholarships available that I may be eligible for?

PhD Funding for International Students Studying in the UK

International students are eligible for many PhD scholarships in the UK; these scholarships and other funded projects are open to international students of all nationalities. Scholarships and grants can be provided by universities, government bodies and charities.

Funded PhDs for International Students

There are ample options to explore based on your field of research; to make your search for funding easier, many PhDs in the UK are advertised to domestic and international students with funding options attached. This is incredibly common for Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) subjects, but it isn’t unheard of for the Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities to offer the same funding options. Applying for a PhD with attached funding options isn’t worlds apart from applying for a job. If you are accepted as a candidate, you will receive a ‘salary’ in the form of tuition fees, research expenses and a grant which will go towards your living costs. If funding isn’t attached to a PhD project, you can use platforms such as FindAPhD to browse all the current projects offering funding to international students. To broaden your search, you can also use the search bar to sift through your different options. At the time of writing, FindAPhD has over 4,000 PhD projects and scholarships in the UK.

Research Council Studentships

Research Council Studentships are also frequently made available to international students in the UK looking for PhD funding. The more than generous financial support comes from UK Research and Innovation. If you receive funding from UK Research and Innovation, you will receive a monthly stipend to cover your living costs and a fee waiver. The waiver will allow you to pay the drastically reduced domestic rate instead of the PhD fees in the UK for international students. Whichever university funding you apply for, bear in mind that most funding is either provided in a bid to support widening participation or based on academic merit.

Government PhD Loans

If you aren’t eligible for a scholarship, grant, or funding from UK Research and Innovation, Government PhD loans are also available to some international students. Usually, to qualify, you will either need to be able to prove you have a settled status in the UK, be an Irish national or be part of the EU settlement scheme. These loans will cover your tuition fees and living expenses; you only need to repay the loan when you earn over the threshold amount.

Living Costs in the UK for PhD Students 

The living costs for international students in the UK will vary greatly depending on your circumstances, lifestyle and where you live. The most expensive city for living costs, excluding rent, is £894 for London, while the cheapest is £577 for Bradford – based on 2022 figures. With rent included in London, it can cost £1,309 per month if you are living off campus, or £1,237 if you are living on campus. 

How Much Does it Cost for a PhD in London?

London is renowned for its vibrant culture, history, and world-class education, making it a top choice for students pursuing higher degrees. However, it’s essential to note that London is also the most expensive city in the UK. The cost of living in the capital can be higher than in other parts of the country. While pursuing a Ph.D. in London offers incredible opportunities and access to prestigious institutions, potential students should be prepared for higher living expenses.

Additional Costs for International Students 

Your PhD fees, rent and living costs will be your greatest expenses as an international PhD student. However, there are additional expenses which you may need to account for:

• Visa Processing Fees – to apply for a visa outside of the UK, it will cost £363. If you are extending your visa or switching to a student visa, the processing fee is £490. 
• University Application Fees – these fees aren’t especially common in the UK; however, they aren’t unheard of.
• Language Tests – if you are studying your PhD in a second language, you will need proof that you possess sufficient language skills. In some instances, you will be required to sit a language test and achieve a certain score.

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How much does it really cost to study a PhD in the UK?

Find your perfect postgrad program search our database of 30,000 courses.

• by Charlotte King
• In Fees , Courses , Study in UK , PHD

Tuition fees

The first thing most people think about when considering further study is the PhD tuition fees . It's a little confusing to those who have recently completed a taught undergraduate or postgraduate course, but fees for research degrees are much lower. The standard tuition fees paid by UK and EU students are set by the Research Councils UK for research Masters and PHDs. International students will find fees quite a bit higher but comparable to taught courses and other fees you will have encountered. For example, the tuition fees at the University of Leicester are £4,195 per year for students from the UK and EU and vary between £13,600 and £29,465 for international students.

Potential for a fully funded PhD

It is possible to get a fully funded PhD. It's hard to believe when you come from the taught degrees of the undergraduate world, but some students get paid to research. Many students have a combination of funding sources, but start your search for PhD scholarships at the institution that has accepted your research proposal. The Research Councils UK distributes funds through university departments, so that is the first place to look along with charities, international governments and even crowdsourcing online. Otherwise, why not start by finding a fully funded PhD place? Keep an eye out wherever university jobs are advertised like Jobs.ac.uk who advertise full-time PhD studentships across the UK. You might find a fully funded studentship and a research proposal that is the perfect fit.

Living costs

If you are receiving the Research Councils UK stipend, then that's great news as it's tax-free. However, it will have to cover all of your expenses. Living costs vary across the UK, especially housing and transport. Studying outside of London will keep your costs down. Cities in the UK, such as Sheffield and Liverpool , have much lower costs of living that can stretch out your funding as will sharing accommodation and choosing to live nearby to your campus. Many universities will give you an estimate of living costs whilst studying your PhD with them. The University of Sussex estimates that students will spend around £162 to £236 per week, not including socialising. Also, if you are an international student, make sure you think about the costs associated with returning home when considering living costs.

Working whilst you study

Some PhD studentships are called Graduate Teaching Assistantships and these include a requirement to spend time teaching and assisting with the undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses. Ensure that you find out exactly what is expected of you before you accept, but you will find that these PhD studentships are better paid than others without the teaching assistance element. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to think about studying part time instead and working part-time as well. This would mean it would take around six or more years to complete your PhD rather than three to five years on a full-time basis, but it would free you up to earn some money while you study.  If you are an international student , then you must remember that you will have restrictions on what you can and cannot do when considering work. Keep a close tab on the changes in funding in your field of study as just because the funding isn't available now, doesn't mean it won't be in the future. If you are really stuck, then choosing to study part-time until your funding is in place will at least get you started.

PLEASE NOTE: As a result of Brexit, from Autumn 2021 postgraduate students from the European Union studying at a UK university will be charged the same tuition fees as international students. UK students studying their postgraduate course at a European university are also likely to incur higher tuition fees than their EU counterparts. It is advisable to check with the individual universities in the UK and Europe for up-to-date information on tuition fees for all postgraduate programs.

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Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries

17 comments

Ram hari bariik nov. 27, 2017, 5:32 p.m..

I will be grateful to you if you kindly give details expenditure per annum informations for studying Ph.D in KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, LONDON.

Charlotte King Nov. 28, 2017, 10:12 a.m.

Hi Ram, The cost of studying a PhD at Kingston University depends on whether you are a home or international student - and whether you are studying full time or part time. This table of information from Kingston University should provide you with all the information you need: http://www.kingston.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/fees/ I hope this helps. Kind Regards, Charlotte

Muhammad Asif Feb. 27, 2018, 12:51 p.m.

Hi, How many work hours allowed to international students whilst studying PHD? Best regards Muhammad Asif

Charlotte King March 1, 2018, 1:19 p.m.

Hi Muhammad, The amount of hours international students are allowed to work on the UK will depend on your visa - but it is usually 20 hours per week during term time. Check the information here: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Working/How-many-hours-can-you-work and check with your visa. It is also important to make sure that your work doesn't interfere with your PhD studies Kind Regards, Charlotte

M.O.Gunasekar. July 20, 2018, 11:46 a.m.

Hi, I'm M.O.Gunasekar and an Environmentalist from India. I wanna do a PhD(Environmental sciences) course with fellowship in the UK but i haven't got any idea about procedure for PhD admission. So what will I do for my admission?

Charlotte King July 22, 2018, 4:02 p.m.

Our section on PhDs contains useful information about PhD admissions: https://www.postgrad.com/advice/phd/ It is also worth contacting the university that you are interested in studying at and finding out about their exact requirements. Good luck! Charlotte

David Ditchfield Nov. 23, 2019, 3:16 p.m.

Hi if somebody is receiving the uk research council stipend... And they drop out of their research programme. Do they haave to pay back their stipend?

Charlotte King Dec. 1, 2019, 6:35 p.m.

Hi David – I would assume that they would have to pay back the stipend if they dropped out of their research. But it's best to check with the finance providers to see the conditions of the stipend.

Lynn Dec. 26, 2019, 4:07 p.m.

Hi. A stipend isn't enough to live on when you have pay rent from it. Can a stipend be combined with a grant to help with expenses? Thank you.

Charlotte King Dec. 30, 2019, 9:03 a.m.

Hi Lynn – in most cases you should be able to combine your stipend with other grants and bursaries, but check the terms of the stipend first. If you have been accepted on to a postgraduate program for study in 2020 you are eligible to apply for one of our Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries 2020 worth £500 – there is more information here > https://www.postgrad.com/psuk_study_bursaries_apply/

Tile Nov. 30, 2020, 12:17 a.m.

Hi, PhD in UK is 3-4 years. Do you pay tuition fees yearly for only 3 years or the 4 years? Thanks

Charlotte King Dec. 1, 2020, 6:15 p.m.

Hi Tile – it depends on your PhD program,. You will usually pay your tuition fees annually – however it is best to check with the admissions office as to what you actually need to pay. Good luck.

Nayak Pavani Jan. 8, 2021, 4:15 p.m.

Hii , Actually i am Pursuing my mba (hr ) in india . But i want to do phd in uk. Some of my friends suggest that it might be difficult to apply for phd from india . So they suggest to do masters (hr)in uk .. so i want to do masters again in uk and afterwards I want to do phd . So can i know how much i have to pay for phd ?

Charlotte King Jan. 13, 2021, 9:54 p.m.

Hi Nayak – The cost of studying a PhD in the UK can vary between courses and between universities. Obviously you will be subject to international student tuition fees, which can range from around £15,000 to in excess of £35,000. However you may find that you meet the eligibility requirements of certain scholarships and other funding opportunities so look out for relevant funding. Good luck.

Parth Manakikar Sept. 9, 2021, 3:43 p.m.

Sir I have got Admission for PhD in Environment Sustainability at University of Glasgow and my fee is 19,000 pounds per year so is that the whole fee or fee for just 1 year

Parth Manakikar Sept. 9, 2021, 3:45 p.m.

Sir I have got Admission for PhD in Environment Sustainability at University of Glasgow and am having some great difficulty in obtaining funding for my PhD research can you please help me

Charlotte King Sept. 12, 2021, 11:36 a.m.

If the course fees are listed as being Per Annum then that will be your annual tuition costs. We do offer Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries worth £500 each towards your tuition fees and the deadline for applications is the 30th September so you still have time to apply – here's the link > https://www.postgrad.com/fees_and_funding/postgrad_solutions_study_bursaries/information/

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PhD Handbook

Cost of Studyin...

Cost of Studying PhD in UK for International Students

Pursuing a PhD in the UK is a dream for many international graduate students. It is an excellent opportunity to conduct original and noteworthy research in a specific field or subject and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

The cost of a PhD in the UK for international students can vary depending on the university and the subject of study. However, international students can expect to pay higher tuition fees than domestic students. The tuition fees for a PhD in the UK typically range from around GBP 18,250 to GBP 35,500 (INR 18,25,000 to INR 35,50,000) per annum at top universities.

However, some of the universities in the UK precisely accept applications from international students having a 4-year bachelor's (Honors) degree. The cost of a Ph.D. can be separated into three key areas; tuition fees, living expenses, and research expenditures. And the combined cost of these is approximately INR 40,56,000 per year for international students. 

Yocket Premium can help you save money on your PhD in the UK. With Yocket Premium, you get access to a team of experts who can help you find the right Ph.D. program for your needs and budget. Yocket Premium also gives you access to a wide range of scholarships and funding opportunities.

So, if you're planning to go for a Ph.D. program in the UK, we have listed below all the needed details of the cost of doing a Ph.D. in the UK and other required information about the same.

Factors Influencing PhD Tuition Fees UK International Students

International students choose to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK due to many reasons including higher ROI and better education quality. Along with the course fees for Ph.D., students have to bear other expenses as well. Some of the important factors that influence the Ph.D. fees in the UK are mentioned below. 

UK universities Ph.D. fees

Studying at UK universities is a dream that most students have. Given the excellent quality of education and program structure, the fees for UK universities are pretty high. Students will have to spend up to INR 30,42,000  per year on Ph.D. costs UK.

Cost of living in the UK

Students who are pursuing a Ph.D. degree in UK will have to bear all expenses for different living conditions such as food, transportation, study resources, etc. 

Pre and Post Arrival costs to study Ph.D. in the UK

The Ph.D. price UK also contains several pre-arrival expenses such as Visa, Application fees, language test fees, etc. Even after arriving in the UK, students will have to bear the program fees for Ph.D. courses as well as the living costs.

What can Indian Students Expect While Studying in UK

Pre-Arrival Expenses to Study Ph.D. in UK 

Included in the Ph.D. fees in the UK for Indian students are the pre-arrival costs. Yes, even before entering the UK, students have to go through some expenses. Students need to understand the budget in areas such as Language Test Scores, Student Visas, flight tickets, etc. These are the one-time expenses that students have to incur before arriving in the UK. 

Flight Ticket 

English language proficiency exam fees.

• UK Student Visa Fees
• Health Insurance Fees

Let’s know these pre-arrival costs in detail:

International students traveling from their respective countries to the UK will have to book a flight to the destination airport in the UK. The cost of flight tickets to the UK is somewhere between GBP 415 to GBP 620 (INR 43,092 - INR 64,380) . 

The cost of a Ph.D. in the UK for international students will also include the IELTS and TOEFL exam fees. These English language proficiency tests are a must for international students belonging to non-English speaking countries. The cost for these exams would be around INR 15,200 . 

 UK Student Visa Fees 

International students also have to apply for their UK student visa to continue with their studies in the UK. The UK student visa application fee is around GBP 339 (INR 35,200) for international students. 

Getting a PhD in the UK is a prestigious achievement, but it can also be expensive. 

Yocket Finance makes it easy and affordable to finance your international education, so you can focus on your studies and achieve your goals.

Health Insurance 

For international students planning to study Ph.D. in the UK, it is important to get their health insurance. The health insurance that you get depends on the length of the Ph.D. program. International students can use the National Health Service ( INR 30,400 for 2 years ) if their program duration is more than 6 months. 

Post Arrival Costs to Study Ph.D. in the UK 

Once you have arrived at your destination location in the UK, you can begin your course. But for that, you have to bear two types of post-arrival expenses. 

Ph.D. Program Fee

To pursue a Ph.D. in the UK, an international student has to pay the annual program fee. To the average cost of a Ph.D. in the UK is around INR 40,56,000 for Indian Students.  

Cost of Living

Student accommodation in the UK stands up to around INR 15,21,000 every year. The expenses include the cost of housing, cost of food, transformation, research costs, etc.

Best Ways to Fund Studies in UK for International Students

Fee Structure for Top PhD Universities in UK 

The program fee in UK universities with most international students offering Ph.D. courses is one of the main factors that decide the cost of studying in the UK. The Ph.D. course fees UK range from INR 15,21,000 to INR 35,50,000 based on the location and the university of choice. Here we have given a basic overview of the average Ph.D. fee structure in some of the top universities in the UK. 

List of Top 10 Universities for PhD in UK for International Students

PhD Programs Fees n the UK

If you are planning to study Ph.D. in the UK, it is important to know the costs associated with each Ph.D. program offered by UK universities. Mentioned below are some details about the different Ph.D. programs and the annual fees that students have to pay.

Know How to Apply for PhD in UK from India

Cost of Living in UK for 2024

Apart from the program fees, students who are pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK will also have to bear their living expenses. These expenses include accommodation, personal spending, eating, and other lifestyle costs. So, the cost of living in the UK depends on the lifestyle choices that students make. Here are some factors for living costs in the UK.

: A Comprehensive Guide To Ph.D. In London For International Students!

Additional Costs

Some other expenses can be included in the total costs for a Ph.D. in the UK. Some of the details for additional costs are mentioned below. 

: A Complete Guide to Ph.D. in UK for International Students

From the Desk of Yocket

The cost of a PhD in the UK can be a significant investment, but it is also a valuable one. PhD graduates from UK universities are highly sought-after by employers around the world, and they have the opportunity to make a real impact on their field of study.

The following article provided information about Ph.D. tuition fees in the UK for international students. Applying for a Ph.D. program in the UK is pretty simple if you are familiar with the costs and expenses of living and studying in the UK.

However, there are several other factors to consider when applying for a Ph.D. in the UK, such as the eligibility requirements, the application process, and the different types of funding available. Yocket Premium can help you navigate the entire application process and ensure that you are well-prepared for your PhD journey.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cost of Studying PhD in UK

Is it worth it to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK?

Yes, the UK houses some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. So, the options are endless when it comes to Ph.D. universities in the country.

Is a Ph.D. in the UK an expensive program?

When compared to the universities in other countries, the Ph.D. programs in the UK aren't that expensive. On average, a student will have to spend about INR 18,27,000 per year on Ph.D. course fees.

What are the top universities offering Ph.D. courses in UK?

The top universities that offer Ph.D. programs in the UK are: 1) University of Cambridge 2) University of Warwick 3) University of Oxford 4) University of Southampton 5) Newcastle University

Can I get Ph.D. programs in UK for free?

No, there aren’t any free programs available in UK for Ph.D. students. However, UK universities provide scholarships and financial assistance to students who have good academic scores.

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Science and Technology Studies

STS offers degrees at each university level: undergraduate, masters, and PhD

• Funding Your Doctorate

PhD programme: fees and funding

Fees and funding.

Information on tuition fees: UCL Tuition Fees

Part-time fees are pro-rata of full-time fees.

Scholarships

UCL scholarships available to STS applicants

UCL Research Excellence Scholarship

Open to exceptional applicants from any country.  Up to 40 scholarships are awarded across UCL

DEADLINE FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS: Friday 10th January 2025 (TBC)

If you are applying for UCL RES funding, you must also submit your PhD application by Thursday 2nd January 2025 23.59 GMT

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship

UCL's Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) supports BAME postgraduate research degree students.  7 scholarships are awarded across UCL

If you are applying for UCL ROS funding, you must also submit your PhD application by Thursday 2nd January 2025 23.59 GMT

External scholarships for STS applicants:

London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP)

The  LAHP AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership  funds up to 80 research studentships per year across all subject areas covered by LAHP. Applications for funding should be made directly to LAHP, and open on 25th November 2024 (TBC)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO FUNDER:   5pm 24th JANUARY 2025 (TBC)

UK students with excellent academic records in history of science or philosophy of science are encouraged to apply. Please note that in order to be eligible for this funding you must have established your supervisor before applying to LAHP for funding. We strongly recommend that interested individuals contact potential supervisors by late November, and you will need to have submitted a standard UCL PhD admissions application complete with references, by the STS January deadline. However you are advised to submit a complete application earlier if possible.

More information can be found on the  London Arts and Humanities Partnership website.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

The department has ‘+3’ and '1+3' recognition from the ESRC in the category of Science and Technology Studies. Studentships are available to UK and EU applicants intending to pursue a PhD and who have already received a foundation in research training (+3), or who wish to pursue a PhD after completing an ESRC-recognised MSc (including those within the department) (1+3). Applicants with such qualifications who are interested in the areas of public understanding of science, science policy research, social history of science, or the sociology of science and technology are encouraged to discuss the possibility of applying for an ESRC grant with the departmental graduate tutor at the time of their application. See the  ESRC Doctoral Training Programme website  for further details. You can also visit the  main ESRC Website  to find out more about the council itself.

DEADLINE FOR PRELIMINARY  APPLICATIONS    Monday 13th January 2025 23:59 GMT TBC  (Applications open October 2024).

If you are applying for ESRC funding, you must also submit your PhD application by Thursday 2nd January 2025 23.59 GMT

British Society for the Philosophy of Science

The British Society for the Philosophy of Science offers scholarships for doctoral work in the philosophy of science at a UK university. Scholarships are only available to students applying to degree programmes in philosophy or in philosophy of science. Further details are available from the  BSPS website .

The next scholarship competition will run in 2025

Overseas students are encouraged to apply for Commonwealth and British Council Scholarships in those countries where they are administered.

A list of other scholarships available to students applying to UCL is available via the  UCL Scholarships page.

Register your interest in studying at UCL and receive important information about open days, applications, and more.

Graduate Prospectus 2023/24

• Graduate Prospectus

How to Apply

Funding your phd, visiting doctoral students, support for current students: .

Can we help? support for current students  STS PhD Moodle site.

• Reading Groups

STS hosts a series of reading groups, run by current PhD students, to discuss interesting, thought provoking material in relevant fields.

STS Research Space

The STS Research Space is an initiative to assist PhD students with a wide range of academic and non-academic problems.

• The STS Research Space

• Postgraduate
• PhD and Professional Doctorates
• Fees and funding

Fees and funding for research students

Find out how much a PhD or Professional Doctorate will cost and the funding options available, including PhD studentships, stipends, loans and doctoral awards.

Once you’ve decided to study a research degree, the next step is figuring out how you're going to fund it. There are many different types of funding, including studentships, external grants, and loans. Explore this page to see what’s available and how much a research degree will cost.

How much does a PhD or Professional Doctorate cost?

Our tuition fees are set and reviewed on an annual basis and the amount you pay will depend on the length of your course and mode of study. For some Science and Technology projects, an annual bench fee may also be payable.

Postgraduate Research fees for 2023/24 entry

Postgraduate Research fees for 2024/25 entry

PhD funding

There are many different ways to fund a PhD, including university studentships, funding from research councils, charities or businesses, and doctoral loans. PhD funding falls into three main categories:

• Fully-funded – your PhD tuition fees are covered in full along with an amount for living costs and other expenses (usually called a stipend).
• Partially-funded – part of your fees or living costs are covered, but not both. You will usually need to top up this funding with your own money or other grants.
• Self-funded – you are financing your own PhD fees and living costs through a combination of savings or earnings and loans.

Search our current projects .

ESRC studentships

The Midlands Graduate School (ESRC accredited) is looking to recruit top quality PhD students to commence study in October 2024 across a range of subjects, offering studentships – covering a maintenance stipend and payment of tuition fees at the home fee rate.

NTU fully-funded PhD studentships

Every year we provide fully-funded PhD studentships with opportunities across all our academic disciplines. These cover the full cost of tuition plus a stipend for living expenses for both UK and International students. Applications usually open in October.

Sign up for emails to be notified of the next release and to keep up to date with research funding.

What is a PhD stipend?

Some funded projects may eligible for a stipend – a grant to help cover your living expenses that you don't have to pay back. Find out the  current minimum stipend rates set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Funding for international researchers

Many of our funded PhD projects are open to international students. Check the specific project details to see who is eligible.

FindaPhD also provides a guide to funding for international students looking to study a PhD in the UK.

Other funded opportunities at NTU

We’re pleased to participate in funded projects that improve access to research and benefit local communities.

Midlands4Cities

Funding and supporting outstanding research in Arts and Humanities across the Midlands.

Co(l)laboratory

A Universities for Nottingham project providing funding for locally-relevant, challenge-based research.

Equality and Doctoral Education through Partnership and Innovation (EDEPI)

A funded programme for NHS workers, created to tackle barriers to doctoral education for racially minoritised groups.

ESRC Studentships

Funding and further support for doctoral candidates in a range of subjects and pathways.

Doctoral loans

Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales provide a non-means-tested Doctoral loan of up to £28,673 to help with course fees and living costs for a postgraduate research course, such as a PhD or Professional Doctorate.

These are available on full-time, part-time and distance learning courses if you are living in the UK and you’ll only start to repay when your income is over £21,000 a year.

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) helps to cover the extra costs you might incur because of a disability, including a long-term health condition, mental health condition, physical disability, or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Learn more about DSA

Alumni discount

We offer an exclusive 20% discount to NTU alumni who enrol on an eligible postgraduate course.

External funding

A variety of research councils, governmental agencies and charities can provide funding for your research degree. Take a look at some of the opportunities available below.

Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences

• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge transfer in the environmental sciences.

Art and Humanities

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - small, large, and project-based grants for students in humanities and social sciences.

Science and Technology

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) - funding provider for research into biological systems
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - funding for Information Systems and Mathematics research.

Social Sciences

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - small, large, and project-based grants for students in humanities and social sciences
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues
• Ford Foundation - provides grants to support research into social change and development
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation - endowed charity that funds a large, UK-wide research and development programme focussing on social policy issues
• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) - supporting researchers in health and social care
• Nuffield Foundation - fund research and innovation in education and social policy
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC) - an independent non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of social science research and scholarship
• Wellcome Trust - grants for human health-related research.

Situational

• Commonwealth Scholarships - offers opportunities to Commonwealth citizens to study in the UK
• Leverhulme Trust - funding for cross-disciplinary research.

Financial support

Studying through the cost-of-living crisis.

How we can support you, and how you can make your funding go further.

We provide a range of support and resources to help you manage your finances while you're studying at NTU.

Need advice on how to fund your studies?

Our student finance team are here to help. They can offer guidance on postgraduate fees, loans, and money management.

Chat to the  team on Unibuddy , email  [email protected] or call +44 (0)115 848 2494 .

For advice on making secure international payments please visit our international scholarships and fees pages .

• PhD Costs and Fees

There are lots of costs to take into account when planning a PhD, from tuition fees to additional expenses associated with the research you'll be conducted. And, of course, you'll want to understand the living costs that come with doing a PhD for several years

The guides in this section explain how PhD tuition fees work and how they differ between subjects. We've also covered bench fees, which are a common expenses associated with STEM projects.

Bench fees cover the costs involved in laboratory research during a PhD. This page is a guide to what they are used for, how much they cost and how you can pay for them.

Wondering how much you'll need to study in Australia? We look at the key costs for a student in Australia including tuition fees, visas and a comparision to the USA.

Ever wondered how much a PhD student can earn? Here's our introduction into the different financial sources PhD students can tap.

Worried about money management? Some postgraduate students share how they managed their finances.

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What is the real cost of a PhD?

The answer to this depends on your situation and many factors should be taken into account.

Studentship course fees

  If you are self-funding, you’ll need to pay the course fees, and the amount you pay will depend on where you live , the subject you are studying and whether you’re studying full or part-time. For example, annual fees for UK/EU PhD students at the University of Warwick are £4,786 full-time and £2,872 part-time (2024-25). For overseas students, fees are £23,070 for Business and Economics courses and £17,682 for science and engineering programmes.

Studentships are a financial contribution for doctoral research and are normally fee-free, many universities offer full fee waiver scholarships; for example, the University of Huddersfield offer full fee waivers for all of their subjects.

Course fees may also be affected by where you studied previously – for example, the University of Birmingham currently offer a postgraduate degree fee discount of £1,500 for those who studied there at the undergraduate level.

Loss of earnings

While loss of earnings is not a ‘cost’ as such, it’s certainly something to bear in mind if you are currently earning a salary, as your income may drop significantly.

Even if you are lucky enough to get maintenance funding, bear in mind that the minimum level of stipend set by the research councils is supposed to match the tax-free equivalent average graduate starting salary. Find out about the standard tax-free Personal Allowance here .

Research Council stipends are currently a minimum of £19,237 per annum (2024-25 rates) , paid tax-free, and may be topped up by other organisations involved in your research.

Some students can supplement their income with teaching/research assistant work at their university, but unlike undergraduates, PhD students are expected to continue their studies throughout the year, so vacation work is not an option. You are advised to speak with your supervisor before accepting any paid work.

Many self-funded PhD students combine part-time study with part-time jobs to meet their costs, but this means their programme takes some six or more years to complete.

Maintenance

Living costs depend on where in the country you live. For example, UCL in London is estimated at around £20,000 , per annum for living costs; however, the University of Edinburgh website suggests that students can spend between £920 – 2,257   per month on living costs.

If you are relocating to study, find out the average price of university accommodation as well as local rates for private accommodation – it may be significantly different from where you currently live.

Living costs as a student are often different from when you are working. If you’re conducting the majority of your research from home, commuting costs will be minimal but utility and phone/internet bills will be higher.

Remember you will still be eligible for the usual student discounts/concessions.

Research costs

Whatever your course of choice, there is likely to be equipment, books, photocopying, travel for conferences and/or fieldwork costs that will need to be factored in. There may be small grants available from either the university or charitable bodies for research costs. The Association for the History of Glass is an educational charity, that provides a Grants budget of £3,000 to support research, projects, and activities for the year 2024/25.

Check with your department to see what’s available.

What Should I Do After My Masters Course?

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• Postgraduate study

Find out how much your research degree will cost and our approach to the tuition fee-paying period.

View tuition fees alphabetically by department:

Tuition fees for postgraduate research degrees by department

Tuition fees for the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Science are available once you have applied and subject to you having met the admission and eligibility criteria.

In common with other UK universities, the University of Sheffield charges different tuition fees depending on whether students are classed as Home or Overseas for fee purposes.

How we assess your fee status

The tuition fee-paying period

The tuition fee-paying period is the period during which full annual tuition fees are payable. This varies between 3 and 4 years for full-time PhDs (6-8 years for part-time PhDs), depending on the source of funding and scope of the research project. 3.5 years is the recommended tuition fee-paying period for most full-time PhDs.

If you're still working on your project between the end of the tuition fee-paying period and the overall time limit (4 years for full-time PhDs, 8 years for part-time PhDs), you'll be charged a submission pending fee.

PhD projects should be designed from the start to ensure that they can be completed within the tuition fee-paying period, as this is the period during which most students also receive a stipend from their funder to support their living costs. You'll discuss and agree the appropriate tuition-fee paying period for your project with your supervisor during the admissions process. Precise details of both the tuition fee-paying period and the overall time limit for the degree will be included in the offer letter.

You can find more information about fee types and tuition fee-paying periods on our Research, Partnerships and Innovation webpages:

Periods of registration

I simply would not have been able to undertake this PhD without the university's funding and I am very grateful to be able to remain in the UK to continue my studies Krissy Moore, Department of Archaeology Doctoral Academy Award recipient

PhD scholarships

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

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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. 

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Fees for new doctoral students

Fees for students starting in 2024/25 (amount payable each year).

Fees for students starting in 2025/26 (amount payable each year)

1  The Home/Republic of Ireland fee is payable in each year of the programme and the fee level changes annually. 

2  The Home/Republic of Ireland fee is based on the UKRI minimum fee which has not yet been confirmed for 2025/26.

* International fees for doctorates vary depending on the subject being studied. Check the fee band for your programme of interest . Please contact the Admissions Office via [email protected] if you have any questions.

# International fee levels are fixed, meaning international students will pay the same annual amount in each year of their programme.

Research expenses: for some doctoral programmes, particularly in the sciences, you will be charged a supplementary fee to cover the costs of additional facilities and consumables. This is normally charged on an annual basis and will be detailed in your Offer of Admission letter.

Professional doctorate programmes

Standard fees for all professional doctorate programmes can be found on individual programme pages:

• Business Administration (DBA)
• Education (EdD)

Visiting researchers

The following fees are for a 12-month period of study. For shorter periods, the fee will be a pro-rata amount, based on the number of months you are at Reading.

*International fees for doctorates vary depending on the subject being studied. Check the fee band for your programme of interest . Please contact the Admissions Office via [email protected] if you have any questions.

Research expenses: for some periods of visiting postgraduate research, particularly in the sciences, you will be charged a supplementary fee to cover the costs of additional facilities and consumables. This will be detailed in your Offer of Admission letter.

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Research postgraduate tuition fees

2023/24 student fees, postgraduate research degree tuition fees.

• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) set the tuition fees for Home/EU students undertaking a postgraduate research degree. These tuition fees are usually confirmed later than the tuition fees for International students, and are to be confirmed for 2023/24.
• The annual tuition fee is applied to all research degree programmes for all years within the standard period of study for the degree.
• Tuition fees will increase annually in line with inflation.
• Additional programme costs, sometimes referred to as ‘bench fees’, may be set locally by the student’s registered (home) academic partner for some or all years of standard registration. Where these apply, applicants should be notified of this fee as part of the initial application process and the fee(s) will be confirmed in the formal offer letter.

Higher Doctorate candidate fees

£750.00, UHI fee charge. UHI staff only can apply.

On-campus and distance-learning study

Charges payable by research students

2024/25 student fees

PhD and MRes programme fees - On-campus and distance-learning study

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Tuition Fees - How Much Are They?

This page provides information about fees for postgraduate research degrees. For more information about fees for postgraduate taught degrees, please check our course records.

Tuition fees are grouped according to the subject area shown in the table below. 

General Principles 

• Fees are per annum unless otherwise stated. All figures are GBP (£) unless otherwise stated. 
• Fees are set by year of entry, and unless noted specifically otherwise, remain the same for the duration of a course. 
• EU students will pay the overseas fee for the duration of their course. 

Scholarships

For further information relating to scholarships please e-mail  [email protected] or follow the link to find out more.

Postgraduate Research 

Standard Full-Time Fees for 2024/25 entry

Standard Part-Time Fees for 2024/25 Entry

Fees are set on a pro-rata basis of the standard full-time fee plus 10% (rounded up to the nearest 100 where appropriate). The figures in the table above are based on 0.5FTE.

Arts and Humanities

Social Sciences and Health

 Sciences 

Full-time Postgraduate Research

Exceptional Postgraduate Research Full-Time Fees for 2024/25 entry 

*Due to the high teaching element of these programmes, fees are levied at the taught fee band in appropriate years. 

**Students will be charged in years 2 – 4 at the PGR rates applying to students beginning standard PhD courses in the same year as the first (Master’s) year of the Integrated Studies course. 

***Year 2 fees for these programmes are set at the standard PGR fees.

Tuition Fees for Current Students

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This page provides information on research programme fees for home and international students. Refer to the information below for more detail about how much your programme is likely to cost.

2024/25 fees

Home students, 2024/25 home tuition fees for phd and mphil research degrees.

Annual tuition fees for each academic year must be paid in full at the start of each year.

Some research projects will be subject to additional project costs.

All MPhil/PhD projects are charged at the UK Research and Innovation indicative rate. The fee for the year 2024/25 is £4,786. Additional project costs may also be charged.

The table indicates the fee for programmes in each faculty.

Where additional project costs may be charged, the standard APC is listed first. Some projects may lead to a higher or lower APC, and these are also listed in the table.

Your offer letter will state the tuition fee and any APC for the programme.

Additional project costs (APC)

For some subjects, there will be an APC to run research projects that are in addition to basic classroom and lab-based costs. It will be clear where there are additional costs.  APCs for part-time researchers will be charged pro-rata at 50% of the rate shown.

2024/25 Home tuition fees for Masters by Research degrees

Masters by Research degrees fees vary by faculty. The table indicates the fee for programmes in the faculty.  Your offer letter will state the tuition fee for the programme.

2024/25 Home tuition fees for PhD by Published Works degrees

For PhD by Published Works, the tuition fee would be 50% of the fee noted (to reflect the standard six-month period of registration).

The full-time duration is six months, the part-time duration is 12 months. The fee is 50% of the fee for the year. For 2024/25, this is £2,425.

International students

2024/25 international tuition fees for research degrees (phd, mphil and masters by research).

Tuition fees for international students are categorised into five groups called ‘bands’. The tuition fee band reflects the resources that are needed for the research project. 

Please note from September 2021, EU students are classified as International students unless they have settled status in the UK.

This table indicates the fee for programmes within each faculty. Where different fees are charged according to the programme, these are listed in the table. Your offer letter will state the tuition fee for the programme.

2024/25 International tuition fees for PhD by Published Works degrees

International students undertaking a PhD by Published Works will pay band A international tuition fees. The tuition fee band reflects the resources needed for the research project.

For PhD by Published Works, the tuition fee would be 50% of the fee noted above (to reflect the standard six-month period of registration).

2023/24 fees

2023/24 home tuition fees for phd and mphil research degrees.

Annual tuition fees for each academic year must be paid in full at the start of each year. Some research projects will be subject to additional project costs.

All MPhil/PhD projects are charged at the UKRI indicative rate of £4,712 per year (full-time) for 2023/24. Additional project costs (APC) may also be charged.

The table indicates the fee for programmes in the faculty. Where APCs may be charged, the standard APC is listed first. Some projects may lead to a higher or lower APC, and these are also listed in the table below. Your offer letter will state the tuition fee and any APC for the programme.

For some subjects, there will be an APC to run research projects that are in addition to basic classroom and lab-based costs. It will be clear where there are additional costs.  APCs for part-time researchers will be pro-rata’d at 50% of the rate shown.

2023/24 Home tuition fees for Masters by Research degrees

Masters by Research degrees fees vary by faculty and programme.

The table indicates the fee for programmes in the faculty. Where different fees are charged according to the programme, these are listed in the table below. Your offer letter will state the tuition fee for the programme.

2023/24 Home tuition fees for PhD by Published Works degrees

The full-time duration is six months, the part-time duration is 12 months. The fee is 50% of the fee for the year, for 2023/24 this is £2,356.

2023/24 International tuition fees for research degrees (PhD, MPhil and Masters by Research)

Tuition fees for international students are categorised into five groups called bands. The tuition fee band reflects the resources needed for the research project.

2023/24 International tuition fees for research degrees (PhD by Published Works)

International students undertaking a PhD by Published Works will pay Band A international tuition fees. The tuition fee band reflects the resources needed for the research project.

2022/23 fees

2022/23 home tuition fees for phd and mphil research degrees.

The MPhil/PhD tuition fee for UK students for 2022/23 is £4,596 per year (full-time) and £2,298 per year (part-time).

The next PhD Education Research intake will be in 2023/24. 

The table indicates the fee for programmes in the faculty. Where additional project costs (APC) may be charged, the standard APC is listed first. Some projects may lead to a higher or lower APC, and these are also listed in the table. Your offer letter will state the tuition fee and any APC for the programme

For some subjects, there will be an APC to run research projects in addition to basic classroom and lab-based costs. It will be clear where there are additional costs.  APCs for part-time researchers will be pro-rata’d at 50% of the rate shown.

2022/23 Home tuition fees for Masters by Research degrees

2022/23 Home tuition fees for PhD by Published Works degrees

The full-time duration is six months, the part-time duration is 12 months. The fee is 50% of the fee for the year, for 2022/23 this is £2,298.

2022/23 International tuition fees for research degrees (PhD, MPhil and Masters by Research)

2022/23 International tuition fees for research degrees (PhD by Published Works)

For PhD by Published Works the tuition fee would be 50% of the fee noted above (to reflect the standard six-month period of registration).

Visiting students and general fee information

Visiting students.

Fees for visiting students wishing to undertake part of their postgraduate research at Manchester Metropolitan University are:

• Total visit length up to (but not including) two months: No fee
• Total visit length between two to six months (inclusive): £500
• Total visit length from six to 12 months, Home students: 25% of the MPhil/PhD home tuition fee
• Total visit length from six to 12 months, Overseas students: 25% of the band A overseas tuition fee. Please note from September 2021, EU students are classified as International students unless they have settled status in the UK.

Funding your research degree

In order to ensure you thrive during your research degree, it is crucial that you fully understand the costs of your project and have a clear plan in place to fund your research.

There are a number of funding sources to help you complete a research degree. Undertaking a research degree takes a lot of commitment, from a time and a financial perspective, so it’s important to have a clear plan in place as to how you will fund your research.

Research council scholarships

We are part of two research council-funded doctoral training partnerships (DTPs):

• TheWhite Rose DTP which funds projects at Manchester Met in education, health and wellbeing
• TheNorth West Consortium DTPwhich funds projects across the arts and humanities.

These partnerships offer scholarships to cover fees and an annual stipend of around £15,000 (UKRI indicative fee). Both run an annual open competition with a deadline in mid-January, as well as funding attached to specific projects ( sign-up to be alerted when these specific projects are advertised ).

University scholarships

We are committed to supporting innovative research projects that have a real impact on a local, regional and global scale. We offer a range of scholarships funded by the University and external partners. We advertise scholarships  when they are available, and we also post them on Twitter .