Postgraduate research

Sources of funding

UK research councils

We offer studentship through Doctoral Training Partnerships offered by UK research councils.

Each year, these Research Councils invest in research and this includes a number of postgraduate studentships. The majority of awards are for postgraduate researchers, though there are some awards for taught postgraduates. Research council awards are advertised directly by the University (not through the Individual research Councils). Available Research Council funding is listed on our Funded Opportunities pages.

University funded

  • PhD studentships funded through the University of Leicester can found on our Funded Opportunities pages. These pages are updated regularly as new funding becomes available. 

Loans, bursaries and discounts 

You may also wish to consider the range of loans, bursaries, and other funding opportunities available to research students.

Discount schemes

Loans

Allowances

Grants and scholarships

  • Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future fellowships (available for women taking courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
  • Saïd Foundation Scholarship Programme (available for Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian or Palestinian MA or PhD students who are resident in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine or Israel)
  • Cumberland Lodge Scholarships provide access to mentoring, networking and funded residential programmes for doctoral students.
  • Commonwealth scholarships: These programmes are for candidates from developing Commonwealth countries to study at any UK university with which we have an MoU. Full details including eligibility requirements and nominating agency details are available on the pages of our website below.
  • Commonwealth Split-site PhD programme are now open and will close 16th December - These scholarships are for candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, who are currently studying for a PhD in their home country, to conduct research at a university in the UK for 12 months. They enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Full details and eligibility criteria for the scholarship are on the CSUK website. 

Applications are through our new system, CSC Central, which can be accessed through the above page. 

The closing date for applications is Monday 16 December at 16:00 GMT. Study will begin in the UK in September 2025.

Successful candidates will also need to apply for a visiting PhD student place at the University of Leicester- see Visiting PhD

Sponsorship

Many of our postgraduates fund their studies through sponsorship by their employer. Employers are increasingly aware of the value that those with a postgraduate qualification can bring to their organisation, and the full range of benefits that can come from recruiting postgraduates has been highlighted in a number of recent reports. Employers may be particularly keen to sponsor programmes with a clear vocational relevance or where the programme can be taken part-time or by distance learning - allowing you to combine your studies with your career and apply your learning to your work.

Many of our international students also receive sponsorship - usually from their home governments or employers. Potential applicants from outside the European Union are encouraged to research sponsorship opportunities in their home countries that are available to fund postgraduate study in the UK.

Further funding opportunities

In addition to the organisations above, other bodies sometimes provide funding opportunities:

There are various places to look for more sources of funding. The Directory of Social Change run an online directory including details of nearly 8,000 funders providing combined funding of over £8 billion a year.

You might also look in The Grants Register, an annual publication, containing details of over 4,000 awards from funders in 80 different countries. Reference copies of The Grants Register are available from most larger public libraries and British Council libraries.

Information about funding can also be found at FindAPhD, who run an annual scholarship competition, as well as on jobs.ac.uk, studentfunder, and Prospects.

If you're an international student, it may be worth contacting the British Council.

Alternatively, why not combine your postgraduate course with your career and earn while you learn? Many of our Research Degrees are available part time, subject to eligibility, and we have a number of distance learning degrees where you can study part time from where you live in the world.

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