There are a variety of ways for you to fund your PGR research. Please note that, depending on various parameters, such as the funding source, there may be different entry requirements, lengths of study and requirements around completion, so do consider these carefully when deciding which is the best option for you.
Tip: discuss your funding options with your potential supervisor, they can advise which one is the best option for you.
To lighten the burden of choosing, Durham Faculty of Science offers all candidates a one-stop-shop application for a scholarship, via the Science Comprehensive Offer for Postgraduate Education (or SCOPE). This should help you as a candidate, as well as the department(s) and supervisor(s) of your choice in the application process. Included in the SCOPE studentships are DLA studentships and Durham Faculty of Science Scholarships (DSS; formerly DDS, sponsored by the Faculty of Science), see their descriptions below. Please note that direct submission for DDS is not possible anymore. Instead, students will submit for a SCOPE scholarship, and be allocated to either a DLA or DSS scholarship. To apply for this studentship, (1) check the eligibility criteria and deadlines and structure your application as per requirements for the scholarship (DLA, DSS); (2) apply via normal PGR processes; mention the scholarship you are applying for (SCOPE); (3) receive and accept your offer letter (at this stage, without funding) from the department; (4) be selected by a Faculty Panel as one of the Faculty of Science candidates, and notified if you are to be put forward for a DLA or DSS.
The Durham Faculty of Science is delighted to announce that we have received funding from EPSRC for the EPSRC University Doctoral Landscape Awards 2025-2027. This scheme replaces the former EPSRC DTP awards. Durham University is committed to high quality doctoral education that supports a critical mass of postgraduate researchers in developing both their subject-specific expertise and their broader training and development. The vision is to take a holistic approach to developing our postgraduate (PGR) researchers and capitalise on institutional strengths and EPSRC priority areas; namely, Data Science, AI & Robotics, Health Sciences, Quantum & Advanced Sensing, Energy Futures, Molecular Sciences, and Critical Infrastructure and Resources (identified through an institutional ‘Science Transformation Programme’, STP). Hence, applicants aligned with one or more of these areas will be able to apply for DLA awards. Priority will be given to Collaborative Studentships, which have to pertain at least 25% of the awards. Collaborative Studentships involve co-supervision from a partner beyond academia. Collaborative partners must contribute via cash and/or in-kind contributions. Students can propose their own collaborative partners, or be advised on this by their potential supervisors, or participate in our Placement Scheme. Studentships may provide a stipend, fees at the University home rate and funding to support research costs, training and travel. For international students, the fee difference between the home and overseas rate is covered by the university for up to 30% of the overall DLA cohort. The process entails (1) check the eligibility criteria and deadlines and structure your application as per requirements for the scholarship; (2) apply via normal PGR processes; mention the scholarship you are applying for; (3) receive and accept your offer letter (at this stage, without funding) from the department; (4) be selected by a Faculty Panel as one of the Faculty of Science candidates.
To widen the body of studentships offered, Durham Faculty of Science offers funding for Durham Science Studentships (DDS). These are for exceptional students with excellent drive to join us at Durham and perform world-leading research, guided by our knowledgeable supervisory teams, but who could not be funded via external schemes, such the DLA. Direct application to DDS studentships is not possible this year. Instead, all applications to it must be made via the SCOPE studentships.
Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Engineering (ICASE) EPSRC provide funding for doctoral studentships where businesses and related organisations take the lead in arranging projects with an academic partner of their choice. Industrial CASE awards may support doctoral training in any areas of engineering and the physical sciences with relevance to the EPSRC remit. In 2024, EPSRC’s ICASE awards will evolve as doctoral landscape awards under the UK Research and Innovation Doctoral Training Investment Framework.
The STFC Industrial CASE (Cooperative Awards in Science and Technology) studentship competition provides support for PhD students to work in collaboration with a non-academic partner on projects that fall within the STFC core science programme in astronomy, particle physics, nuclear physics and accelerator science, or on projects that aim to apply technologies or techniques developed within the programme into other areas. Projects involve joint supervision of the student by a member of staff at an academic research organisation or related institution and an employee of a non-academic organisation, such as a UK industrial business, public sector organisation or charity (the non-academic partner).
A new institution-wide ‘Match-Funded Studentships’ scheme for individual studentships (supervisor-led). The Faculty offers 50% match on the stipend and fees for home students if an external partner will provide the other 50% of the stipend and fees, plus 100% of any RTSG and any project-specific costs. 50% of stipend and fees currently equates to £42,100 (to be index linked based on annual fee level and UKRI-matched stipend levels). The external funding should include 100% of project costs where appropriate - any charges for access to facilities or equipment at the internal University rate. Any IP agreement should reflect the 4 of 4 relative contributions of the external funder and the University to the overall costs of the studentship (if the funder requires 100% of IP they should fund 100% of the studentship). a. The external funder will fund 100% of RTSG for the student’s training and research and this is recommended at a minimum level of £15,000 for lab-based research and £4,500 for classroom-based research. b. Each new studentship under this scheme should be the result of new funding oncome to the institution; c. The same investor may provide funding over a number of years as long as each new studentship comes from new income to the institution; d. The final decision on match from the Faculty will be determined by the appropriate Executive Dean; e. Students with contacts to be funded under this agreement can specify this directly to the Academics they wish to work with, as per Section 9 (How to apply …). Alternatively, departments and supervisors will place adds for funding allocated to them under this scheme.
Tip: this studentship is recommended to you if your company is able to co-sponsor your application, or if you find a company/institute/sponsor willing to co-sponsor you.
At Durham, we are proud to support the Durham Doctoral Teaching (DDT) Fellowships, which enable students to study for PhD, whilst at the same time acquiring valuable teaching skills that will support their career progression. Typical Fellowships include a 1-year teaching position alongside a PhD studentship of 3.5 years, lasting 4.5 years in total. This studentship is appropriate for those who would want to follow a university career, or are interested in a higher level of responsibility in teaching, beside their research. Please note that a limited level of teaching is possible even for other studentships. The DDTF Fellow will be entitled to a total of 42 months of stipend (UKRI value) and 12 months of salary at Grade 6 during the duration of the fellowship, and is currently for home students only.
Tip: Departments will advertise if such a scholarship is available.
Durham has a number of Doctoral Training Partnerships that can offer PGR scholarships. The eligibility criteria, requirements and conditions for each type of funding differ, so please check their individual web pages for specific details. A university-wide list (encompassing more than the Faculty of Science) can be found on the Doctoral Training Partnerships page. See also Investing in the next generation of environmental researchers.
Tip: visit their website for any information on Calls for PGR students.
The China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarships are available thanks to a partnership with the China Scholarships Council. The scholarships are open to applicants from Mainland China wishing to study for a PhD at Durham. In the Faculty of Science, these are 4-year scholarships, covering a monthly stipend (as set by CSC) and a return airfare to the UK and visa application fees. University fees are waved for these students, and funding for equipment and conferences is supplied by departments (please note that departments have different caps on this). To apply for this scholarship, you need to (1) check the eligibility criteria and deadlines and structure your application as per requirements for the scholarship; (2) apply via normal PGR processes (see ‘ How to Apply for a PGR Degree at Durham Faculty of Science’); mention the scholarship you are applying for; (3) receive and accept your offer letter (at this stage, without funding) from the department; (4) be selected by a Faculty Panel as one of the Faculty of Science candidates to be put forward by the university. (5) if notified as selected by the university (International Office), you will need to additionally apply directly to the CSC (information will be published on the CSC official website). Durham University holds a general information page on this scholarship: Chinese Scholarships Council - Durham University. This year, we are happy to note that the number of awards has been for programmes commencing in 2025.
Information about alumni scholarships is kept at: Alumni Fee Scholarship 2024-25 and 2025-26 - Durham University.
Durham keeps a page of other funding sources for postgraduate scholarships at: Postgraduate - Durham University. See also specific information for International PGR Funding - Durham University. Finally, departments in the Faculty of Science have specific departmental funding or further doctoral consortium funding – for this information, please visit departmental pages.
PGR applicants with self-funding are welcome. Alternatively, PGR loans can be also considered, see PhD Loans – A Guide for 2024. These options offer maximum flexibility in terms of starting time of the PGR research, type of PGR degree (full-time or part-time) and conditions regarding submission.
Return to Durham Faculty of Science Postgraduate Training and Funding.
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