PhDFully Funded (Tuition fees + UKRI stipend rate, currently £20,780 for 2025-2026).

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships

The University of Edinburgh offers PhD scholarships for students starting in 2026-2027, covering tuition and a stipend. Open to UK and international students applying for their first year of on-campus or distance PhD study. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic merit. Deadlines vary by school. This scholarship offers comprehensive training and development opportunities. Scholarships cannot be held concurrently with other fully-funded awards. The College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine has a deadline of April 30, 2026. For other schools, check their specific deadlines. Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed. The University is committed to widening participation for underrepresented groups, including BAME students and those from deprived communities. Eligibility requires a first-class or 2:1 UK honours degree (or equivalent).

Provider: University of Edinburgh
Host country: United Kingdom
Deadline: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.

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Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply: Awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2026-2027. Applicants must have already applied for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on campus or distance PhD study at the University. Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential, possessing a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent. These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.
Funding: Fully Funded (Tuition fees + UKRI stipend rate, currently £20,780 for 2025-2026).
Study level: PhD
Deadline: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.

Key eligibility criteria

Awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2026-2027. Applicants must have already applied for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on campus or distance PhD study at the University. Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential, possessing a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent. These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.

Recorded funding information

Fully Funded (Tuition fees + UKRI stipend rate, currently £20,780 for 2025-2026).

About the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships (2026)

**Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships: Comprehensive Brief for Prospective Applicants** ## Overview The University of Edinburgh is offering prestigious PhD scholarships for students commencing their doctoral research in the 2026-2027 academic session. These scholarships are designed to attract exceptional PhD candidates by providing not only unparalleled research facilities and supervision but also comprehensive development opportunities tailored to support their career progression beyond their PhD. The Doctoral College is deeply committed to fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion, actively working to widen participation for students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, including BAME students and those from deprived communities globally. The scheme emphasizes robust and unbiased recruitment processes to attract a diverse pool of applicants. ## Benefits Each Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship is a fully-funded award, meticulously designed to cover the full spectrum of financial needs for PhD students. Successful scholars will receive full coverage of University tuition fees, eliminating a significant financial barrier to their studies. In addition to tuition, recipients will be provided with a stipend equivalent to the UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) stipend rate. For the 2025-2026 academic year, this rate is £20,780. The scholarships are typically awarded for a duration of three to four years, as determined and agreed upon by the respective School or College, subject to the scholar maintaining satisfactory academic progress. For part-time students, the scholarship benefits will be awarded pro-rata, ensuring equitable support regardless of study mode. Beyond financial support, the scholarship includes a robust package of training and development aimed at enhancing a scholar's skills for their chosen career path, encompassing areas such as teaching, public engagement, entrepreneurship, data science, and research. ## Eligibility To be eligible for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships, applicants must be planning to commence their first year of study for an on-campus research degree at the University of Edinburgh in the 2026-2027 academic year. This includes both UK and overseas students. A critical prerequisite is that applicants must have already submitted an application for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on-campus or distance PhD study at the University. It is strongly advised that prospective scholarship applicants contact their academic school regarding any specific admission deadlines. While English language test results are required for admission, applicants may apply for the scholarship prior to obtaining these results, provided they are submitted as soon as possible thereafter. Importantly, these scholarships cannot be held simultaneously with other fully-funded scholarships. However, they can be combined with partially-funded scholarships, in which case the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship amount will be reduced pro-rata. ## Required Documents To apply for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships, alongside your application for admission to the University of Edinburgh, you will need to complete an online scholarship application form. The information provided in this form, combined with the supporting documentation from your admission application, will be used for assessment. This supporting documentation typically includes a reference and academic transcripts. While not explicitly listed as separate uploads for the scholarship itself, these documents are crucial components of your university application, which directly informs the scholarship selection process. Specific schools, such as Biological Sciences, Informatics, and Physics & Astronomy, may have different application procedures, so it is essential to check their individual requirements. ## How to Apply Applying for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships generally involves a two-step process. First, applicants must have applied for admission to a PhD program at the University of Edinburgh. Once admitted, or at least once the admission application is submitted and processed, eligible candidates can access the online scholarship application system. This system is located within EUCLID and can be accessed via MyEd (myed.ed.ac.uk), the University's web-based information portal. You will need your University User Name (UUN) and password to log in. It can take up to five working days for system checks to complete and grant access to the scholarship application after submitting an admission application. Therefore, it is highly recommended to apply for the scholarship well in advance of the deadline. For students applying to the Schools of Informatics or Physics & Astronomy, there is no separate scholarship application; suitability is assessed automatically upon applying for admission. Applicants for the School of Biological Sciences must apply directly through the school, not via MyEd. ## Key Dates The application deadlines for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships vary significantly by individual School within the University. While many deadlines for previous academic years have already passed, the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine has a specific scholarship closing date. For the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, the application deadline is **23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026**. For all other Schools, it is imperative that applicants consult the specific guidance provided on their respective School websites, as listed in the official source, to ascertain the exact admissions and scholarship application deadlines. Some Schools may have specific PhD admissions deadlines that must be met to be considered for this funding. Applicants are strongly advised to initiate their application process well in advance to accommodate potential technical issues. ## Selection Criteria Applicants for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships are primarily selected based on outstanding academic merit and demonstrated research potential. Candidates are expected to possess, or anticipate obtaining, a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree at the undergraduate level, or an international equivalent. While academic excellence is paramount, the selection process is designed to be equitable and considers other factors such as financial status, nationality, or the proposed field of study as irrelevant in the primary assessment. The University generally does not consider candidates who have already obtained a PhD, or its formal equivalent, through direct research training. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview, conducted either in person or via telephone, as part of the final selection procedure. The selection process ensures that all information provided in the scholarship application and supporting documents for admission is comprehensively assessed. ## Tips * **Apply Early for Admission:** Ensure your application for PhD admission is submitted well in advance of the scholarship deadlines, as it can take up to five working days to gain access to the scholarship application system after admission application submission. * **Contact Your School:** Reach out to your prospective academic school regarding any specific admission deadlines and for guidance on the scholarship application process, especially if you are applying to Biological Sciences, Informatics, or Physics & Astronomy. * **Prepare Your Academic Records:** As academic merit is a primary criterion, ensure all academic transcripts and references submitted with your admission application highlight your outstanding achievements. * **Understand School-Specific Processes:** Be aware that some schools have different application procedures (e.g., automatic assessment for Informatics and Physics & Astronomy, direct application for Biological Sciences). * **Review Eligibility Carefully:** Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements, particularly regarding your current academic qualifications and that you are not holding a concurrent fully-funded scholarship. * **Check Key Dates Meticulously:** Due to varying deadlines by School, meticulously check the closing dates relevant to your chosen program of study to avoid missing the application window. ## Official Source For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships, please refer to the official University of Edinburgh webpage: [https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/doctoral-college](https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/doctoral-college)

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

Fully Funded (Tuition fees + UKRI stipend rate, currently £20,780 for 2025-2026).

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2026-2027. Applicants must have already applied for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on campus or distance PhD study at the University. Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential, possessing a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent. These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

How to apply for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships 2026

Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

1
Check the provider's process
Consult https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/doctoral-college to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.
2
Check eligibility and any requested materials
Listed eligibility: Awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2026-2027. Applicants must have already applied for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on campus or distance PhD study at the University. Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential, possessing a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent. These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.
3
Check dates and next steps
Listed deadline information: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships deadline & application timeline

Provider deadline information: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.. This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

Planning suggestion: 12 months out
Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.
Planning suggestion: 6 months out
If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.
Planning suggestion: 3 months out
If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.
Planning suggestion: 1 month out
If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.
Provider deadline
Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.
Provider deadline information: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.. Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships?+

Awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2026-2027. Applicants must have already applied for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on campus or distance PhD study at the University. Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential, possessing a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent. These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.

What funding does the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships offer?+

Listed funding: Fully Funded (Tuition fees + UKRI stipend rate, currently £20,780 for 2025-2026).. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

When is the application deadline?+

Provider deadline information: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.. Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

What documents do I need to apply?+

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

How do I check the application process?+

Consult https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/doctoral-college to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: Awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2026-2027. Applicants must have already applied for admission to a first year of full-time or part-time on campus or distance PhD study at the University. Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential, possessing a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent. These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: Varies by School. College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine: 23:59 (UK Time) on 30th April 2026.. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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