There are seven government-funded research councils that offer financial support to postgraduate students. The majority of the awards made by these council are to students undertaking research degrees, although there are a few awards available to students on taught programmes.
Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), all seven of the UK research councils support academic excellence in their own specific field. As a result of this, research council awards for postgraduate study are regarded as some of the most prestigious postgraduate awards available in academia, and as such are highly sought after; competition is extremely fierce.
Research council awards for postgraduate study are available to UK and EU residents, those with EU Migrant Worker status, and individuals who are deemed to have normal residence in the UK. Some research councils may also fund overseas students in exceptional circumstances.
Our UKRI funded Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP), Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT), offer full studentships to enable you to undertake and complete your doctoral degree.
Full research council awards will cover the cost of tuitions fees and also provide a maintenance grant to support you during your study. Depending on your residency status and the research council you apply to, some EU students may be eligible for a fees only award. The value of fees and maintenance grant support that you receive is defined by UK Research and Innovation, the governing body for all seven of the UK research councils, with minimum stipend rates.
A standard research council award will provide you with three and a half years of funding for a PhD, and four years of funding for an Integrated PhD (iPhD). Research council awards are available on a full or part-time basis.
In addition to the basic maintenance grant and fees support, some research councils also provide other opportunities for training for funded students, such as a research training support grant, overseas institutional visits, overseas fieldwork, collaborative awards with industry and public sector partners, conference attendance, and work and research placements.
More information about all UKRI-funded doctoral training programmes currently available at University of Southampton are organised by Research Council below.
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
The University of Southampton is currently part of the South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWWDTP) which is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and is led by the University of Bristol.
Through this collaborative partnership, SWWDTP can deliver excellence in all aspects of research supervision and training, and provide access to a wide range of facilities and networks.
For more information please visit the SWWDTP website.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
The University of Southampton leads the South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SoCoBio DTP) in collaboration with four leading Universities and an independent research institute - University of Portsmouth, University of Kent, University of Sussex and NIAB.
For further information please visit the SoCoBio website. Please note, SoCoBio recruited it’s final cohort in September 2024 and is no longer recruiting.
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The University of Southampton leads the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SC.DTP) in collaboration with three leading Universities – University of Brighton, University of Chichester and the University of Portsmouth.
For further information please visit the SC.DTP website.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
There are a number of EPSRC funded Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) at the University of Southampton. The aim of the Centres is to train a new generation of scientists and engineers to address interdisciplinary challenges in order to solve global problems. Subject areas covered by these CDTs and DTP/DLAs include:
- Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability (SUST.AI)
- Defence and Security (CiSDnS)
- Quantum Technology Engineering (QTE)
- Sustainable Sound Futures
- Maths for Future Climate (MFC)
- Energy Transfer Technologies Skills Training Hub
The University of Southampton also holds a Doctoral Training Partnership and Doctoral Landscape Award which provides funded studentships and other schemes to support doctoral researchers at the University.
Further information can be found on the EPSRC DLA website.
Medical Research Council (MRC)
The University of Southampton and Queen Mary University of London are proud to run a joint Medical Research Council funded Doctoral Training Partnership.
Further information can be found on the MRC Translational Biomedical Sciences website.
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
There are a number of NERC funded training programmes at the University of Southampton.
The University of Southampton leads the Resilient Flood Futures CDT (FLOOD-CDT) in partnership with three leading Universities and three research institutions – Newcastle University, University of Bristol, University of Loughbrough, The National Oceanography Centre (NOC), British Geological Survey (BAS) and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
For further information please visit the Flood CDT website.
The University leads the the IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award which partners with four research institutions – Marine Biological Association (BAS), National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Natural History Museum (NHM) and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and has a number of collaborative partners.
For further information please visit the IGNITE website.
The University of Southampton is a partner institution that is part of Target, the Training and Research Group for Energy Transition Mineral Resources Centre for Doctoral Training.
For further information please visit the Target website.