Funded PhD Programs in the UK

21 February 2022

In this post, our experts have listed various funded PhD programs in different fields of Sciences, Engineering, Health and Life Sciences, Art and Law in the UK at various universities, including 

  • Imperial College London
  • Bangor University
  • Open University
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Bath
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Exeter
  • Rothamsted Research
  • Cranfield University
  • University of Manchester
  • University of Nottingham
  • Aberystwyth University
  • Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales)
  • Bath Spa University
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Reading
  • University of Southampton
  • UWE
  • Swansea University
  • University of Hertfordshire
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Warwick
  • Cardiff University
  • Newcastle University
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Strathclyde
  • Bath University
  • Kings College London
  • University of the West of England
  • Plymouth University

Researching the salary of PhD and postdoctoral students in the UK is helpful before applying.

What is a Doctoral Training Programme?

Doctoral Training Programmes prepare doctoral students for their careers as researchers. A doctoral training program is an advanced degree in a particular field. Typically, it is used to become a professor or researcher.

A doctoral training program is often funded by universities, higher education institutions, and government agencies. PhD students are provided with tools, resources, and skills to help them achieve their academic goals. When choosing a career, you should consider what you want from it because the costs, time commitment, and support differ greatly. Doctoral degrees in education, law, and medicine are the most popular types.

What are the Benefits of a Doctoral Training Programme (Funded PhD in UK)?

A doctoral training programme is a postgraduate course. It’s designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge and expertise needed for a career in research.

The benefits of a doctoral programme are:

  • Providing an opportunity to develop research skills and build a strong foundation for future PhD studies
  • Providing an opportunity to develop transferable skills that can be applied in other careers
  • Providing an opportunity to develop leadership qualities through teaching or managing projects
  • Providing the chance to network with experts in the field, many of whom may become collaborators or mentors

How to Apply for a Funded Doctoral Training Programme in the UK (Funded PhD in UK)?

Doctoral training programmes give students an opportunity to work on research while they study. They also provide students with skills that can help them find a job, or start their own research career.

The application process for a funded Doctoral Training Programme is different from that of a degree programme. This is because the government is providing financial support for the programme, and so they want to ensure that only suitable candidates are accepted.

The application process includes:

– Writing and submitting an expression of interest form – Writing and submitting a personal statement – Attending an interview with your potential supervisor – Completing your academic profile form

Funded Doctoral Training at the Faculty of Science in the UK

The UK has a long history of excellence in Science and Technology. The Faculty of Science offers funded PhD programs in various fields such as Earth Sciences, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Chemistry etc. These PhD courses are designed to help students gain in-depth knowledge of their chosen subject area and have the opportunity to conduct independent research.

In the following table, you can find the list of available funded PhD Programs at different Faculties of Science in the UK:

CDT/Programme/PartnershipFunderPartnersResearch areas
Name: Bristol Centre for Functional NanomaterialsEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilN/aEnergy: Generation, conservation and storage technology and InnovationMesoscopic Materials and DevicesHealth and Life Sciences
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Catalysis
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1. Cardiff University (lead)
2. University of Bath		1. Heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis
2. Reaction engineering
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Condensed Matter PhysicsEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilUniversity of Bath1. Superconductors
2. Novel magnetic materials
3. Single atomic layer crystals (graphene and related 2D materials)
4. Plasmonic structures
5. Metamaterials
6. Power electronics
7. Optoelectronics
8. Instrumentation and sensor development
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive ScienceScience and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)1. Cardiff University (lead)
2. University of Swansea		1. Physics
2. Astronomy
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Diamond Science and TechnologyEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council1. University of Warwick (lead)
2. Aberystwyth University
3. Cardiff University
Imperial College 4. London
5. Newcastle University
6. University of Oxford
7. University of Strathclyde		1. Electronics & Devices
2. Geophysics
3. Manufacturing
4. Measurement & Sensing
5. Theory & Computation
6. Medical, Biophysics & Biochemistry
7. Optics & Photonics
8. Quantum Technologies
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Technology Enhanced Chemical SynthesisEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilN/a

1. New scaffolds for medicines and agrochemicals
2. Cleaner synthesis
3. Design of new functional molecules
4. Synthetic methodologies
5. Natural product chemistry
6. Designer ligands for catalysis
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Theory and Modelling in Chemical SciencesEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

1. University of Oxford (lead)
2. University of Southampton		1. Theoretical and computational
2. chemistry
Software developmen
Name: GW4 FRESH CDT
Natural Environment Research Council1. Cardiff University (lead)
2. Bath University
3. University of Exeter		1. Freshwater ecosystems
2. Biodiversity
3. Freshwater sustainability
4. Impact of climate change 
Name: NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership
Natural Environment Research Council1. University of Bath
2. Cardiff University
3. University of Exeter		1. Natural Hazards
2. Biogeochemical Cycles
3. Genomes and Evolution
4. Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity
5. Atmospheres, Oceans and Ice
6. Climate Change, Impacts, and Sustainability
7. Water
Name: UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced ComputingEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilSwansea UniversityArtificial intelligenceMachine learning

Funded Doctoral Training at the Faculty of Engineering and Science in the UK

Funded PhD Programs at the Faculty of Engineering in the UK are considered to be one of the best. Graduate with a doctorate degree in engineering, and enjoy an excellent employment rate.

The following table shows the list of funded PhD programs available at different Faculties of Science and Engineering in the UK:

CDT/Programme/PartnershipFunderPartnersResearch areas
Name: Bristol Centre of Complexity Sciences (BCCS)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
N/a

Various interdisciplinary projects around the theme of complexity sciences
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Computational Statistics and Data Science: COMPASSEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilN/a
1. Computational statistics
2. Data science
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Health and Care
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
N/a
1. Digital health
2. Digital technologies – e.g. smartphone apps, wearables, monitors
3. Long-term health conditions & management
4. Data security and privacy
5. Interdisciplinary approaches
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Trust, Identity, Privacy and Security in Large-scale Infrastructures (TIPS-at-Scale)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

University of Bath

Cyber Security
Name: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
N/a

1. Composites research
2. Morphing structures
3. Multifunctional materials
4. Innovative manufacturing solutions
Name: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Innovation in Non-Destructive evaluation (FIND)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

1. Imperial College London (lead)
2. University of Strathclyde
3. University of Manchester
4. University of Nottingham
5. University of Warwick		1. Enhancing Quantitative NDE
2. Delivering Quantitative NDE
3. NDE for Quantitative Monitoring & Smart structures
Name: Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

1. Cranfield University
2. University of Manchester
3. University of Nottingham		1. Aerospace
2. Automotive
3. Marine
4. Wind energy
5. Construction
Name: Industrial Doctorate Centre in Systems
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

University of Bath

1. Design, product & technology development
2. Decision support
3. Sustainability
4. Process, development & organisational change
Name: Quantum Engineering
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
N/a

1. Quantum computing and simulation
2. Quantum communications
3 .Quantum sensing and metrology
4. Underpinning quantum technologies
Name: UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Interactive Artificial Intelligence
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
N/a

Name: Water Informatics: Science and Engineering (WISE)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1. University of Exeter (lead)
2. University of Bath
3. Cardiff University		1. Sustainable management of water resources and systems
2. Environmental protection
3. Water utility infrastructure
4. Sound water science and engineering approaches
5. Policy, consumer behaviour, new economic models and ecosystem services

Funded Doctoral Training at the Faculty of Life Sciences and Health Science in the UK

The Faculty of Life Sciences and Health Science is based in the heart of the UK. It is a unique institution that offers a range of high-quality degree programmes in diverse fields of study such as Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Animal Welfare and Environmental Management.

Below is a list of funded PhD programs at different faculties of Life Sciences and Health Science in the UK:

CDT/Programme/PartnershipFunderPartnersResearch areas
Name: South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

1. University of Bath
2. Cardiff University
3. University of Exeter
4. Rothamsted Research		1. Advancing the frontiers of bioscience discovery
2. Bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food
3. Bioscience for an integrated understanding of health
Name: Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

1. University of Bath
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Hertfordshire
4. Imperial College London
5. University of Leeds
6. The University of Manchester		1. Basic aerosol processes
2. Environmental aerosol
3. Aerosols and health
4. Measurement techniques
5. Aerosol technology
Name: PhD in Integrative Cardiovascular Science
British Heart Foundation (BHF)
N/a

1. Cell and molecular biology
2. Cardiovascular physiology
3. Biochemistry and pharmacology
4. Clinical science
5. Population health
Name: PhD in Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology
Wellcome Trust
N/a


1. Multiprotein complexes in gene maintenance and expression
2. Dynamic organisation, regulation and re-modelling of the cytoskeleton
3. Molecular complexes involved in protein translocation and trafficking
4. Cell organisation, morphogenesis and tissue function
5. Cancer, neuroscience, infection and immunity, cardiovascular biology
Name: PhD in Neural Dynamics
Wellcome Trust
N/a

1. Neuroscience
2. Mathematical Modelling
3. Computational Neuroscience
Name: GW4 Clinical Academic Training (GW4-CAT) PhD Programme
Wellcome Trust (WT)

1. Cardiff University
2. University of Exeter		1. Population health
2. Cardiovascular sciences
3. Neuroscience
4. Mental health
5. Infection, immunity & repair
6. Cancer or molecular cell biology
Name: MRC Addiction Research Clinical Training (MARC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)

1. Imperial College London (lead)
2. Kings College London		1. Population Health
2. Epidemiology
3. Human genetics
4. Bioinformatics
Name: PhD in Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology
Wellcome Trust
N/a

Various

Funded Doctoral Training at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences & Law in the UK

The Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences and Law in the UK offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in law, social sciences, economics, politics and more.

You can find a list of funded PhD programs offered by the different Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences & Law in the UK in the following table:

CDT/Programme/PartnershipFunderPartnersResearch areas
Name: South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership: Ground-breaking research training in the Arts and Humanities
Arts and Humanities Research Council

1. Aberystwyth University
2. Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales)
3. Bath Spa University
4. University of Bristol
5. Cardiff University
6. University of Exeter
7. University of Reading
8. University of Southampton
9. Cranfield University
UWE		1. Archaeology
2. Celtic Studies
3. Classics & Ancient History
4. Creative Writing
5. English
6. History, History of Art
7. Philosophy
8. Classics
9. Cultural and Museum Studies
10. Law and Legal Studies
11. Political Science and International Studies
12. Theology, Divinity and Religion
13. Dance
14. Design
15. Drama and Theatre Studies
16. Media
17. Music
18. Visual Arts
19. Languages and Literature
20. Linguistics

Available Fully Funded PhD and Postdoctoral Positions in the UK

In the following list you can find different funded PhD and Postdocs in the UK:

Would you like to know the salary amount of PhD and postdoc positions in Europe? 

You can find all the available full-funded PhD positions in different countries here.