Funding for UK students
UK students are eligible to apply for the following scholarships
Research Councils studentships
Research Council studentships funded by STFC and EPSRC are available to UK students (30% of these studentships will also be available to international students for 2025 entry). Research Council studentships are awarded by the School of Physics and Astronomy on receipt of an application for a PhD place through the online system and satisfactory interview, and do not require a separate application. Research Council studentships cover home fees and provide tax free stipends for living costs for 42 months (this is 48 months for CDT students). The stipend rates can be seen at the individual research council links below. The initial application deadline is 6th January 2025 for Astronomy applicants and 17th January 2025 for Condensed Matter, Nuclear Physics and Particle Physics applicants. Applications reached after the deadline will continue to be considered until all the positions are filled. To ensure your application gets to the correct people and won't be held up please ensure you indicate which Institute you are applying for: Astronomy, CM (hard) or CM (soft), NP, PPE, PPT.
Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships
Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2025/26. Three Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships are available for a PhD student starting their PhD research in the School of Physics and Astronomy in the 2025/26 academic year.
The Scholarship covers the University tuition fee as well as a stipend equal to the UKRI minimum rate, for the relevant academic year of study, approximately a tax-free sum of £19,237 per year. Subject to satisfactory progress, the Scholarship is offered for 4 years. Applicants should indicate on their application to study for a PhD that they wish to be considered for this Scholarship. To ensure your application gets to the correct people and won't be held up please ensure you indicate which Institute you are applying for: Astronomy, CM (hard) or CM (soft), NP, PPE, PPT.
Doctoral Training Scheme
There are two doctoral training schemes open to UK/EU students: the Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces Centre for Doctoral Training and the Mathematical Modelling, Analysis and Computation (MAC-MIGS) Centre for Doctoral Training
Higgs Prize PhD Studentships in Theoretical Physics
The School of Physics and Astronomy are offering Higgs Prize PhD Studentships in any area of theoretical physics, starting September 2025. We are particularly interested in recruiting students with a strong mathematical background who are passionate to study and explore the fundamental laws of Nature.
The Prize will cover fees and a four-year stipend, matching the level of the UK Research Council Maintenance Allowance rates (£19,237 per annum (24/25 rate), as well as research funds of £1.2k per annum to cover books, computing and conference costs. Applications are open to all students with no conditions on nationality. Furthermore, we value diversity, and we would like to strongly encourage female and international candidates to apply.
Before applying, interested candidates should get in touch with a supervisor from the Higgs Centre (a theoretical physicist who is an academic member of staff in the School of Physics and Astronomy) to support their application. Applicants are advised to include in their application a statement of interest regarding the Higgs Prize PhD Fellowship under the ‘Research Proposal’ category (there is no need to write a detailed research proposal, just a brief description of the general topic agreed upon with the supervisor). Please note on your application that you wish to be considered for this Studentship. The selection panel will take into account supporting statements from the prospective supervisors.
If you have already submitted a PhD application and now wish to send your statement of interest, please email this to gradschool.physics [at] ed.ac.uk.
Further funding opportunities
The University Scholarships and Student Finance pages may contain information on further funding opportunities.