General Funding Opportunities
We support students through several different funding schemes, including University and external scholarships. Many of these are open to both UK and international-fee students.
School-funded studentships
The School has a number of fully-funded studentships, consisting of a monthly stipend at UKRI rates and a 100% tuition fee contribution, available in all subject areas. All applicants who have submitted an application by the deadline listed on the relevant Degree Finder page will be considered for these awards. This funding is tenable for 42 months, and includes a Research Training Support Grant.
We welcome applications from both home and international fee-rate students for these awards.
Research Council Studentships
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. Further information can be found at the individual research council links below.
All applicants who have submitted an application by the deadline listed on the relevant Degree Finder page will be considered for these awards.
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.
Career Development Scholarship
Please see the dedicated page for information on this Scholarship, which is open to both home and international-fee students.
PLANET (Physics-Led Applications for Nuclear Engineering & Technology)
The PLANET programme - a Doctoral Focal Award by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and match-funded by industry - will equip students and researchers to work in fields vital to national security, clean energy and healthcare.
PLANET is a UK partnership consisting of word class nuclear physics research groups (Universities of Edinburgh, Surrey and York), and premier nuclear engineering groups (Universities of Cambridge and Lancaster).
The projects are co-created with industry and include professional skills training and an industrial placement. Projects will train researchers in areas such as nuclear science, neutron and radiation transport, simulation and instrumentation development.
Application deadline: 31 May 2026
Further information and application details are located on the PLANET site:
Bell-Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund
We support candidates for the Institute of Physics Bell-Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund. Information on the application process for 2027/28 entry will be available soon.
UKRI Doctoral Training Programmes
The UK Research Councils support dedicated studentships in specific research areas, associated with enhanced training and cohort-building activities, and typically spanning multiple universities. Information on the current set of supported programmes, where candidates can apply to undertake their PhD in Edinburgh, is given in this separate page:
Other University Scholarships
Applicants are automatically considered for any University-funded scholarships which they are eligible for. This includes the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships.
All such Scholarships cover the University tuition fee as well as a stipend equal to the UKRI minimum rate, for the relevant academic year of study. Students are also supported by a training grant of £1.2k/year to cover research costs, books, computing, and travel. Subject to satisfactory progress, these Scholarships are offered for 3.5 years. 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.
China Scholarships Council
Scholarships will be available for PhD study to candidates who are citizens and permanent residents of the People's Republic of China at the time of applying for entry. 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.
Further funding opportunities
The University Scholarships and Student Finance pages may contain information on further funding opportunities.
- Scholarships and student funding for UK students
- Scholarships and student funding for international students
The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or withdraw any of the advertised scholarships, without further notice.