Funding for PhD students

The majority of awards offered are made available by University departments, therefore we recommend you use the funding database search in the first instance. The schemes listed here are available across various subject areas.

In addition to these schemes specifically designed for PhD students, there are also a number of general award schemes for which prospective PhD students may be eligible.

Our other sources of PhD funding page provides useful links to help identify potential funding.

University of Exeter PhD awards

In the past two years the University has made available over 250 studentships and bursaries. Studentships cover full fees and a research council equivalent maintenance grant for three or four years. PhD bursaries generally provide partial funding in return for work, eg teaching. Awards are advertised during the Winter and Spring and are added to our funding database as and when they become available.

Research Council studentships

One of the main sources of financial support for PhD students who ordinarily reside in the UK or European Union are Research Council studentships. Awards are offered either through open competition or a quota of awards to individual University departments. Full or fees only awards for UK and EU students are based on established UK residency. Applicants should check that the programme to which they apply is eligible for the receipt of Research Council studentships, as this may vary from year to year. Residents of the Isle of Man should apply to their Education Authority.

Research Council awards are usually advertised on the funding database in addition to College web pages.

Teaching and Research Assistantships

Whether you are planning to go into academia or not, the possibility of undertaking teaching duties or working as a Research Assistant offers a valuable and challenging opportunity to develop further skills as well as helping you finance your studies.

A number of departments can offer employment as a Teaching Assistant or an Assistant to a staff research project. The availability of such posts will vary and you should contact the department to which you wish to apply in order to enquire about opportunities. Research students working as Teaching Assistants receive training through the HEA-accredited Learning and Teaching in Higher Education programme run by the University’s Education Enhancement Unit.

Exeter Graduate Fellowship Scheme

This scheme offers a fixed package of teaching or research duties spread out over three or four years. These can be either as full awards of 180 hours per year or half awards of 90 hours per year. The scheme is open to UK/EU and international students, and the award comprises payment of tuition fees at Home/EU rates and a maintenance allowance pegged to Research Council rates (pro rata for the half award).

This scheme is only open to new research students (ie you cannot apply for the scheme once you have registered for a PhD at Exeter). Its advantage is that it enables you to plan your workload and finances in advance when you embark on your PhD. Awards are made for three years initially (subject to satisfactory annual progress) but are renewable for a further 12 months, thus providing financial support during the ‘writing-up’ year of a PhD.

These awards are funded by individual departments. Please contact your department of interest to enquire.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Scheme

This national graduate training scheme in which the University is a partner not only provides an income during your research, but also covers the cost of all or some of your MPhil/PhD fees.

KTP enables you to undertake a one- to three-year research-based, in-company project which is central to the company’s strategic development. You are paid a salary, given structured training and provided with mentoring support. KTP projects often lead to an offer of a permanent post with the host company. They are available to students at both Exeter and Cornwall campuses.

Further information on the scheme can be found on the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships website, which includes a search facility to be able to view current partnerships at the University of Exeter. You may also wish to contact the University’s Research and Knowledge Transfer Office who manage the scheme.