UKNINE DTP PhD Scholarship 2027-2028 provides fully-funded postgraduate studentships centred on candidate quality and proposed research, offering tuition coverage, a tax-free stipend and additional research support. The focus is on recruiting postgraduate researchers to study across partner universities through an open annual competition.
The scholarship is administered by the NINE DTP partnership, which runs a combined studentship competition for Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Sunderland, Ulster and Queen’s Belfast Universities. The competition is open and transparent, with decisions based on clear assessment criteria and an Action for Equality initiative for specific nominees.
NINE DTP PhD Scholarship Benefits
- Tuition Fees – Home fees (£5,238 in 2026-27) covered for all students. Additional support for international students facilitated through university agreements
- Stipend – Tax-free stipend, worth £21,805 (2026-27)
- Research Support – Additional funding for fieldwork, research activity and placements
- Training – Benefit from the combined training offerings across the DTP
- Cohort & Collaboration – Work with peers, colleagues and partners in a dynamic, evolving research environment
Get new scholarships by email
Scholarship Union lists awards like this one as they open. One short digest, no spam.
NINE DTP PhD Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- NINE DTP runs a combined annual studentship competition to recruit and select postgraduate researchers of the very highest calibre to study at Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Sunderland, Ulster and Queen’s Belfast Universities.
- We operate an open competition for the awarding of studentships, which is centred on the quality of candidates and their proposed research and training programme, alongside a linked Action for Equality initiative to award four full scholarships to nominees from specific under-represented groups.
- NINE DTP awards fully-funded postgraduate studentships each academic year for full-time or part-time study.
Participating Universities
- Durham University
- Newcastle University
- Northumbria University
- Teesside University
- University of Sunderland
- Ulster University
- Queen’s University Belfast
How to Apply for NINE DTP PhD Scholarship?
- To apply for a NINE DTP studentship you must 1) apply to the university at which you intend to study and 2) work with your proposed primary supervisor to submit a Stage 1 nomination form.
- Note that the initial deadline for submission of a Stage 1 nomination form is 27 October 2026 at 4pm. A submission is not complete until the supervisor has completed and submitted the supervisor approval form.
- Once you click ‘submit’ on your Stage 1 nomination it will trigger an email to your primary supervisor to complete the supervisor approval form and will trigger emails to your nominated referees and collaborative partner (if applicable) requesting supporting letters.
- Applicants whose Stage 1 nominations are successful in the department and pathway competitions will then be invited to provide Stage 2 applications for the final, studentship panel competition.
- Access the Stage 1 nomination portal here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/hnrFXA7LPc
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the NINE DTP PhD Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, supervisor engagement, and how to submit Stage 1 nominations for the competition.
What is the NINE DTP PhD Scholarship competition?
The NINE DTP PhD Scholarship competition is an annual combined competition that recruits and selects postgraduate researchers to study at partner universities (Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Sunderland, Ulster and Queen’s Belfast). It operates as an open competition based on candidate quality and proposed research and training programmes, with clear assessment criteria and an Action for Equality initiative.
What funding does the NINE DTP PhD Scholarship provide?
NINE DTP PhD Scholarship awards fully-funded postgraduate studentships each academic year. Benefits explicitly listed include home tuition fees covered (£5,238 in 2026-27), a tax-free stipend worth £21,805 (2026-27), additional research support for fieldwork and placements, and access to combined DTP training offerings.
Who can apply for a NINE DTP studentship?
The competition recruits postgraduate researchers of the very highest calibre across the partner institutions. It is open to candidates whose applications and proposed research meet the competition’s assessment criteria. The scheme also includes an Action for Equality initiative to award four full scholarships to nominees from specified under-represented groups.
How do I apply for the NINE DTP PhD Scholarship?
To apply you must first apply to the university where you intend to study and then work with your proposed primary supervisor to submit a Stage 1 nomination form via the nomination portal. The nomination triggers emails to your supervisor, referees and any collaborative partners; the supervisor must complete the approval form to finalise the submission.
What is the Stage 1 deadline for nominations?
The initial deadline for submission of a Stage 1 nomination form is 27 October 2026 at 4pm. A submission is not considered complete until the primary supervisor has completed and submitted the supervisor approval form, so candidates should complete nomination material in advance of the deadline.
Are referee and collaborator letters required by the deadline?
When you submit your Stage 1 nomination it triggers requests to your nominated referees and collaborative partner (if applicable). Although these supporting letters do not need to be received by 4pm on the 27 October deadline, the supervisor’s approval form must be submitted by that date to validate the nomination.
What happens after a successful Stage 1 nomination?
Applicants whose Stage 1 nominations are successful in the department and pathway competitions will be invited to provide Stage 2 applications for the final studentship panel competition. Stage 2 is the next stage of assessment in the studentship competition process.
Is there support for international students?
The website states that home fees are covered (£5,238 in 2026-27) for all students and notes that additional support for international students is facilitated through university agreements. Specific international support arrangements are managed via the individual partner universities.
Where can I find full guidelines and scheme documents?
Full guidelines, including the NINE DTP Annual Studentship Competition Policies and Procedures and Action for Equality Scheme Guidelines, are provided on the site with downloadable documents. The policies and procedures document and AforE guidelines links are available from the competition page.
How can supervisors engage with the nomination process?
Supervisors need to nominate candidates for funding and must complete the supervisor approval form after a candidate submits their Stage 1 nomination. The site provides an Information for Supervisors page and recordings of supervisor-faced information sessions to guide supervisors through the process.
Discover more from Scholarship Union
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.