UKUBEL ESRC Studentship provides fully funded ESRC studentships that cover tuition fees and an annual maintenance stipend for successful candidates applying for 2027 entry. The focus is on supporting doctoral research across multiple disciplinary pathways within the UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership.
The UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) delivers ESRC-funded studentships through six London institutions: University of Greenwich, University of East London, SOAS, LSHTM, Birkbeck and UCL. Applicants should review pathways, discuss proposals with potential supervisors, and contact pathway leaders before applying.
UBEL ESRC Studentship Benefits
- The UBEL DTP’s fully funded ESRC studentships cover full payment of tuition fees per year and an annual maintenance stipend.
- UBEL DTP studentships cover tuition fees at the UKRI rate and an annual maintenance stipend. For 2026/27 an UBEL studentship will cover tuition fees of £5238 and a minimum stipend of £23,805. This figure includes the London Allowance.
- We offer a wide range of disciplinary pathways, in 6 groupings across 6 London institutions. Each pathway provides a range of study routes (+3.5; 1+3.5 +4.5) with MRes, MSc and MA programmes attached and accommodates both full-time and part-time students.
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UBEL ESRC Studentship Eligibility Criteria
- You should normally have (or expect to achieve by 30 September 2027) an upper second or first class honours degree or a Master’s degree from a recognised UK university, or the equivalent qualification if gained outside the UK.
- For +3.5 award you must normally have (or expect to achieve by 30 September 2027) a Master’s degree with an appropriate level of research training.
- All UKRI studentships are open to both home and international students.
- To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria: Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), Have settled status, or Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
- If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classified as an International student. Please read the UKRI Eligibility guidance document (pdf) for full details on residency requirements.
- UBEL cannot cover visa costs for international students. For any visa or immigration advice, please speak to your proposed institutions visa compliance team.
- UBEL is allowed to make no more than 30% of the total number of studentships (across competitions) to international students – this is an ESRC condition and cannot be waivered. (For 2025 Entry, UBEL could award only 10 international studentships out of 485 international applicants)
Participating Universities
- University College London (UCL)
- Birkbeck, University of London
- SOAS University of London
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
- University of Greenwich
- University of East London
How to Apply for UBEL ESRC Studentship?
- This video provides application guidance and answers key questions, led by the UBEL DTP Management team.
- Select their intended pathway
- Discuss their PhD proposal with a potential supervisor at one of the partner universities
- Contact the relevant pathway leader(s) at their chosen university
- Applicants should review the available pathways across these universities to identify the most relevant one for their research.
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Friday, 30 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 UBEL ESRC Studentship Scholarship 2027. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, application steps, and contact information based on the official UBEL DTP guidance.
What does the UBEL ESRC Studentship cover?
The UBEL DTP’s fully funded ESRC studentships cover full payment of tuition fees per year and an annual maintenance stipend. For 2026/27 the studentship covers tuition fees of £5238 and a minimum stipend of £23,805, including the London Allowance, according to the official UBEL DTP information.
Which institutions deliver the UBEL DTP ESRC studentships?
The UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership delivers ESRC-funded studentships through six London institutions: University of Greenwich, University of East London, SOAS (University of London), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Birkbeck (University of London) and University College London (UCL). Applicants should review pathways across these partners.
Who is eligible to apply for these studentships?
All UKRI studentships are open to both home and international students. Home student status requires meeting UK residency criteria such as UK nationality, settled or pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or indefinite leave to remain/enter. If criteria are not met, candidates are classed as international students.
Are visa costs covered for international students?
No. UBEL explicitly states that it cannot cover visa costs for international students. International applicants are advised to speak with their proposed institution’s visa compliance team for any visa or immigration advice, as UBEL will not fund those expenses.
What academic qualifications are required?
Applicants should normally have (or expect to achieve by 30 September 2027) an upper second or first class honours degree or a Master’s degree from a recognised UK university, or the equivalent qualification if gained outside the UK. For +3.5 awards, a Master’s with appropriate research training is normally required.
How many pathways and subject groups are available?
UBEL DTP offers 30 disciplinary pathways organised into 6 subject groups across the partner institutions. Each pathway provides a range of study routes with associated MRes, MSc and MA programmes and accommodates both full-time and part-time research students.
What are the key deadlines for 2027 ESRC funding applications?
Key dates for 2027 ESRC funding include: 14 September 2026 (Survey Monkey Apply opens for Preliminary applications), 30 October 2026 (Pre-registration deadline 23:59), 9 November 2026 (Preliminary application deadline 23:59), 14 December 2026 (Full Application stage opens for successful preliminary candidates) and 1 February 2027 (Full application deadline 23:59).
What should applicants do before applying?
Before applying, applicants should select their intended pathway, discuss their PhD proposal with a potential supervisor at a partner university, and contact relevant pathway leader(s). They should review available pathways to identify the most relevant option for their research and follow the provided guidance documents and videos.
Where can I find application guidance and documents?
UBEL provides guidance materials including a ‘Read First – 2027 application guidance’ PDF, preliminary application guidance for candidates, and a list of useful documents such as the ESRC Postgraduate Training and Development Guidelines. Candidate FAQs are noted as ‘coming soon’ on the UBEL website.
How can I contact the UBEL DTP team for more information?
You can contact the UBEL DTP team via the contact page on the UBEL website. The published email address for enquiries is Ubel-dtp@ucl.ac.uk. The site also links to pathway leaders and supervisor guidance for further support.
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