UKUniversity of Reading PhD Scholarship 2027 supports international students undertaking doctoral research at the University of Reading, covering international tuition fees and providing a living allowance and training fund. The Reading PhD Scholarship is available for full-time and part-time PhD study starting October 2027 and includes a stipend for campus-based students.
The scholarship is provided by the University of Reading (Doctoral and Researcher College) and is open across all academic areas including science, life sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, and Henley Business School. Selection is by school-level nomination followed by a final panel; decisions are finalised around March 2027.
Reading PhD Scholarship Benefits
- Tuition Fees: Covered in full at the International rate.
- Training Allowance: £1,000 per annum training and development allowance.
- Subsistence Grant (Stipend): Broadly in line with the UKRI minimum stipend (the 2026/27 rate is £21,805 per annum) for candidates studying based at Reading.
- Duration: Up to 4 years for full-time study (or up to 6 years for part-time study).
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Reading PhD Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Open to international applicants who have applied for admission to a PhD programme at the University of Reading (to study either based at Reading or off-campus/by distance).
- Note on Stipends: Applicants studying off-campus or by distance are only eligible for tuition fees and the training and development allowance (stipends are restricted to campus-based students at Reading).
How to Apply for Reading PhD Scholarship
- Contact your School/Department: Check with the postgraduate research administrator to ensure your proposed research can be properly supervised.
- Apply for PhD Admission: Submit an online application for admission to a PhD programme via the University of Reading admissions portal. In the “scholarships applied for” box under the funding section, quote “International Research Studentship Competition”.
- Complete the Studentship Application Form: Fill out the online International PhD Studentship Application Form on the University’s scholarship portal before the deadline.
- Submission Deadline: Complete all steps by 15 January 2027.
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Friday, 15 January 2027. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Reading PhD Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, selection and how to apply based on the University of Reading information.
What does the Reading PhD Scholarship cover?
The scholarship covers international tuition fees in full, provides a training and development allowance of £1,000 per annum, and for campus-based students a subsistence grant broadly in line with the UKRI minimum stipend (the 2026/27 rate noted is £21,805 per annum).
Who is eligible to apply for the studentship?
The studentships are open to international applicants who have applied for admission to a PhD programme at the University of Reading. Applicants may be based at Reading or off-campus/by distance, though stipends are restricted to campus-based students.
When is the application deadline?
All application steps for the International PhD Studentship must be completed by 15 January 2027, as stated on the University of Reading information page for the competition.
What fields are eligible for the studentship?
The studentships are open across all academic areas including science, life sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, and Henley Business School, allowing applicants from a wide range of disciplines to apply.
How long does the studentship last?
The studentship supports study for up to 4 years for full-time PhD students, or up to 6 years for part-time PhD study, as indicated in the programme details.
How are applicants selected for the final competition?
Selection is conducted in two stages: school-level selection where each School or Department nominates one candidate, followed by a final selection panel where nominated candidates prepare a 700-word research proposal. Final decisions are managed by the Doctoral and Researcher College and finalised around March 2027.
Can distance/off-campus students receive the stipend?
Applicants studying off-campus or by distance are eligible only for tuition fee coverage and the £1,000 training and development allowance; stipends (living allowance) are restricted to candidates based at the Reading campus.
How do I apply for admission and the studentship?
First contact your School/Department to confirm supervision, then submit an online PhD admission application via the University of Reading portal and quote ‘International Research Studentship Competition’ in the scholarships box. Finally complete the International PhD Studentship Application Form on the university’s scholarship portal before the deadline.
When are final decisions announced?
The final selection panel’s decisions are expected to be finalised around March 2027, following school-level nominations and assessment of 700-word research proposals from nominated candidates.
Where can I find more details or the application webpage?
Full details and the application webpage are available on the University of Reading site for the International PhD Studentships: https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/funding/phd-studentships/international-phd-studentships
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