Annual PhD Scholarships Competition

Ulster's Annual PhD Competition offers Department for the Economy and Vice-Chancellor's Research scholarships to home and overseas applicants for full-time study on-campus.

Scholarships cover three years of fees, an annual non-taxable maintenance grant of approx. £19,200, a Research Training and Support grant of £900 per year and access to paid teaching opportunities.

Timetable

The timetable for the Annual Scholarship competition for September 2025 entry is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.  We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year, or part-time equivalent, funded from any source, including self-financing researchers, are NOT eligible for a scholarship.

All applicants should also hold a relevant English language qualification.

All applications for scholarships will be considered on a competitive basis and with regard to the applicant’s qualifications, skills, experience and interests.

Further information

Applicants can refer to our guidance for help on making an application.

Applicants may discuss their application with the supervisors noted within the project description prior to submission.

Competition for funded entry is very high. It is important that all parts of the application process are completed in accordance with the instructions.

Applicants should note that disclosure of disability or personal circumstances should be made as part of the application process or as soon as possible thereafter in order to facilitate any necessary adjustments or accommodation.

Please contact researchstudent@ulster.ac.uk if you have any queries.