Postgraduate research funding opportunities

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC SGSAH DTP) –  Now Open for 2025 entry

The University of Edinburgh is part of a consortium of 10 Universities which have been awarded funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to support postgraduate studentships and training in the Arts and Humanities in Scotland. 

Deadlines

Stage 1 (Programme application): Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 23:59 

Stage 2 (SGSAH open competition application): Thursday 21 November 2024 at 12:00pm 

Before applying

Contact a potential PhD supervisor at the Institute of Geography, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh as soon as possible to discuss your proposal and your interest in the award. 

If you wish to apply for this funding and have any academic queries, we strongly encourage you to contact the Deputy Director of PGR (RIGLE), Dr Sukanya Krishnamurthy, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography (until December 2024) and Dr Hamish Kallin, Lecturer in Human Geography (from January 2025). 

Please also read more about the funding competition on the SGSAH website here and the SGSAH Open Competition Guidance 2025.

For the 2024 competition, SGSAH is making available ring-fenced studentships for applicants from UK Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, care-experienced students, and students with a recognised refugee status or humanitarian protection.

Application process

There is an initial two stage application process and both stages must be completed in order to be considered for the SGSAH open competition in the School of GeoSciences.

Stage 1 – Programme Application

Submit an application including academic transcripts, CV and referee details to the PhD Human Geography and Environment Sciences programme (see link below) by Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 23:59. Please ensure that you clearly state your interest in the funding in your application.

Apply for a Human Geography and Environmental Sciences PhD 

You can find a detailed step-by-step guide to applying for a research degree below

PhD Application process – School of GeoSciences

Notes:

• If you apply for both ESRC/SGSSS and AHRC/SGSAH funding competitions you only need to submit one PhD application via EUCLID. However, you need to submit two application forms: SGSSS application template and the SGSAH application template (they are not the same)
• Applicants who do not contact supervisors to discuss their applications prior to applying will be rejected

Stage 2 - SGSAH open competition application

All applicants must also submit the completed SGSAH studentship application form and return it to the School of GeoSciences by Thursday 21 November 2024 at 12:00pm by email to pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk.

SGSAH AHRC Application Form 2025 

You will need to submit a programme application and the SGSAH open competition application form in order for us to be able to consider you for these scholarships. Due to the complexities of submitting two separate applications, it is advisable that you familiarise yourselves with the relevant application guidance and address any issues with us well in advance of the application deadlines.                                                                                                                                                              

Applicants selected internally to go to the next stage of the competition will be notified in January 2025 and will then be required to submit their application via the SGSAH online portal. The online application platform will open on 3 February 2025 and will close at noon (GMT) on 14 February 2025.

Online information session

The Dean of Postgraduate Research is hosting a one-hour online information session about the SGSAH Open PhD competition for prospective applicants on 15th October 2024 at 10:00 BST. No registration is needed. You can join the session via the link below:

https://eu.bbcollab.com/collab/ui/session/guest/1242a098616c4905a1188d6165e60a10

Contact information

Deputy Director of PGR (RIGLE) - Dr Sukanya Krishnamurthy, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography (until December 2024) and Dr Hamish Kallin, Lecturer in Human Geography (from January 2025). 

PGR Office – School of GeoSciences: pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk

Important links

SGSAH website

University of Edinburgh information on the AHRC DTP

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC - SGSSS DTP) - Now Open for 2025 entry

The University of Edinburgh is a member institution of the Scotland-wide Graduate School of Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (SGSSS DTP), which is funded and accredited by the Social and Economic Research Council (ESRC). The DTP provides world-class postgraduate research and training in the social sciences across a wide range of disciplines, known as “Units of Assessment”.

Deadlines

Stage 1 (Programme application): Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 23:59

Stage 2 (SGSSS funding application): Thursday 21 November 2024 at 16:00

Before applying

Contact and seek advice from the relevant Unit of Assessment Lead and a potential PhD supervisor at the Institute of Geography, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh as soon as possible to discuss your proposal and your interest in the ESRC awards. 

We also recommend that you check the scholarship information and ESRC eligibility criteria here and view all of the helpful applicant information videos on the SGSSS website here. You must also register to the SGSSS Apply system.

Please take the time to go through the application template, guidance and marking framework - applicants who do not contact supervisors to discuss their applications prior to applying will be rejected. 

Application process

There is an initial two stage application process and both stages must be completed in order to be considered for the student-led SGSSS open competition in the School of GeoSciences. 

Stage 1 – Programme Application

Submit an application including academic transcripts, SGSSS application template, CV and referee details to the PhD Human Geography and Environment Sciences programme (see link below) by Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 23:59. Please ensure that you clearly state your interest in the ESRC funding in your application.

Apply for a Human Geography and Environmental Sciences PhD 

You can find a detailed step-by-step guide to applying for a research degree below

PhD Application process – School of GeoSciences

Notes: 

• In exceptional cases and depending on applicant experience, the award can be offered as MSc plus PhD (1+3.5). For further guidance contact the relevant Unit of Assessment lead.
• If you apply for both ESRC/SGSSS and AHRC/SGSAH funding competitions you only need to submit one PhD application via EUCLID. However, you need to submit two application forms: SGSSS application template and the SGSAH application template (they are not the same).

Stage 2 - (SGSSS funding application)

All applicants must also submit a complete funding application to include academic transcripts, CV and referee details to the SGSSS via the Apply system by Thursday 21 November 2024 at 16:00. For any issues with the system, please contact SGSSS at team@sgsss.ac.uk.

You will need to submit a programme application and a funding application in order for us to be able to consider you for these scholarships. Due to the complexities of submitting two separate applications to two different systems, it is advisable that you familiarise yourselves with the relevant application guidance and address any issues with us well in advance of the application deadlines.

Online Information Sessions

CAHSS hosted - Applicant Information Session – 15 October 2024 3pm (BST)

https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/8118a4a68f774d0abce4d732a4d6656f

SGSSS hosted - Applicant Drop-In Session: 8 November 2024 12-1pm

Zoom link: https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81551218382

Meeting ID: 815 5121 8382

Passcode: H4F25xtA

Contact information

Unit of Assessment lead – School of GeoSciences: 

Dr Sukanya Krishnamurthy, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography (until December 2024) and Dr Hamish Kallin, Lecturer in Human Geography (from January 2025)

PGR Office – School of GeoSciences: pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk

Important links:

SGSSS funding application guidance

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science studentships

E4 Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) - Deadline 4 January 2024

The School of GeoSciences leads the NERC-funded E3/E4 DTP, bringing together 33 partners and over 200 supervisors with research expertise spanning the full spectrum of earth and environmental sciences.  The E4 DTP will recruit 6 cohorts of approx. 22 students per year between September 2019 and 2024.

Please visit the E4 website for more information on how to apply.

Carnegie PhD Scholarships - CLOSED

The Carnegie Trust offers a number of scholarships each year to academically outstanding candidates who hold a First Class Honours undergraduate degree from a Scottish University and intend to study on a PhD programme at any University in Scotland.

The deadline for application to the Scholarship is 24 January 2023 - please note that if you submit your PhD application after 14 January 2023 we cannot guarantee that you will be able to access the scholarship application form on time

Commonwealth Master and PhD Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries.

China Scholarship Council

The School of GeoSciences no longer participates in the China Scholarships Council PhD funding scheme.