Postgraduate research funding opportunities

Find available funding opportunities for postgraduate research applicants to the School of GeoSciences.
We are continuously updating funding/scholarship opportunities for the academic year 2025/26. Please check regularly for updates and new funded projects.

Project search

You can search for projects under physical sciences or social sciences:

Physical Sciences PhD Projects

Social Sciences PHD Projects


The School of GeoSciences will offer 3 studentships in 2025.

In order to attract the best and brightest PhD students, the University seeks to offer not only unparalleled research facilities and superb supervision, but also to provide development opportunities which will support our research students as they progress beyond their PhD, through an exciting scholarship scheme.

The School of GeoSciences will offer 3 Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships (EDCS) for students starting their PhD programme in the academic year 2025/26.

 

Deadlines

The scholarship application form is now open, please carefully read the following guidance. You will not be considered for this scholarship if you do not complete both Step 1 and Step 2:

Step 1 (Programme application): Thursday 6 February 2025 at 23:59 (GMT)

Step 2 (Scholarships portal application): Monday 17 February 2025 at 23:59 (GMT)

 

Before applying

Contact a potential PhD supervisor at the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh as soon as possible to discuss your proposal. Also check the scholarship information and guidance on the University of Edinburgh Scholarships and Student Funding page here.

 

Application Process

There is a two-stage application process and both stages must be completed in order for applicants to be considered for these studentships.

 

Step 1 - submit a PhD application for a September or October 2025 start date

Deadline: Thursday 6 February 2025 at 23:59 (GMT)

Applications must be made through our University Degree Finder:

Institute  PhD
Global Change Research InstituteAtmospheric and Environmental Sciences (PhD)
Earth and Planetary Science Research Institute Geology and Geophysics (PhD)
Research Institute for Geography and the Lived Environment                    Human Geography and Environmental Sciences (PhD)

Important:

  • Applications that are not supported by a supervisor will not be considered.
  • You are required to upload a Research proposal of no more than 3 pages and 1 page of references. Note that the font should be at least 11 point and margins should be at least 2cm.
  • In the ‘Research proposal’ upload field of the PhD application form, you should upload a single document combining your Research proposal and a 2-page CV.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please read our general application guidance web page: Application Guidance 

Not eligible to apply:

  • candidates applying to start at a different time
  • continuing PhD students
  • supervisor-led projects are not eligible

Only student-led proposals will be considered. 

Both students with Home or International Fee Status are eligible to apply.  The studentships cover fees in both cases, and include 3.5 years of stipend at UKRI rate and a £3,000 Research Training and Support Grant. Immigration and relocation expenses are not included in the scholarships and will need to be covered by the candidates.

 

Step 2 - submit a scholarship application

Deadline: Monday 17 February 2025 at 23:59 (GMT)

The scholarship application portal is now open. The scholarship application form will become accessible via your EUCLID Applicant Hub after you submit your PhD application and receive your login credentials (UUN and EASE password). Please note it can take five working days (or more during peak admissions times) for all system checks to be completed and for applicants to receive credentials and then be allowed to access the scholarship application portal. Therefore, you are advised to complete your PhD application well in advance of the deadline. 

You will find guidance on the following University page: Applying for a scholarship as a Postgraduate Applicant 

 

Application statement:

As part of your scholarship application, you will be asked to provide an application statement, which should highlight your research journey:

  • How you overcame personal challenges and how they prepared you for the project.
  • How do you see yourself contributing to the PhD community in the School?
  • 300-500 words

The selection panel will shortlist candidates in late March 2025, using the SGSSS scoring framework to assess applications.  Interviews will be held online at the beginning of April 2025. 

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified via their Applicant Hub. 

You will need to submit a programme application and a scholarship application 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 guidance and address any issues with us well in advance of the application deadlines.

 

Contact Information

For more information or assistance on the programme application process, please contact the School of GeoSciences PGR Office -pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk

If you have any queries about your scholarship application, please contact the 'Scholarships and Student Funding Services' team -scholarships@ed.ac.uk

If you experience technical difficulties when using the 'Scholarship application' software, please contact the Student Systems team -studentsystems@ed.ac.uk 

 

Important links

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships 


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


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


The School of Geosciences leads the NERC funded E5 DTP, bringing together 33 partners including 7 University of Edinburgh schools, National Capabilities, Centres of Excellence and external partners in the policy, industry and society sectors.

Building on the success of our E3 and E4 DTPs, the E5 DTP will recruit three cohorts of approximately 20 students per year between 2025 and 2028. The programme offers a fully funded four-year studentship, including a three-month Professional Internship Placement (PIP) of their choice, funded by E5.

We will shortly publish our list of projects for applications. Please check back regularly for updates. 


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

 

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

Commonwealth Master and PhD Scholarships

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

Commonwealth Scholarships

China Scholarship Council

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

 

Other opportunities

The University Scholarships and Students Funding Services provide a handy Scholarship Search tool and further information on funding opportunities for prospective postgraduate students.

Postgraduate loans

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate course. There are different options available for students from different parts of the UK.

 


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