College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Awards

The College Research Student Awards scheme is designed to attract high quality students applying for PhD research.

As a student with us you will work with some of the most influential academics in your chosen field and learn about the very latest developments in your subject. Those chosen exemplify the high standards the University of Edinburgh sets for its research students and the investment that we make in their potential.

College Research Awards are available within the following Schools:

  • Business School
  • School of Economics
  • School of History, Classics and Archaeology
  • School of Health in Social Science
  • School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
  • School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

The College Research Awards have a high number of applicants, and as a result are highly competitive. Applicants with an outstanding track record of academic achievements and research potential are encouraged to apply. Those candidates with research areas that fall under UK Research Council Awards and meet eligibility criteria are advised to apply to the relevant Research Council as well.  

Candidates for the College Research Award must be seeking to start their first year of full-time, part-time or distance PhD study in an eligible School within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences within the academic year 2026/27.  MSc by Research programmes are not eligible.


The award provides full tuition fees with an annual stipend for 3 years. Funding is available for 4 years if the programme of study is the 4-year Economics (PhD with Integrated Study) or a 4-year Integrated PhD in the Business School. 

The stipend will be set to the UKRI level for 2026/2027. The UKRI level for 2025/2026 is currently £20,780 for full-time students, or the pro rata equivalent for part-time students. 


Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential. 

Applicants in the School of Economics, who are short-listed, will be interviewed for the scholarship.


Tips for writing a successful proposal

We recommend that you submit a project that can result in an initial thesis being submitted for examination within the prescribed period of the PhD, in line with the length of funding available which is 3 years or 4 years if studying on an Integrated PhD.

Your proposal should provide insight into what you plan to research, how you will conduct your research, and the contribution(s) it will make. At this stage your proposal provides evidence of your ability to write, think, create, and argue. It also helps indicate how your research will fit into the institution and its goals. A strong proposal contains a clear proposition and/or question, sets up outcomes that can be delivered, contains several propositions which are then connected to for the structure, is intelligible to non-experts, has a relevant audience, and shows critical thinking. 

The scholarship deadline is 2nd February 2026: you are strongly advised to ensure that you have submitted your application for admission at least five working days before this date and within the School admission deadline if earlier. 

Please note that some Schools have admission application deadlines which are earlier than this scholarship deadline. Please check the relevant School PhD Scholarship webpage. 

The School of Economics may open a second round of scholarship applications in the summer of 2026 but it is strongly recommended that you apply in time for the 2nd Feb 2026 deadline. 

Instructions on how to apply will display here shortly.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Scholarships System FAQs for Applicants (511.17 KB / PDF)


Applicants will be notified of their standing by their intended School of study.  Please contact your School's postgraduate office for information on your status.


pgawards@ed.ac.uk

The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or withdraw any of the advertised scholarships, without notice.


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