An Edinburgh PhD scholarship application through the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships (EDCS) is one of the few routes to a fully funded PhD in the UK that is open to students of any nationality. The University of Edinburgh pays the tuition fee and a stipend equivalent to the UKRI rate for three to four years, but each School has its own deadline, and some have their own application route. This guide explains who can apply, which route applies to your School, what to write and when to submit. The key facts are also on our Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships 2027 listing.
We checked every detail on 28 October 2026 against the official University of Edinburgh pages and the 2027-2028 terms and conditions. Where the University does not give a detail, we say so.
Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships at a glance
| University | University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Level | PhD (full-time or part-time, on-campus or distance), first year in 2027-2028 |
| Who can apply | UK and overseas students; nationality is not taken into account |
| Funding | University tuition fee plus a stipend equivalent to the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026-2027) |
| Length | Three to four years, as agreed by the School or College |
| Number of awards | Around 26: one per School, three in Geosciences, six in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Deadlines | 16 November 2026 to 2 February 2027, 23:59 UK time, depending on the School |
What the scholarship covers
Each award covers the University tuition fee and pays a stipend of at least the UKRI minimum rate for the relevant year. For 2026-2027 that rate is 21,805 pounds a year; the 2027-2028 figure was not published when we checked. Funding is subject to satisfactory progress and is pro-rata for part-time students. The terms and conditions say project costs are not included.
- Tenure. 3.5 years in Schools such as Divinity, Geosciences, Law and Edinburgh College of Art; 4 years in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, Informatics, Mathematics and Physics and Astronomy. The Business School offers both, depending on the programme.
- Training. A package of training and development that may include teaching, public engagement, entrepreneurship, data science and research skills.
- Leave. 52 weeks of maternity leave (26 weeks at full stipend, 13 weeks at statutory level, 13 weeks unpaid), up to two weeks’ paid partner leave, medical leave paid for up to 28 weeks in any 12 months, and up to eight weeks’ vacation a year.
- Intellectual property. By default, you own the intellectual property in your research.
You cannot hold the award together with another fully funded scholarship. You can combine it with a partial scholarship, but the Edinburgh award is then reduced pro-rata.
Who can apply
- UK and overseas students starting the first year of a research degree in 2027-2028 (start date between 1 August 2027 and 31 July 2028);
- applicants who have already applied for admission to a full-time or part-time, on-campus or distance PhD at Edinburgh;
- applicants with, or expecting, a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree or the international equivalent; and
- applicants of outstanding academic merit and research potential.
Financial status, nationality and the proposed field of study are not taken into account. The University does not generally consider candidates who already hold a PhD. For English, follow the entry requirements of your PhD programme; you can apply for the scholarship before you have your test results, but you should upload them as soon as possible.
Edinburgh PhD scholarship application deadlines by School
| School | Awards | Closing date (23:59 UK time) |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | 1 | 16 November 2026 |
| Informatics | 1 | 30 November 2026 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 1 | 4 January 2027 (Astrophysics); 22 January 2027 (other PhDs) |
| Chemistry | 1 | 11 January 2027 |
| Engineering | 1 | 14 January 2027 |
| Geosciences | 3 | 25 January 2027 |
| Mathematics | 1 | 1 February 2027 |
| Business School, Divinity, Economics, Edinburgh College of Art, Health in Social Science, History Classics and Archaeology, Law, Literatures Languages and Cultures, Moray House, PPLS, Social and Political Science | 1 each | 2 February 2027 |
| Medicine and Veterinary Medicine | 6 | To be confirmed |
Each School also has its own PhD admission deadline, which can be earlier than the scholarship date. For example, Edinburgh College of Art asks for the PhD application by 19 January 2027 and the scholarship application by 2 February 2027. In Pakistan (PKT), 23:59 UK time in winter is 4:59 am the next day, so treat the day before as your real deadline.
Three ways to apply, depending on your School
- Online form in EUCLID. Schools in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, plus Engineering, Geosciences, Chemistry and Mathematics.
- Automatic consideration. Informatics and Physics and Astronomy assess you when you apply for admission. There is no separate scholarship form.
- Through the School. Biological Sciences applications go directly to the School, not through MyEd.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose your PhD programme and contact the School about its admission deadline.
- Apply for PhD admission on the University’s admissions system.
- Wait for your UUN and EASE password. Do not wait for an offer; you can apply once you have these. Access can take up to five working days.
- Log in to MyEd and open the scholarship application in EUCLID. Answer the eligibility questions and write your personal statement.
- Submit before your School’s deadline. You can only select one scholarship at a time, and late applications are not accepted.
- Track your status under ‘View My Scholarship Applications’ and prepare for an interview if you are shortlisted.
How you are selected
The University uses your scholarship form together with the reference and academic transcript from your admission application. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, in person or by telephone; Edinburgh College of Art holds online interviews in early to mid April 2027 and contacts all applicants by late April 2027. Outcomes are sent by your School.
Tips for your personal statement
- Write it carefully once. You cannot edit a personal statement after you submit it. If the deadline has not passed you can send a revised one, but the panel will see both.
- Link your project to the School. ECA asks you to explain why you are applying, why your proposal fits its expertise, what the scholarship will mean for your research and how you will contribute to the research community.
- Ask for a strong reference early. Your reference from the admission application is used in the assessment; see how to get strong recommendation letters.
- Polish your proposal. Our research proposal template for PhD scholarships shows a clear structure.
Other fully funded PhD scholarships in the UK
Compare Edinburgh with the Warwick Chancellor’s Scholarship, the Imperial President’s PhD Scholarships and the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, or read our guide to scholarships in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers the University tuition fee and pays a stipend equivalent to the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026-2027) for three to four years.
Can international students apply?
Yes. The awards are open to UK and overseas students, and nationality is not taken into account in selection.
Do I need an offer of admission before applying?
No. You must have applied for PhD admission and have your UUN and EASE password, but you do not need to wait for an offer.
What degree do I need?
A UK first class or 2:1 honours degree, or the international equivalent, or the expectation of one.
When is the deadline?
It depends on your School: from 16 November 2026 (Biological Sciences) to 2 February 2027, at 23:59 UK time.
Do I need IELTS before applying?
No. You can apply before you have your English results, but you should upload them as soon as possible.
Can I edit my application after submitting it?
No. You cannot edit the personal statement, but you can send a revised one before the deadline; the panel sees both.
Is there an interview?
Yes. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, in person or by telephone (online at Edinburgh College of Art).
Where to apply
Read the official Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships page, the 2027-2028 terms and conditions and the guide to applying for a scholarship in MyEd before you start. Our Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship listing keeps the key facts in one place.
Scholarships with the nearest deadlines
| Scholarship | Funding | Stipend | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Scholarships 2027 | Fully funded | Not stated on HEC's programme page (see the HEC advertisement) | 30 Oct 2026 |
| Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan | Partial | 230,000 yen a month (degree of 1 to 2 years), 210,000 yen a month (3-year degree) or 180,000 yen a month (degree longer than 3 years) | 31 Oct 2026 |
| European Parliament Schuman Traineeships 2027 | Partial | Monthly grant paid; amount not stated on the official source | 31 Oct 2026 |
| University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships 2027 in Australia | Fully funded | 41,100 Australian dollars a year (2027 rate), plus a full fee offset | 31 Oct 2026 (expected) |
| Australian Government RTP Scholarships 2027 in Australia | Fully funded | 2027 full-time RTP stipend: base rate 35,550 Australian dollars a year, maximum 55,537 Australian dollars a year | 31 Oct 2026 (expected) |
| DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027/28 in Germany | Fully funded | 992 euros a month for graduates; 1,400 euros a month for doctoral candidates | 31 Oct 2026 (expected) |
| One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 in South Africa | Partial | See the scholarship page | 31 Oct 2026 |
| UNU Junior Fellows Internship 2027 in Tokyo, Japan | Partial | Monthly stipend; amount not stated on the official source | 1 Nov 2026 |
| Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026–27 in Russia | Partial | Tuition-free study; a monthly allowance is possible only with grant support for Russian-taught programmes | 1 Nov 2026 |
| Max Planck Computer Science Summer Internships 2027 in Germany | Fully funded | Monthly stipend (amount not stated on the official source) | 1 Nov 2026 |
This list updates itself from our scholarships page. Stipend figures are shown where the provider publishes them. See all scholarships.
