PhD Studentships

Up to 15 awards are available.

• Fees: Home tuition fees only for 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time. For 2025/26 this is £5,006 full-time or £2,503 part-time.
• Stipend: 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.

The full-time doctoral stipend for 2025/26 is £22,780 per year; levels are likely to rise slightly for the following years but have not yet been confirmed.

Applications for part-time study are welcomed and will receive pro-rata funding for both tuition fees and stipend.

Fully-funded Studentships for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants (Home students only)

We encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students and have set aside a number of the studentships listed above for applicants who identify as having these ethnic backgrounds. In addition to the funding, there will be a programme of support and mentoring available to you.

Successful applicants will be offered a place on our RISE Research Leadership Academy, which is designed to develop candidates' leadership skills within academia.

Note that these awards are open to Home fee-paying students only. Read more about who is eligible for home fee status.

To apply, please follow the process listed below and state ‘Race Equality Studentship' at the top of your Studentship Application Statement.

Once we have confirmed the availability of a potential supervisory team, we will offer application and interview support through a faculty mentor who will be a member of academic staff. To access support in advance of submitting your application please email the relevant Research Student Coordinator (listed below) and ask to be put in touch with a mentor in your subject area.

We are also hoping to have current research students with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds available to discuss their experiences with you. If you would like to take up this opportunity, please email Rachel Graham to arrange an informal online meeting or phone call.

Note that a representative from the Kingston University People of Colour Staff Network will be part of the awarding panel.

Unsuccessful applicants who reach the interview stage will be offered a feedback meeting to assist with future applications.

Read more about Kingston's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and reducing the degree awarding gap.

At least one of the fully-funded PhD studentships listed above will be awarded to a Kingston Alumni who has completed an undergraduate and/or masters level degree course at Kingston University or its predecessor institutions. Please note 'KU Alumni application' on your Studentship Application Statement.

Up to 5 awards are available.

Total contribution to fees and stipend: £11,000 per year for three years full-time or £5,500 per year for six years part-time. Payments will be made towards tuition fees and any remaining funds will be paid as a stipend.

Up to 5 awards are available.

Fees: UK Home tuition fees only for 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.

Awards will cover UK Home tuition fees for three years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. For 2025/26 this is £5,006 full-time or £2,503 part-time.

Some research projects in the faculties of ECE and HSSCE require payment of additional bench fees. These are not included in the studentship and could cost up to £10,000 per year. For further details, students should consult the relevant supervisor.

To apply you must: 

• have (or expect to have) a postgraduate masters degree or a first/upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed research project. Equivalent professional experience may also be accepted.
• be intending to research an area that is covered by Kingston University research expertise.
• if you are not from an English-speaking country or have not studied at a UK university before, you must provide proof of Academic IELTS at a minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7 (or equivalent qualification). The requirement varies by subject, so please see our English Language Requirements for further details. Note that an English Language qualification is valid for two years only and so must be dated no earlier than 30 September 2024.

Please note that:

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All documents must be uploaded to the application, including evidence of English language qualifications, if applicable.
• Current doctoral students are not eligible to apply.
• Tuition fees will be paid at Home level only for 3 years. Overseas fee-paying students may apply but, if short-listed, will be required to provide evidence of how the remaining part of their fees will be paid.
• You should allow plenty of time to apply. Academic and administrative staff will be happy to help but are not able to answer queries outside the working week; some staff also work part time.

You will need to write a research proposal to support your Studentship application. For guidance on how to put together a research proposal, please visit the faculty pages.

• Kingston School of Art
• Business and Social Sciences
• Health, Science, Social Care and Education (Note that this faculty accepts applications for both specific pre-approved projects and projects devised by applicants themselves. See the Advertised Projects section below and the Faculty webpage for further details).
• Engineering, Computing and the Environment (Note that this faculty only accepts applications for specific pre-approved projects. (See the list of projects on the findaphd.com website. See the Advertised Projects section below and the Faculty webpage for further details).

You may want to discuss your research proposal with potential supervisors before you submit your application.

We have a Padlet of Research Degree application resources from outside Kingston University that may be useful.

Please explore our staff profiles to find information on University staff and their research interests.

Advertised projects

If you are applying to an advertised project in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment (see the list of projects on the findaphd.com website) or the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education (see the list of projects on the findaphd.com website), when you submit your online application please include a separate document stating the advertised project title and name of supervisor. You do not need to include the full project proposal.

You must write a Studentship Application Statement and submit it with your online application. The statement should cover the points listed below. Maximum 500 words. Note that you do not also need to include a personal statement, unless you wish to.

Please save your statement as 'KU Studentship Application Statement YOUR NAME' and attach it to your online application.

If you would like to apply for a Race Equality Studentship, or a KU Alumni Studentship, please note this clearly at the top of your statement.

In your Studentship Application Statement, please cover these points:

1. Why do you want to do a PhD?
   Signing up for a PhD is a big undertaking. We need to know that you understand the commitment required for research and have a passion for your subject.
2. Why Kingston University?
   What makes you keen to study with us at Kingston?
3. Why this subject area?
   What is it about the area you have chosen that inspires you?
4. What will be the impact of your research and who will be reading it?
   The impact of your research is how it will bring change to the wider society beyond academia (e.g. economy, society, culture, public policy, health, the environment and quality of life – both within the UK and overseas).
   Who are the wider audiences for your research, perhaps in professional practice, policy-making, popular culture?
   Who do you want to reach with your research?
   How might you do so?
5. Your academic and/or professional background
   How will your skills and expertise help you successfully complete your research project?
6. What personal qualities do you have that make you suited to PhD research?
   For example: resilience and tenacity.
7. Assessment of personal development needs
   A PhD is all about training to be a researcher. What knowledge and skills will you need to develop to conduct the proposed research?
   How can we support your personal development?

You should submit your application, research proposal and Studentship Application Statement online.

Please note: there are different application links for each faculty, so please make sure you use the correct apply link for October 2026 entry.

Make your application using our online portal.

Include with your application the following

• Your research proposal. If you are applying for an advertised project (see Step 1), please paste the title and link to the advertisement into a document and upload it under the Research Proposal document type.
• A KU Studentship Application Statement. Please follow our template and guidance outlined in Step 2. If you do not include this statement your application will not be considered for a studentship. Upload this at the end of the online application under the Personal Statement document type. You do not need to provide an additional personal statement but may do so if you wish.
• Copies of your transcripts and/or degree certificates, or partial transcripts if you have not yet completed the degree (you will be required to provide the originals for verification at a later date).
• English language qualification, if applicable (see above).
• CV, including publications (if relevant)
• As part of the online application, under the Finance heading, you will be asked to indicate how you will be paying your fees. Please select 'Sponsor' and write 'KU Studentship' in all relevant fields. Use the email address for your Faculty Research Student Coordinator as the contact address.
  • Kingston School of Art
  • Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
  • Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education

If you have already applied to Kingston University for October and wish to be considered for a studentship, please email the appropriate faculty listed below. Include your application reference number and attach your Studentship Application Statement. Please also complete the Equal Opportunities Form.

Kingston University is committed to ensuring that students are selected on the basis of merit. Completion of the Equal Opportunities Form will help us ensure our policies and procedures are effective in avoiding discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in awarding studentships.

Your answers will not affect your application in any way. The information will not be seen by your potential supervisors, your referees, or the reviewers assessing your application.

Complete the Equal Opportunities Form

References are not required with the application but will be required for shortlisted applicants and must be provided by the applicant before their interview. We cannot accept references or letters of recommendation with an application, they must be sent directly to us by the referee.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified and are responsible for ensuring references are submitted to the relevant faculty by 15 April 2025.

Referees should be asked to complete the Reference Form.

Who can provide a reference?

References should be from professional or academic contacts and cannot be from family members or friends. At least one reference should be from someone who knows you from your most recent academic qualification.

You may be invited to attend an interview as part of your Studentship application.

Applicants invited for interview will be informed as soon as possible after the closing date. If you have not heard from us by the end of April, your application has been unsuccessful.

Read our research degree interview guidance, which includes possible adjustments for candidates with disabilities.

We are offering 3 levels of funding. All awards are for 3 years full-time study or 6 years of part-time study.

Fully funded at the home fee rate

These cover tuition fees at home level only plus a maintenance stipend (subject to satisfactory progression). International fees paying candidates selected for interview would need to demonstrate that they can fund the difference in fees for each year of registration. It should be noted that tuition fees increase by a small amount for each year of study.

Partial studentships

These offer a £11,000 contribution towards tuition fees and/or stipends for 3 years for full-time students or a £5,500 contribution for 6 years for part-time students.

Tuition Fees only studentships

These awards will cover tuition fees at Home level for 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.

We estimate that we will be able to support up to 15 studentships across the University.

Applicants must submit an online application (which may be accessed from our 'how to apply for a research degree' webpage) with the following documentation by GMT midnight Wednesday 4 March 2026

• A research project proposal (applicants for the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment (ECE) and the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry in the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, see Q.4.)
• IELTS or equivalent English language qualification (if applicable - see Q.6)
• Academic transcripts and/or certificates (degree level onwards)
• Academic or relevant professional CV
• List of publications if relevant
• A Studentship Application Statement. This should be a brief statement in a document titled ‘KU Studentship application YOUR NAME’. The statement must follow the template on the website. If you do not include this statement we will not be aware that you are applying for a studentship and your application will not be considered. You do not need to include a personal statement as well, unless you wish to.

Note that references must be supplied if you are invited to interview.

Application email addresses for faculties

Kingston School of Art

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment

The Faculty of ECE only accepts applications for pre-written projects. These are listed on FindAPhD.com. You must include the project title and lead supervisor’s name with your application. Please see the Faculty webpage Research webpages for information about how to apply.

This faculty accepts applications for projects devised by the applicant and also applications for pre-approved projects. A list of pre-approved projects will be on their webpage by late January.

You must have a postgraduate masters degree or a first/upper second-class (2:1) honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to your proposed research programme. Find out more information on Kingston’s research degrees.

If you are not from an English-speaking country or have not studied at a UK university before you will need to provide proof of Internet-based IELTS at a minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7 (or equivalent qualification) with your application. It cannot be provided later. The qualification must be dated no earlier than December 2024. There are some variances in faculties – see our English Language Requirements.

No, but you can if you wish to.

There is subject-specific guidance on the faculty webpages:

• Kingston School of Art
• Business and Social Sciences
• Health, Science, Social Care and Education
  Note that this faculty accepts applications for both specific pre-approved projects and projects devised by applicants themselves. See the list of projects on the findaphd.com website.
• Engineering, Computing and the Environment
  Note that this faculty only accepts applications for specific pre-approved projects. See the list of projects on the findaphd.com website. See the Advertised Projects section and the faculty webpage for further details. As this faculty only accepts applications for pre-approved projects, applicants do not need to prepare their own proposals.

Please follow the application process listed in Question 3, above. When you upload your Kingston University Studentship Application Statement please write at the top ‘Race Equality Studentship application’. Note that these studentships are only open to Home fee paying students.

Please follow the application process listed in Question 3, above. When you upload your Kingston University Studentship Application Statement please write at the top ‘KU Alumni Studentship application’.

No, please email the relevant Faculty Research Student Coordinator with your KU Studentship Application Statement and request to be considered. Please include your application reference number.

Yes, you can apply again but you must submit a new application form.

You may include a separate list (maximum two sides of A4 paper)

No, you can only submit one application and one project proposal.

PhD candidates offered studentships must enrol in late September unless they are completing a taught Masters course in October/November. These students must enrol as soon as their result has been confirmed.

Yes, we can accept applications from students transferring from another university if you meet the Kingston entry criteria.

Yes, but any offer will be conditional upon you achieving the required grades in your current degree.

Yes, part-time applicants are welcome to apply.

You may apply but, if invited for interview, you will be required to provide evidence to prove that you have funding for the portion of the fee that is not covered by the studentship.

Yes, you are encouraged to discuss your application with your supervisor. Visit our staff profiles to find information on the University’s staff and their research interests.

We anticipate receiving a large number of applications and will not be able to respond to all unsuccessful applicants. Applicants invited for interview will be informed as soon as possible after the closing date. You should assume that your application has been unsuccessful if you have not heard from the University by 4 weeks after the closing date.

Please select institutional funding or self-funding. This is not binding and is not reviewed as part of your application.