PhD Studentships for October 2020 start

The studentship competition has now closed. 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 within four weeks from the closing date.

** Competition now closed **

Kingston University has established an international reputation for high quality, innovative research. Our research degree students are a core part of this.

We are again seeking to make substantial investment in a variety of new PhD studentships for awards beginning in late September 2020. These include targeted awards for Black and Minority Ethnic students and for Kingston alumni.

We are looking for students with expertise that matches our areas of research excellence. Application for these highly competitive research studentships is now open.

Deadline: midnight Sunday 15 March 2020. 

More information on the research areas can be found by following the faculty links below:

• Kingston School of Art
• Business and Social Sciences
• Science, Engineering and Computing
• Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education

Learn more details about the University's research.

Funding available

See below for the three different levels of funding available for new students. Some of these awards have been set aside for KU alumni and BME applicants.

• Applications for part time study will also be considered.
• Expected start date for all studentships: Late September 2020.

For overseas fee paying candidates: these awards will cover Home/EU fees only.  If you are selected for interview you will need to demonstrate that you can fund the difference in fees for each year of your registration. This is currently £10,173 for the academic year 2019/20 and it should be noted that tuition fees increase slightly each year.

Fully funded studentships

Up to 10 awards are available.

• Fees: UK/EU tuition fees only for 3 years full time. For 2019/20 this is £4,327.
• Stipend: 3 years full time.

The doctoral stipend for 2019/20 is £17,009 per year (three years full-time); levels are likely to rise slightly for the following years but have not yet been confirmed. Applications for part time study will also be considered.

Partial studentships

Up to 11 awards are available, providing £7,000 per year for three years full time or 3,500 per year for six year part time.

• A contribution will be made towards tuition fees and/or stipends.
• Applications for part time study will also be considered.

Tuition Fees only studentships

Up to 8 awards are available.

• Fees: UK/EU tuition fees only for 3 years full time. For 2019/20 this is £4,327. For part time students this would be £2,164 per year for 6 years.
• Awards will cover Home/EU tuition fees for three years of full time study. Applications for part time study will also be considered. 

Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Studentships (Home/EU students only)

We encourage applications from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students and have set aside a number of the studentships listed above for BME applicants.  In addition to the funding there will be a programme of support and mentoring available to you.  Note that these awards are open to Home/EU fee paying students only. 

Please note 'BME Studentship application' on your statement of application.

More information on Kingston's approach to reducing the BME attainment gap is available on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion  webpage.

Kingston alumni studentship

At least one of the fully funded PhD studentships listed above will be awarded to a Kingston undergraduate or masters student. Please note 'KU Alumni application' on your statement of application.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• have a postgraduate Master's degree or a first/upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed research project.
• be intending to research in 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 Internet-based IELTS at a minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7 (or equivalent qualification). The requirement varies by subject so please contact the relevant faculty for further details. See our international pages for details of alternative English language qualifications.

Please note that:

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Current doctoral students are not eligible to apply.
• Tuition fees will be paid at Home/EU level only for 3-years. Overseas fee paying students may apply but, if short-listed, will be required to provide evidence as to how the remaining part of their fees will be paid.

How to apply

Deadline: midnight Sunday 15 March 2020, midnight. 

Complete the following steps:

1. See your faculty webpage for guidance on how to put together a research proposal.

Kingston School of Art

Business and Social Sciences

Health, Social Care and Education

Science, Engineering and Computing (note this faculty only accepts applications for advertised projects. The projects available for the studentships will be advertised at the end of January 2020).

2. Complete an online application including:

• A project proposal

Guidance on writing project proposals is available on the faculty webpages listed above.

If you are applying to a particular project that has been advertised please include the advertised project description, title, and name of supervisor.  Note that the SEC faculty only accept applications to advertised projects - you should upload a copy of the relevant project description from the webpage in place of a project proposal.

• 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).
• A KU Studentship statement of application. This should be a brief statement in a document titled 'GRS Studentship application YOUR NAME'. The statement should cover why you wish to apply to Kingston and should be no more than 200 words long. If you do not include this statement we will not be aware that you are applying for a studentship.
• Equal Opportunities form. Please note this form will not be reviewed as part of your application.

Applicants are recommended to discuss their research proposal with potential supervisors before submitting an application - please visit our staff pages where you can find information on the University's staff and their research interests.

If you have already applied to Kingston and wish to be considered for a studentship please email the appropriate faculty listed below with your application reference number and attach your Studentship statement of application. Please also complete the Equal Opportunities form.

References

References are not required with the application, but will be required for shortlisted applicants and must be provided by the applicant before their interview. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that these are submitted to the relevant Faculty.  Shortlisted applicants will be notified and must ensure references are submitted to the relevant Faculty by midnight Thursday 9 April 2020.  Referees should be asked to complete the Reference Form. Note that 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.

Closing date

Complete applications must be received by GMT midnight Sunday 15 March 2020.

Interviews

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.

Need more information?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions.

Read about our past and current research students and their research projects:

• Research student case studies
• Current research student profiles

For more information about research degree programmes at Kingston University.

For faculty specific enquiries please contact the relevant Research Student Co-ordinator listed below.