Graduate Research Degrees

UCL offers two research graduate degrees in Philosophy: the MPhil Stud and the PhD.

The Philosophy MPhil Stud is a two-year (full-time) course. Students complete coursework across a range of areas, and produce a substantial research thesis, preparing them for PhD-level research.

The Philosophy PhD is a three-year (full-time) course. Most of our PhD students have completed our MPhil Stud, but it is possible to enrol on this course if you have obtained a similar qualification elsewhere.

The links, above, provide information about the courses, funding opportunities, and the application process.

Funding Opportunities

We are delighted to announce several sources of funding (assuming candidates of suitable quality). Some of these require separate applications, so please read the following information carefully:

  • Value: full fees; maintenance stipend
  • Available to: prospective students based on academic merit
  • Eligible fee status: UK
  • Eligible courses: PhD Philosophy
  • Deadline: 9th January 2026

UCL Philosophy is pleased to announce at least one Keeling scholarship for a PhD in any area of philosophy, beginning in September 2026.

The scholarship lasts for three years. It will fund UK tuition fees and provide a maintenance stipend (equivalent to the AHRC stipend, plus London allowance).

No separate application for this scholarship is necessary; all successful applicants to UCL's PhD in Philosophy will be considered automatically, provided they apply by 9th January 2026.

  • Value: full fees; maintenance stipend
  • Available to: prospective students based on academic merit
  • Eligible fee status: UK
  • Eligible Courses: PhD Philosophy
  • Deadline: 9th January 2026

UCL Philosophy is pleased to announce at least one Keeling scholarship for a PhD specializing in ancient philosophy, beginning in September 2026.

The scholarship lasts for three years. It will fund UK tuition fees and provide a maintenance stipend (equivalent to the AHRC stipend, plus London allowance).

Applicants wishing to apply for this Keeling Scholarship in Ancient Philosophy should indicate this on their UCL application form in the section 'Funding', and must apply by 9th January 2026.

  • Value: full fees; maintenance stipend
  • Available to: prospective students based on academic merit
  • Eligible fee status: UK
  • Eligible course: MPhil Stud Philosophy
  • Deadline: 9th January 2026

UCL Philosophy is pleased to announce one Keeling scholarship for an MPhil Stud specializing in ancient philosophy, beginning in September 2026. The recipient of this scholarship will be required to specialise to some extent in ancient philosophy over the two year programme, by completing at least two half-year modules in the area of ancient philosophy, attending the weekly ancient philosophy reading group, and by writing their research thesis (25,000–30,000 words) on a topic in ancient philosophy. Other taught modules can be taken in any area of philosophy, as well as in the relevant ancient language as required.

The scholarship lasts for two years. It will fund UK tuition fees and provide a maintenance stipend (equivalent to the AHRC stipend, plus London allowance).

Applicants wishing to apply for this Keeling Scholarship in Ancient Philosophy should indicate this on their UCL application form in the 'Funding' section, and must apply by 9th January 2026.

  • Value: full fees (Home/Overseas); maintenance stipend; research allowance
  • Available to: prospective and current students, based on academic merit
  • Eligible fee status: UK, Overseas
  • Eligible courses: PhD Philosophy or MPhil Stud Philosophy
  • Deadline: 9th January 2026 (TBC)

UCL will offer fully-funded UCL Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) to exceptional applicants from any country.

This requires a separate application. For more details, please visit the UCL RES site.

The Philosophy Department also has a limited number of small scholarships, to be taken towards fees or as a stipend, as follows:

  • A.J. Ayer Award: ~£2,000
  • Ayer–Sumitomo Award: ~£800
  • Dawes–Hicks Award: ~£5,000
  • Jacobsen Scholarship: ~£9,500
  • G. Melhuish Award: ~£3,700
  • J.S. Mill Award: ~£1,400
  • Downing Scholarship: ~£250

There is no separate application procedure for these scholarships; all successful applicants to any UCL Philosophy Research courses (i.e. MPhil Stud or PhD) will be automatically considered for them, on the basis of academic merit.

Quirk PhD Scholarship: The Quirk PhD Scholarships support students in financial need to conduct research leading to a PhD in the fields of language and literature within the Arts & Humanities.  
Website information page with application details

Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarship: The Wolfson Foundation is offering three postgraduate research awards in the humanities for Arts and Humanities in 2026/27. These will be for three areas in history, literature and languages.
Website information page with application details

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards: The UCL EPSRC Landscape Award (UELA) 2026/27 will offer five fully funded studentships for Arts & Humanities projects.
Website information page with application details

For other possible sources of funding, you can use the UCL scholarship finder on the main UCL funding pages.

Advice on writing samples

Applicants for either the MPhil Stud or the PhD must submit two writing samples of around 2000 words each (excluding bibliography). These are a crucial part of our admissions process.

  • We ask for two pieces, as we do not want to make the decision on seeing only one piece of work.
  • We set a short word-limit, because we have so many applications. If you send in longer pieces, we cannot guarantee they will be read in their entirety. Longer pieces with highlighted sections can be submitted, but do be aware that is not always possible to get a feel for an argument from an isolated section. 

Remember: you are in competition with many other applicants; it is worth taking some time to work on pieces that fulfil the requirements.