Funding

Many applicants try to obtain a source of funding to help with the course fees and living costs while studying.  Information about such funding is below.  Please be aware that there is extremely high competition for scholarship/studentship funding.

Self-funding and Loans

Applicants planning to study full-time and self-fund should have sufficient funds to support themselves for a minimum of three years.  Some students work part-time and study part-time to enable them to self-fund and/or gain some funding from their employer.

You can apply for a Doctoral Loan from the UK Government.

Scholarships/Studentships

Open to Home (UK) and International students - check the eligibility criteria on the websites.  Please note: Applicants should be aware that in most funding applications the supervisor has to fill out part of the application.  You cannot progress with a funding application without first finding a supervisor.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentships

The ESRC has studentships available on a '+3' or a '1+3' basis. The '+3' studentships are for candidates who already have or expect to obtain an appropriate Master's degree, and provide funding for the three years of the MPhil/PhD programme. The '1+3' studentships provide funding for certain of the MSc programmes, in addition to the three-year MPhil/PhD programme.  Applicants also need to meet the relevant residency requirements.  ESRC funding at UCL is co-ordinated by the UCL, Bloomsbury & East London Doctoral Training Partnership.

UCL Scholarships

UCL awards a small number of Doctoral School Research Scholarships on a competitive basis.  Applicants who have been offered a place on the Language and Cognition MPhil/PhD programme can be nominated by the Department for these awards.

Demonstratorships

Demonstratorships in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences are an additional source of funding open to Home students.  These are four year awards and include a stipend and tuition fees in return for teaching or demonstrating for 180 hours per year.  The availability of demonstratorships is announced in the Autumn and the number can vary across years.  Applicants who have been offered a place on the Language and Cognition MPhil/PhD programme can be nominated by the Department for these awards.

NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowships

Applicants who work in the NHS are eligible to apply for the NIHR Research Fellowship.  More information about this can be found in the Allied Health Professionals tab below.

Further funding opportunities for International students

International students are recommended to also explore other sources of funding such as from their own Government or Employer Schemes, and also from e.g. British Council, Commonwealth, Wellcome Trust, WHO and NATO Scholarships.  It is important to make early enquiries about these independent schemes (up to a year in advance).