PhD Funding

Applications from both UK and non-UK students for a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are permitted. The STFC studentship will cover your fee and stipend plus a Research Training Support Grant towards fieldwork and travel to conferences of £1,200 per annum for the 3.5 years of your research degree study. The number of STFC studentships available for non-UK students is limited, but  additional support from UCL's International Scholar Award for Doctoral Training (ISAD) will fully cover both the overseas fees and stipend.  However, financial support is not available for visa costs or travel to the UK.

The closing date for applications is 19th January 2026.  After we receive your application, we will assess whether to invite you for an interview. Our selection criteria are academic performance, research potential and motivation for the relevant research project. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to visit MSSL for an interview or we can arrange a remote interview if you are unable to visit the department. Interviews will take place in the week of 23rd - 27th February 2026. You will also have the opportunity to talk to your prospective supervisor(s) and the PhD students in the research group you have applied to. The studentships are for the advertised projects only. Please look at the STFC PhD project page. In your application, please specify which project(s) you wish to apply for. You can choose multiple projects, but please clearly list them with the motivation for each project.

The MSSL Research Opportunity Scholarship (MSSL ROS) is made available for a research student who wish to study for their PhD degree at MSSL and who is from groups that are currently under-represented in space science or astronomy. The definition of under-represented groups in physics refers to: women, students of Black-Caribbean,  Black-African and other minority ethnic (BAME) heritage, students with disabilities, or who require additional funding to support inclusive learning, LGBT+ students. People with qualifying refugee status who meet the above criteria are also encouraged to apply. This scholarship is for a UK-permanent resident only. 

The scholarship's aim is aligned with the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship. The awardee will be asked to apply for Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship with us and we will fully support your application.   Irrespective of the outcome of the BBGS application, the awardee of the MSSL ROS will receive funding for 3.5 years.

The closing date for applications is 28th November 2025.  Please submit your UCL application by this date.  In addition, please submit a pdf file covering the following points to Philippa Elwell (p.elwell AT ucl.ac.uk) by the same date:

• Title of your proposed research project
• Name of your prospective supervisor(s)
• A lay summary of the proposed project
• Your background (about 300 words)
  This could highlight any barriers or challenges encountered previously or anticipated during the proposed research project.
• A personal statement (about 700 words)
  Please describe: (a) your reasons for wanting to study for a PhD; (b) how you meet the MSSL ROS eligibility criteria clearly stating which under-represented group you identify as; (c) how you propose to gain benefit from the scholarship.

We know making an application is a daunting process. However, if you wish to apply for this scholarship to undertake your PhD degree at MSSL, we are very happy to support you. Please first contact your prospective supervisor(s) and discuss a potential project. You can find the list of academic staff here. They will then be able to help you with preparing your application.

Interviews will take place on 15th December 2025 and the successful candidate will then be supported by their prospective supervisor to submit their Bell Burnell scholarship application in January 2026.

UCL's Research Excellence Scholarship (RES) covers the full tuition fees (home or overseas), a cost of living allowance at a similar rate to the STFC studentships and research costs of £1,200 per annum for 3 years. Competition for this scholarship is very high. We advise only students with a top level academic record to apply.

Please note that RES awards are allocated across UCL by the Graduate School Selection Panel. While individual departments are invited to submit a shortlist of candidates, we have no formal role in the allocation of awards. The RES requires the support of your prospective supervisor at MSSL. Before you apply, please contact your prospective supervisor(s) and make sure that you have agreed a project proposal with them. You can find the list of academic staff here. 

If you apply to our department to be nominated for this scholarship, please submit your scholarship application (a single pdf file, including Research Scholarship cover sheet, CV, a lay summary and arrange two references using the requested form) via email to Philippa Elwell (p.elwell AT ucl.ac.uk) by 9th January 2026. In addition, you must submit a UCL admission application. Please see this page for more information. If you are shortlisted for our nomination, you will be invited for an interview. Our interviews will take place on 20th January 2026.

UCL's Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS) covers the full tuition fees (home or overseas), a cost of living allowance at a similar rate to the STFC studentships and research costs of £1,200 per annum for 3 years. The aim of this scholarship is to address under-representation of Black, Asian and ethnic minority postgraduate research degree students and help improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the postgraduate research student body.

Please note that UCL ROS awards are allocated across UCL by the Graduate School Selection Panel. While individual departments are invited to nominate a candidate, we have no formal role in the allocation of awards. The UCL ROS requires the support of your prospective supervisor at MSSL. Before you apply, please contact your prospective supervisor(s) and make sure that you have agreed a project proposal with them. You can find the list of academic staff here. 

If you apply to our department to be nominated for this scholarship, please submit your UCL-ROS cover sheet via email to Philippa Elwell (p.elwell AT ucl.ac.uk) by 9th January 2026. In addition, you must submit a UCL admission application. Please see this page for more information. If you are shortlisted for our nomination, you will be invited for an interview. Our interviews will take place on 20th January 2026.

We welcome applications from students who have their own funding.  We accept applications from self-funding students at any time. After we receive your application, you may be invited for a remote interview on an individual basis. Please note that students are still required to meet the academic entry requirements in this case. We strongly encourage applicants to contact their prospective supervisor and discuss the proposed PhD project prior to their application. You can find the list of academic staff here.