Funded Doctoral Training Programmes

Research students at UCL are funded through a range of sources, including UKRI council-funded Doctoral Training Partnerships (DPTs), Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), and Wellcome Trust PhD programmes.

Find a unique opportunity

Doctoral training programmes give students the opportunity to apply to a range of funding opportunities, whether it is a pre-designed research project or combining their PhD research with developing skills in a world-class, multidisciplinary environment.

Funded doctoral training programmes can offer financial support with tuition fees, living and research costs. Follow the links to the centres or partnerships you are interested in below for more detailed information on specific programmes, their length, and the funding available.

Doctoral training programmes are open to UK and Overseas students; however, UKRI councils cap the number of overseas students that can be recruited. You should check individual programmes for their eligibility requirements.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

  • London Arts and Humanities Partnership (with King’s College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, Queen Mary University of London, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and School of Advanced Study)* 

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

  • London Interdisciplinary Consortium (with King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, Birkbeck, University of London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Royal Veterinary College)
  • UK Food Systems *(led by University of Greenwich)

Economics and Social Research Council

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

  • The London NERC Training Partnership (with King's College London, Birkbeck University of London, Brunel University of London, Institute of Zoology, King's College London, the Natural History Museum, Queen Mary University of London, and Royal Holloway University of London)