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Current stipends and fees for UCL-hosted studentships.
Current stipends and fees
2025/26
Stipend rates at UCL are typically based on the UKRI minimum, with projections beyond 2025/26 subject to change. UKRI updates these rates annually, usually publishing them in Term 2 of the prior academic year. While the rates below reflect the expected minimum, significant changes are possible as UKRI’s 'New Deal for Postgraduate Research' review is ongoing.
The maximum stipend is generally aligned with Wellcome rates, which are set for the duration of a student’s training.
Wellcome stipend rates
- Year 1: £27,556
- Year 2: £28,212
- Year 3: £28,868
- Year 4: £29,525
3-year award
| Type | 2025/26 | 2026/27* | 2027/28* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum student stipend | £22,780 | £23,466 | £24,174 | £70,420 |
| Typical tuition fees** | £6,215 | £6,400 | £6,590 | £19,205 |
| Total | £28,995 | £29,866 | £30,764 | £89,625 |
3.5-year award
| Type | 2025/26 | 2026/27* | 2027/28* | 2028/29* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum student stipend | £22,780 | £23,466 | £24,174 | £12.453 | £82,873 |
| Typical tuition fees** | £6,215 | £6,400 | £6,590 | £3,395 | £22,600 |
| Total | £28,995 | £29,866 | £30,764 | £15,848 | £105,473 |
4-year award
| Type | 2025/26 | 2026/27* | 2027/28* | 2028/29* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum student stipend | £22,780 | £23,466 | £24,174 | £24,906 | £95,326 |
| Typical tuition fees** | £6,215 | £6,400 | £6,590 | £6,790 | £25,995 |
| Total | £28,995 | £29,866 | £30,764 | £31,696 | £121,321 |
* Estimated values, confirmed annually, usually in spring by UKRI and UCL.
** This is the typical tuition fee rate for the majority of UCL programmes. Please check the exact fee rate for your programme.
Notes
- The UKRI indicative fee rate for 2025/2026 is £5,006. This may affect what you can charge to your grant.
- All stipend payments and fee recovery should be made through the Portico Financial Management module (Form S).
- Some funders allow for enhanced stipends above the rates shown. You should check with the funding award documentation when making the offer to the student. Any enhancement offered to the student needs to be made throughout the studentship. The maximum stipend allowed at UCL is as stated above (Wellcome levels).
- You should also budget for ‘other costs’ related to the student training, e.g., conferences, fieldwork, training courses, and project/consumables costs. The level will vary depending on the project's needs.
- You should always review all awards pertaining to a specific studentship (industrial case and partner top-ups, department core accounts) to ascertain the funding available to meet the costs, including enhanced stipends, ensuring that you charge the costs to the most appropriate funder account code in accordance with the terms and conditions or contractual agreements.