PhD Bursary 2025

Each year Queen Margaret University invites applications from individuals with a strong academic record for funded QMU PhD studentships.

We will start accepting applications for our 2025 Bursary's starting in September 2025 this January and the deadline for applying to the QMU bursary competition is 11:59 pm on Friday 14^th March 2025.

Please note that interviews will take place w/c 5^th May 2025 on the specified dates for each topic or Research Centre and will usually be conducted via MS Teams.

Externally funded opportunities may be available out with these timescales and will be advertised accordingly.

We welcome self-funded applications all year round.

Topics:

The QMU funded PhD studentships for September 2025 intake will be allocated to the advertised research topics found here.

What does the bursary cover:

Successful candidates commencing study in September 2025 will receive:

• A full waiver of tuition fees;
• An annual stipend of £19,237 lasting 3 years for full-time study; and
• A research budget of £2,000 to cover project expenses and travel.

Please note that topics fully or partially funded by external partners may have different conditions attached, and these will be specified within the documentation. 

Who can apply:

PhD studentships can only be awarded for candidates willing to undertake research in specific topics as determined by the University and or funding partners. No scholarships are available for other research projects.

To be eligible for a bursary, the following criteria must apply:

• The applicant meets the standard entry criteria for the QMU PhD Programme;
• The research proposal is in one of the topic areas specified;
• Applicants will be expected to study on a full-time basis, and the successful candidates must be willing to be resident within reach of Edinburgh (applications for distance-learning study will not be accepted); and
• Applicants must be willing to study for a full PhD, not an MPhil.

Successful candidates are likely to have a good qualification in the relevant topic: either a first class Honours degree or a Masters.

Dedication, enthusiasm and strong communication skills in both written and spoken English are essential. A valid IELTS certificate is required if English is not your first language and you have not completed a Masters degree from a UK institution or international institution where the course was delivered and assessed in English, within the last five years.

Applicants may come from the UK or any other country. Where applicable, international applicants must be able to meet the UKVI requirements to be granted a Student visa.

How to apply:

Full information on the application process for the PhD Bursary Competition and self-funded applications can be found on the QMU website.

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