Postgraduate research funding

The School of Social Sciences receives money from a range of sources to help our postgraduate researchers fund their studies.

The School's postgraduate community is one of the largest, most diverse and most dynamic for social sciences in the UK, and is committed to supporting the best qualified applicants financially. The School has access to a range of studentships and scholarships from a range of sources to help you fund your programme.

In 2017, the School funded 30 new PhD students and a further 21 students were successfully awarded a research council PhD award.  Both awards were for the duration of the programme.

Funding your programme will be a crucial factor in your decision to apply for a postgraduate research degree, so the earlier you consider your funding options, the better. 

Search for funding opportunities

Choose your country and programme of study to search our postgraduate research funding opportunities database.  Alternatively, you can view funding opportunities for all of our School's programmes.

There are also other funding opportunities advertised via the Faculty of Humanities.

Please pay special attention to the deadlines for each programme as they do vary.

PhD Student Loan

The Government has now published information on the 2018/2019 PhD student loans.  Further information and guidelines on eligibility are on the University's main funding page and also on GOV.UK.

• Borrow up to £25,000 for the whole course.
• Loan is paid directly to students and can be used for tuition fees and living costs.
• Loan is divided equally across each year of the course in three installments.

Already have a programme offer for 2018?

If you already have a confirmed PhD programme offer for 2018 you will automatically be considered for any relevant funding.

Please email vicky.barnes@manchester.ac.uk if you have any queries.