Edinburgh Doctoral College and Business School Scholarships

In order to attract the best and brightest PhD students, the University seeks to offer not only unparalleled research facilities and superb supervision, but also to provide development opportunities which will support our research students as they progress beyond their PhD through an exciting scholarship scheme.

This scholarship is awarded in collaboration between the University's Doctoral College and the Business School.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Programme: All candidates must hold a conditional or unconditional offer onto one of our Doctoral programmes and expect to join in September 2025. While you can be awaiting an application outcome when applying for this scholarship only those with an offer can be considered. Therefore, please ensure all necessary documents have been uploaded to your programme application at least 10 working days before the scholarship deadline.
2. Academic Standing: This normally requires a minimum qualification (or expected qualification if you are a current Masters student) of above-average academic achievement, typically 65% or above overall at the Masters level, with a distinction-level dissertation, or the overseas equivalent. For PhD Financial Technology, this requires a Masters with a distinction classification or the overseas equivalent. For applicants to our PhD with Integrated Study programmes, applicants who do not hold a Masters can be considered if they have a First at Undergraduate level, or the international equivalent, with a mark of 70 or more in the dissertation module.
3. English Competency: You must meet the English requirements for the PhD Programme. The most commonly approved certificate is an IELTS, for which the minimum accepted score is 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each section.

Please note that we will not generally consider candidates who have already obtained a PhD or equivalent qualification.

Other factors such as financial status and nationality are not taken into account. We aim to attract the greatest diversity of applications to this scheme and will ensure that recruitment processes are robust and unbiased so that traditionally underrepresented groups, including those from a minority background, and those from the most deprived communities in Scotland and the rest of the world are treated fairly.

Value

Full tuition fees (UK or Overseas level) with an annual stipend equal to the UKRI minimum rate for the relevant academic year of study.

Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarship is offered for 3 and a half years for those enrolled on one of our 3 year PhD programmes, or for 4 years for those enrolled on one of our 4-year Integrated PhD programmes (or pro-rata for part time).

How to apply

To be considered, candidates must submit both a programme application and a scholarship application using the University's Online Application System. You will only be able to access the scholarship application after you have applied to your chosen programme.

It is recommended that the programme application be submitted at least 10 working days before the scholarship application.

• Programme Application Guidance
• Scholarship Application and Guidance

We strongly encourage applicants to reach out directly to potential advisors at the Business School by email to discuss the opportunity of doing a PhD under their supervision. Applicants should take care to ensure the academic staff they reach out to have similar research interests. To do this, candidates should browse staff profiles.

Selection Process

Eligible applicants will be ranked initially by a selection panel comprising of senior academic colleagues within the Business School broadly within the applicant’s discipline. The top ranked candidates will then be invited to an interview with the Business School PGR Programme Director and senior Business School research colleagues. The interview will focus on motivation, research experience and contribution of the research.

Applications are ranked considering a number of criteria, most importantly:

• The academic background of the candidates, including their achievements/research experience so far
• The potential of the candidates' doctoral research proposal (e.g., novelty, contribution)
• A whole person approach – preparedness and potential to:
  • undertake and complete a PhD
  • flourish with funding
  • contribute to a positive/diverse PhD community

Scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission and joining the PhD with Integrated Study in Management, PhD with Integrated Study in Accounting, PhD with Integrated Study in Finance, PhD Business Economics, PhD Management Science & Analytics, or Financial Technology in September 2025.

Award Announcement Date

Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application in late spring 2025.

Please be aware that we also hold a reserve list. In the event that a successful candidate later declines their award, the award will be offered to the top candidate on the reserve list. Candidates will be notified if they are listed as a reserve candidate.

Contact

PhD Admissions
phd@business-school.ed.ac.uk

University of Edinburgh Business School
29 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh
EH8 9JS