Postgraduate researcher funding and finance

If you are a UK national starting a doctoral degree you may be able to apply for a postgraduate doctoral loan.  

The loan is a contribution towards your study costs like course fees and living costs. It might not cover all tuition and living costs. 

For information about scholarships across our schools and subject areas, search the funding section of our research opportunities directory.

As a PGR, you may be able to access awards from trusts, charities and foundations.  

Award amounts vary widely. In some cases you may be able to get a few hundred pounds a year. Some awards may only cover research expenses like travel and field work. 

Prospects provides information and guidance about finding UK funding for postgraduate study from: 

• public funding bodies
• charities
• trusts
• and foundations.

The government also publishes useful postgraduate funding advice.

The Leeds University Union postgraduate hub is another resource to check. 

You can also use reference books such as the Grants Register and the Directory of Grant-Making Trusts to look for funds to apply to. These books are available from the University Library. 

The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is a database of funding opportunities from charities and alternative sources.

Sign up to the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Research Funding Gateway using your University of Leeds email address.

Prospective students can email the Reasearch Admissions team at rp_applications@adm.leeds.ac.uk for the pin number to access the guide.

The Student Ideas Fund is a collaboration between the University, Leeds University Union and students.  

Funding awards of £500 up to £5000 are available to help bring your idea for improving the University and student experience to life. 
 

The BFWG promotes women's opportunities in education and public life. If you are a woman formally studying towards a PHD degree, you may be able to get a British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG) scholarship in your final year.  

Performance sport offers two sports scholarship programmes to support elite athletes so you can combine academic and sporting excellence during your time at the University. 

As a taught or research postgraduate student you may be eligible to apply for a scholarship.  

Postgraduate students at Leeds get around £10 million of funding from the University and externally.  

You may be able to access a scholarship, whether you are an: 

• international 
• UK or 
• EU student.  

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Research Councils fund a high number of studentships. 

You can also find scholarships available from individual schools/faculty. For more information, see postgraduate research opportunities.

If you are a full or part-time postgraduate researcher facing financial difficulties you, may be eligible for the University Cost of living bursary.  

The bursary is a non-repayable time-limited grant for postgraduate researchers (PGR). There is fixed funding for the bursary so you should apply as early as possible. The one-off payments are for a maximum of £250.  

The bursary aims to ease challenges of the cost of living increases in the uk.  

You can apply if you are a:  

• part-time PGR 
• full time PGR 
• UK PGR 
• international PGR

The bursary was originally for the 2023-24 academic year. But there are remaining funds to allocate during 2024-25.  

Once the funds are spent, the bursary will close. We may not be able to provide advance notice of this closure. 

Eligibility 

You need to meet the application criteria at the time you apply. If you are not eligible right now but are likely to be in the near future, you’ll need to apply then. 

To be eligible for the PGR Cost of living Bursary, you must: 

• not have received a previous payment through this scheme 
• be registered as a PGR, you are not eligible to apply once you appear on a pass list 
• have a UK bank account 
• be self funding, unfunded in your overtime period, or 
• be a funded PGR who receives a maintenance stipend less than the UKRI minimum award. 

We may require evidence of your current funding arrangements. After submission, you should hear about the outcome of your application after 2-4 weeks.  

How to apply  

We aim to make the application process user-friendly and non-invasive.  If you are a PGR facing genuine financial difficulties we strongly encourage you to apply.  

Complete the Cost of living bursary application form to apply.

The form asks you to provide an explanation of your financial shortfall or need.   

The application form includes some questions about other forms of support you may have.  

Your response to these questions is optional. We do not consider this information as part of the assessment of your application.  

These questions aim to help us better understand the financial support and advice systems our PGRs currently use.  

Our goal is to identify common barriers to accessing certain types of funding. The aim is to help us evaluate and enhance our University support and funding schemes. 

Get help  

You need to use your University of Leeds email address for any questions or queries about the Cost of Living Bursary. Email the Doctoral College via doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk. 

Appeals 

The Dean of the Doctoral College or their nominee reviews appeals.

 If you wish to appeal a decision, you should contact the Doctoral College within 15 working days of receipt of your outcome. 
 

If you are a PGR in financial need, we strongly encourage you to explore eligibility for the University Financial Assistance Fund (FAF).  

You can submit applications to both the PGR Cost of living bursary and FAF at the same time. 

The Financial Assistance Fund is: 

• is means-tested 
• factors in all available funding 
• can offer more substantial support.