Understanding funding
As an aspiring postgraduate researcher, you’ll have access to a range of funding options. Where you secure your funding from may vary based on your situation, and you may be eligible for awards, studentships and scholarships that you weren’t aware of.
Whatever your options, we’ll guide you through the process of finding your research passion and understanding how it will be funded.
Types of funding
Funding your postgraduate research degree can be challenging if you’re new to the process. Unlike undergraduate or postgraduate taught degrees, funding for a postgraduate research opportunity can come from a number of different sources, and you need to decide the best option for you.
A good place to start is understanding the different types of funding available to you. Primarily, your funding opportunities will fall into one of the following broad categories:
The University offers a variety of directly funded projects for postgraduate research students. These projects are often sponsored by industry partners and come with funding attached. With a funded project, when you are accepted onto the project, you simultaneously secure the funding that comes with it.
Each directly funded project comes with its own eligibility requirements for the funding available, so it’s always best to check the details of each project before you apply.
If you are applying for a project that isn't directly funded, The University of Manchester offers funding through scholarships both at University and Faculty level.
We offer three key scholarships: President's Doctoral Scholarship, School of Engineering Scholarship and School of Natural Sciences Scholarship. You can apply for an advertised project which will be considered under each of these scholarships for funding. If successful, the scholarship will cover tuition fees, stipend at the UKRI rate and research costs for the duration of your programme.
We also offer additional scholarships for applicants from different backgrounds, including our Faculty of Science and Engineering Black Heritage Scholarship and our Africa Futures Doctoral Scholar Awards.
Please check the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for each scholarship before you apply. You can also discuss different scholarship options with your supervisor.
You may be able to secure alternative funding from external sources such as industry, charitable organisations or government sponsored projects.
Equally, you might consider self-funding your degree. If you are considering this option, you should familiarise yourself with the tuition fee costs of a postgraduate research degree. You will also need to consider how will you cover your living costs for the duration of your degree.
UK students, or those who meet UK residency requirements, are also eligible to apply for a postgraduate doctoral loan from the UK government.
If you’re self-funded or government-funded, it is recommended to provide proof of funds or a letter from your sponsor when you apply.
Different funding categories
It’s best to understand what each source of funding is offering before you start applying, and while not every funding opportunity will fit perfectly, it can be helpful to think of funding as being separated into three different categories.
Fully funded opportunities cover a student’s tuition fees. Their living costs are also covered in the form of a tax-free, doctoral stipend.*
Fully funded opportunities are very competitive and often come with a number of eligibility requirements. As such, it is recommended that you check the details of each funding opportunity before you apply.
*For those receiving a doctoral stipend, this has been set at £21,805 from October 2026 by UK Research and Innovation.
The University of Manchester does not generally offer partial funding opportunities. However, the following may be of use when exploring external funding streams.Partially funded opportunities usually offer to contribute towards tuition fees or living expenses (but not both). Those who secure partial funding sometimes choose to combine it with further funding from different sources to make up the difference, while others opt to work alongside their study.
While not as lucrative as fully funded initiatives, partially funded opportunities are still quite competitive and often come with a number of eligibility requirements. As with all funding opportunities, it is best to discuss them with your supervisor and check the details of each opportunity before applying.
Some postgraduate research projects may accept self-funding researchers, and you may be able to propose your own research project as a self-funded applicant. As a self-funded student, you would be expected to fund your project from your own finances, or via an external sponsor. This often requires using your savings, earnings or a student doctoral loan. You could also secure private, external funding from an individual or organisation willing to cover your fees.
It is a good idea to discuss self-funding with your supervisor before applying as they may be aware of further funding opportunities that you can apply for.