Funding your postgraduate research
It’s important to understand the different ways you can fund your postgraduate research when considering projects and programmes.
Whether you’ve already found a project you’re interested in, or you’re just considering postgraduate research, it's helpful to understand what postgraduate research funding really is and the difference between each of your available options.
Postgraduate research funding
There are several fees and costs associated with undertaking postgraduate research.
These include tuition fees and research costs, living costs as well as relocation and visa costs for international applicants.
Postgraduate research funding typically refers to studentships and scholarships which are fully funded, non-repayable and tax free. Typically, funding for your postgraduate research will cover your tuition fees, research costs and living costs.
There are only a certain number of fully funded opportunities available in the Faculty and, as a result, funding is in high demand.
Some candidates may apply for self-funded project and then seek a scholarship or sponsorship, fund the project themselves or take out a postgraduate loan to fund their research.
Types of funding
A summary of the different types of project funding.
Postgraduate research projects and programmes are usually listed as either fully funded, self-funded or competition-funded.
Fully or directly funded projects are the most sought-after types of postgraduate research funding.
They are funded by either the University, a research council or industry partner, for example, the Medical Research Council or Cancer Research UK.
When applying for a fully or directly funded project you apply for both project and funding together as one application. This funding will typically cover the following costs for the duration of the project:
- Tuition fees and research costs: paid directly to the University;
- Living costs: paid to you each month as part of an annual tax-free stipend.
Studentships and other fully funded programmes usually also include additional benefits such as funding for training and conferences, and placement opportunities.
Fully funded projects and programmes can be limited to UK applicants or have other requirements, so it’s worth checking the specific studentship eligibility criteria before you apply.
Competition-funded projects are one of the most common types of funding in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.
This is a term used for some of our larger funded programmes, where more projects are advertised than there are studentships available within the programme.
For example, for a Doctoral Training Programme there may be 10 projects advertised but only five studentships available within the programme.
Ultimately, this means you're not only competing with other applicants for the specific project you're interested in but also with other projects that are being advertised within the programme.
This ensures we are able to attract a wide range of candidates from all research areas and ensure the best applicants are successful.
As a result, competition for these projects is high and is usually decided after panel interviews.
Self-funded projects do not include any funding. You're expected to either secure a source of funding yourself, finance your own postgraduate research or take out a postgraduate loan.
A wide range of self-funded projects are advertised on our projects page and this will help to give you a feel for the type of research available
Your project supervisor may be able to provide guidance and help you find suitable funding opportunities through:
- The University of Manchester – by nominating you for any scholarships you’re eligible for;
- Charities;
- Research councils;
- Industry;
- Government.
Studentships vs Scholarships
Studentships
If you apply for fully funded projects or programmes, you will usually be applying for a studentship which includes both the project and funding.
This means that you will go through a single application and interview process for the programme.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to support candidates applying for self-funded projects and are usually available to applicants from specific countries or backgrounds.
Once you apply for a self-funded project, your supervisor may then nominate you for a scholarship and you’ll have to go through a separate interview and selection process for the scholarship.
If you’re unsuccessful, your place on the project is still secure. However, you’ll need to find another funding opportunity or self-fund your project.
Understanding postgraduate research funding
Catch-up on our webinar and our panel will take you through everything related to postgraduate research funding, including what funding is available, what funding covers, and more.