University of Reading PhD Studentships Guide 2025–2026

 

University of Reading PhD Studentships Guide 2025–2026

The University of Reading offers one of the widest selections of fully funded and competitive PhD studentships in the UK, with more than 150 awards available each year. These studentships span science, social sciences, arts, humanities, business, and interdisciplinary research fields. They are open to applicants from the UK and around the world, making Reading a major destination for doctoral study.

This guide provides a clear overview of the major studentship schemes, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and research areas for the 2025–2026 academic cycle.

A Broad Portfolio of PhD Funding Opportunities

Each year, Reading announces a wide range of funded PhD opportunities across its schools and research institutes. The university encourages early exploration of available pathways, as many programs are competitive and require detailed proposals and strong academic profiles.

These studentships often include:

• Full tuition coverage

• A stipend or living allowance

• Access to advanced research facilities

• Expert supervision and professional development

• Opportunities for interdisciplinary and international collaboration

Key Studentships and Deadlines for 2025–2026

1. Magdalen Vernon Studentships (Psychology & Neuroscience)

Deadline: 5 December 2025
These studentships support doctoral research in psychology, neuroscience, psycholinguistics, and clinical language sciences. Open globally, they attract applicants with strong research backgrounds and an interest in human behaviour and brain science.

2. ESRC SEDarc Doctoral Training Partnership

Deadline: 12 December 2025
This award is aimed at students pursuing social science PhDs in fields such as economics, business, politics, linguistics, education, and international development. Successful candidates join a collaborative research network supported by the ESRC.

3. Environmental & Archaeology Studentships

These targeted opportunities focus on Earth sciences and archaeological research:

• Wildfire Regime Modelling | Deadline: 15 December 2025

• Geoarchaeology of Medieval Agro-Pastoral Systems | Deadline: 18 December 2025

These themes allow students to explore long-term climate patterns, human–environment interactions, and sustainability research.

4. China Scholarship Council (CSC) Studentships

Deadline: 2 January 2026
Open exclusively to Chinese applicants, these fully funded studentships support doctoral research in any discipline and provide international academic training in partnership with the CSC.

5. University International Studentships

Deadline: 5 January 2026
These are highly competitive, fully funded awards open to applicants worldwide in a broad range of disciplines. They offer outstanding scholars the opportunity to join leading research teams across the university.

STEM and Climate Research Studentships

Several advanced doctoral pathways focus on mathematics, climate science, ecology, and data-driven research. Deadlines fall between 11 January and 12 January 2026.

Key programs include:

• EPSRC Mathematics for Our Future Climate CDT

• Earth System Prediction Programme (with ECMWF)

• NERC Climate and Biodiversity (CROCUS)

• NERC AI-INTERVENE (AI and Biodiversity)

These programs combine cross-institutional training with cutting-edge research addressing global environmental challenges.

Law, Criminology, Arts & Humanities Studentships

• School of Law PhD Studentship | Deadline: 12 January 2026

• AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards | Deadline: 30 January 2026

These support researchers in legal studies, criminology, languages, cultural studies, political theory, and related fields.

Business, Agriculture & Biosciences Studentships

The BBSRC FoodBioSystems Doctoral Training Partnership (Deadline: 26 January 2026) offers opportunities in:

• Agriculture

• Food science

• Chemistry

• Pharmacy

• Biosciences

Though Henley Business School scholarships are currently closed, new calls for 2026 will be announced soon.

Inclusive Studentships and Special Schemes

Reading also offers funding aimed at widening participation and supporting underrepresented groups:

• Sanctuary Studentship | Deadline: 27 February 2026

• Centenary Bursaries | Deadline: 1 May 2026

• Wilkie Calvert Part-Time Studentships | Ongoing

These awards are available to UK/Irish applicants and candidates facing financial, displacement, or accessibility challenges.

External Scholarships Supported by Reading

Applicants may also apply for external funding schemes recognised by the university, including:

• Commonwealth Scholarships

• ANID BECAS (Chile)

• Marshall Scholarships (USA)

• Canadian doctoral funding options

• Inlaks Scholarships (India)

These provide additional routes for international applicants to pursue doctoral studies at Reading.

Final Thoughts

The University of Reading offers one of the most extensive ranges of doctoral funding opportunities in the UK, covering over 150 awards each year. With studentships across nearly every discipline, applicants are encouraged to begin preparing early, review eligibility criteria carefully, and submit strong, well-developed applications.

For full details, visit the University of Reading’s official postgraduate research funding page.