A variety of funding and scholarship schemes are available through University funds, organisations and industrial sponsors. How Do I Apply for PhD Funding?Applying for funding is a separate process to applying for a PhD.However as part of the PhD application process, you will be guided through potential funding options and asked to indicate how you will fund your PhD.When you click 'how to apply' on any of our advertised PhD projects you will be taken through a series of steps: StepStageDescriptionFunding Advice1. Eligibility ChecklistPre-application Our eligibility checklist is a short series of steps that allows you to check if you meet the criteria to apply for the PhD project you are interested in.Your answers are not recorded and completing an eligibility checklist does not commit you to making a PhD application (Step 2). The eligibility checklist will suggest which of the funding schemes, listed below, you may be able to apply for - based on your answers and the project type. It will also provide guidance on how to make a funding application. 2. University’s online application system - EUCLIDPhD applicationAfter you have completed the eligibility checklist you will have the option to apply through the University’s online application system – EUCLID.As part of your EUCLID application you will be asked to indicate how you intend to fund your PhD.If you intend to apply for funding you should list the funding scheme - pay close attention to any other guidance you received during the eligibility checklist.Browse PhD ProjectsHow to apply for advertised PhD Projects When Should I Apply for PhD Funding ? Remember that different deadlines, eligibilities and selection procedures apply depending on the source of funding.You must complete both of the above steps by the University deadline, regardless of the funding deadline.You can apply for funding after the University application deadline, if the funding deadline allows this. Funding BodyFunding SchemeFunding StatusHow to ApplyBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and The University of EdinburghEastBio Doctoral Landscape AwardOpening 19 OctoberVisit EastBio for application guidance. Once open, the deadline to apply is 16 November 2026.The Darwin Trust of EdinburghPhD ScholarshipsClosedVisit the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh.Further information about the application process for October 2027 entry is expected this November.Browse PhD ProjectsThe University of EdinburghEdinburgh Doctoral College ScholarshipsOpening 19 OctoberVisit Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships. In addition to tuition fee cover and a 4-year stipend, our School provides a project grant matching the EastBio DLA award. This is worth £5,000 in years 1-3 and £1,000 in year 4.Applications will open 19 October 2026. Allocation of this scholarship will be incorporated in the EastBio recruitment process, with the awarded applicant able to take advantage of the EastBio training programme. The deadline for EastBio applications is 16 November 2026.Browse PhD ProjectsEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and The University of EdinburghCollege of Science and Engineering Doctoral Landscape Award ClosedVisit EPSRC. Further information will be available late 2026. Application deadlines are normally early February. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) E5 Doctoral Landscape AwardOpening 12 OctoberVisit E5 Once open, applicants will have until the 20 October to gain approval for a student-led project proposal or up to 02 December to apply for a supervisor-led project.Medical Research Council (MRC) and The University of EdinburghPrecision Medicine Training ProgrammeOpening October 2026Visit Precision Medicine.The University of EdinburghStaff ScholarshipsOpenVisit Staff Scholarships. Enquiries should be directed to sbsdirector.graduateschool@ed.ac.uk. Carnegie TrustPhD ScholarshipsClosedThis scheme is currently paused. For further information please visit Carnegie Trust PhD ScholarshipsMiss Aileen Ker and familyKer Memorial PhD StudentshipClosedVisit Edinburgh Infectious Diseases Do I Need to Apply for PhD Funding? Applying for funding is an optional process. You may also fund your studies yourself, or find an external sponsor. How to Apply - Externally Sponsored or Self Funded PhD What Happens after I Apply for a PhD? We will contact you if we need any further information to be able to consider your application. Please regularly log in to your EUCLID account to check for any messages from us. If you are shortlisted for a PhD place, we will invite you for interview in person or online interview. Our initial set of interviews will be in February/March. We do keep applications on hold while we allocate all our different funding, and so it is possible that you will not have a firm decision from us until May. QuestionsIf you have a question about PhD funding please contact the Graduate School. Graduate School School of Biological Sciences Contact details Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk This article was published on Wednesday 23 September 2026
