Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Applications are now open for research students to apply for a PhD study bursary worth £1,000.
For the first time we are awarding two study bursaries for intending PhD Students to help some of your study costs.
All that you need to do is complete our online registration form and sign up for our regular newsletters before Friday August 21st 2026.
You will need to be an offer holder on a PhD at a UK university, starting in the Autumn Term 2026. The PhD can be a PhD Project/ Funded Studentship offered by the university, or a Self-Funded research programme.
The offer can be conditional or unconditional.
Simply prepare and submit a personal statement up to 200 words explaining why you want to study your PhD and how the bursary will help your studies. We want you to write the statement yourself - AI generated personal statements are not encouraged.
In October the awarding panel will review each application and select the six candidates on merit.
The panel will get in touch with each candidate and check that they have enrolled on their chosen course and paid their tuition fee.
If you didn’t get a place this time you are welcome to try again next year.
Candidates awarded the bursary will be required to post a blog about their study experiences later in the year.
The study bursary is not available to students that are looking to fund their studies before they accept their place.
Complete our online registration form and sign up for our regular newsletters before 5pm (UK time) Friday August 21st 2026.
Eligibility
The Postgraduate Studentships PhD Bursaries are open to students from the UK, EU and Overseas who are starting the first year of a PhD course in September or October 2026 at any UK university.
To apply for one of the bursaries, the student:
• must have subscribed to receive our regular email newsletter
• must have received an offer to study on a part-time or full-time postgraduate research degree
• must register to receive the Postgraduate Studentships email newsletter and supply a personal statement of up to 200 words in length. AI generated personal statements are not encouraged.
To be awarded the bursary you must have enrolled*, and be able to provide proof of enrolment, onto a full Doctoral degree (eg PhD/DPhil, EdD, DBA, DClinPsy) by the end of October 2026 at any UK university.
*Enrolment requires the payment of any tuition fees before admission is confirmed.
A Doctoral degrees (e.g PhD/DPhil, EdD, DBA, DClinPsy) is delivered under the QAA Framework at FHEQ Level 8 or FQHEIS Level 12 **
**The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the independent body that checks on standards and quality in UK higher education.
Your PhD can be offered in any subject for study Full-Time, Part-Time, or by Blended Learning at a university located in the mainland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The course will be recruiting for admission in the autumn term, commencing in September or October 2026.
Think Postgrad Ltd will confirm the eligibility of the student selected, as well as the details of their university offer before making any payment.
Closing Date
The closing date to be considered for the bursary is Friday August 21st 2026
Terms of the Bursary
If you are selected to be awarded one of the bursaries, you agree to participate in publicity including your name, your nationality, your course and university.
This publicity will include providing written content for a post about your experience of looking for and studying a master’s degree course, including your photograph, for internal and external promotion, including but not limited to websites, social media, advertising and events.
We will consider social media style submissions, including Vlogs and blog posts that are relevant for students looking for PhD Research opportunities in the UK.
Selection
The two bursaries will be allocated by the judging panel during October 2026. The selection criteria will be based solely on the details of the 200 word personal statement submitted by the applicant.
The statement should be written by the applicant without the use of AI.
All reasonable attempts will be made to reach the selected candidates via the email address provided with your application. If we cannot reach you by the contact details supplied, Think Postgrad reserve the right to withdraw the offer and select another entrant.
Each applicant awarded one of the bursaries will be required to provide proof of enrolment on a masters course. This proof MUST show that you are fully enrolled to study a PhD at a UK university. If you are unable to provide proof of enrolment you will become ineligible, and another entrant will be selected in your place.
Payment of the £1.000 bursary will be made after appropriate identity and enrolment checks have been undertaken.
Remember you must pay your tuition fees to the university before your admission to the course.
Applicants personal data will be used in accordance with appropriate data protection legislation in the UK.
The successful candidates will be announced in the Masters Compare email newsletter.
Due to the number of applications received, we are unable to contact unsuccessful applicants. If you have not been contacted by 31 October 2026 you have not been successful.
The decision of the judging panel is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
You are not eligible to enter if you are continuing an existing masters course.
Only one entry for the bursary is acceptable
Your personal statement must be your own submission, and not supplied from a third party. Do not use AI generated text.
Withdrawal of a bursary
Think Postgrad Ltd reserve the right to withdraw a bursary from anyone who is found to have misled Think Postgrad about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek payment for the full amount.
If a student changes to a programme of study outside the criteria under the eligibility section above, the bursary will be withdrawn.
Further information
If you have any questions please email answers@thinkpostgrad.com
Alternatively, if you agree to meet our full terms and conditions, please register for the chance to be awarded one of the £1,000 bursaries.
Good luck!
