Fully-Funded University College London UCL Research Excellence Scholarship, UK 2024

Application is now open for the UCL Research Excellence Scholarship at the University College London. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their applications in before the deadline date.

About University College London and Scholarship

In London, England, University College London—more often known as UCL—is a public research university. It is the second-biggest university in the United Kingdom by overall enrollment and the largest by postgraduate enrollment. It is a member institution of the Federal University of London.

UCL was the first university institution to be established in London and the first in England to be completely secular and to admit students regardless of their religion. It was founded in 1826 as London University (though without the authority to grant degrees from universities), by founders who were inspired by the radical ideas of Jeremy Bentham. 

The university’s brand-new, renowned grant, the UCL Research Excellence grant (UCL-RES), seeks to entice exceptional academics to do PhD research at UCL. Up to 40 fully funded UCL Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) are available to deserving candidates worldwide. You can apply if you’re a prospective or present UCL doctorate student.

Details about the UCL Research Excellence Scholarship at the University College London:

Scholarship Sponsor: University College London, UK

Scholarship Value: Fully funded

Number of awards: Several

Study level: Postgraduate

Host Institution(s): University College London, UK

Benefits:

The UCL-RES scholarship includes complete tuition (either domestically or internationally), as well as an annual maintenance stipend that rises in line with inflation. The rate for full-time study in 2023–24 is £20,622 (rates for part-time students are computed “pro rata”). The rate has to be verified for 2024–2025. The scholarship additionally covers extra research expenses of up to £1,200 per year for the program’s declared term.

Awards are given for the typical length of the study program. Subject to making acceptable academic progress, this usually takes 3 years for a full-time MPhil/PhD/EngD degree program (or 5 years for part-time study). Note that the financing does not include the year(s) for CRS or writing up. The scholarship will be extended to the last year of study in cases where students are enrolled in integrated four-year Ph.D. programs. The financing period will begin on September 23, 2024, the first day of the school year 2024–25.

Eligibility for UCL Research Excellence Scholarship

Applicants are advised to meet the following conditions to be eligible for the UCL Research Excellence Scholarship at the University College London:

• Before the scholarship deadline, have applied for admission to, or be enrolled in, a full-time or part-time eligible** degree program at UCL; 
• Possess, or be anticipated to get, at least an upper second-class honors UK undergraduate degree or an equivalent qualification.

If chosen, to get an award, you must:

• possess an admissions offer from UCL for a full-time or part-time research degree program, or be enrolled in one at the time of the request.

If you are a current student, you may apply; however, if you are beginning your third year of study, funding will typically only be considered in rare circumstances.

PLEASE NOTE: This scholarship is not available for distance learning, non-resident PhDs, or professional doctorates (DClinPsy, DDent, DEdPsy (Brain Sciences), DOrth, and DPsychotherapy). EngDs can apply because they are not regarded as professional doctorates here.

Selection Criteria

The Department to which the applicant has applied reviews any candidates who meet or are expected to fulfill the qualifying requirements. Departments choose a ranked shortlist of applicants to submit for consideration to the main UCL Selection Panel.

The UCL Selection Panel makes the last calls. The panel, which consists of academic personnel from a variety of fields from around UCL, is presided over by the pro-vice-provost of the doctoral school.

Candidates are evaluated using the following standards:

• Academic excellence is shown by prior academic performance as shown by transcripts, honors, and referee remarks. 
• Potential for Research – as shown by the candidate’s prior research experience, their enthusiasm for research, the research proposal and its uniqueness, and its potential social effect 

The financial situation is not taken into account while awarding this scholarship.

Application Process for UCL Research Excellence Scholarship

To apply for the scholarship, prospective candidates should follow these instructions: 

Step 1 – Apply for admission to UCL

Applying for admission is the first step. By the time provided, you must submit a comprehensive application for admission to a research degree program. Although you must have filed your admission application to be considered for the scholarship, you do not need to have accepted an offer of a spot at UCL.

Once the school has validated the application process, the next stages will be described in full. By Friday, January 12, 2024, your department must receive your application for admission and the extra information. Please note that several academic departments have their deadlines, some of which may be sooner than this one. To be sure, check with the department in question immediately.

Additionally, the UCL’s Research Excellence Scholarship for Cross-disciplinary Training (RXD) is offered to existing research students who want to spend a year learning new research techniques in a different department.

Advice for departments: Task Database: Nominate a candidate for a research scholarship (the Task Library will be updated as soon as the departmental RES guidelines are available).

Important note

No matter if you have received an admission offer or not, you must make sure that all scholarship application papers are submitted before the deadline. If you have an offer of admission, the UCL Student Funding Office will confirm it in UCL systems at a later time, including the date it was made.

The Submission Deadline is: January 12, 2024

Not interested in this particular scholarship? See other UK scholarships here.