Fully funded

UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES)

University College London (UCL), United Kingdom

Scholarship overview

The UCL Research Excellence Scholarship attracts outstanding scholars to undertake doctoral research at UCL. For 2026/27, 40 fully funded awards are offered to exceptional applicants from any country, UK or overseas fee status.

Only prospective MPhil/PhD and EngD students can apply, starting on or after 1 October 2026. Financial circumstances are not considered.

Award Information

  • Have submitted a complete admission application to an eligible full- or part-time MPhil/PhD or EngD programme at UCL by the deadline.
  • Hold or expect at least an upper second-class UK Honours degree or equivalent.
  • To be awarded, hold an offer of admission to a research degree programme at UCL.
  • Distance learning, non-resident PhD and professional doctorates (DClinPsy, DDent, DEdPsy (Brain Sciences), DOrth, DPsychotherapy) are not eligible; EngD is eligible.
  • Students who started at UCL before 1 October 2026 cannot apply.
  • Full tuition fees (Home or Overseas).
  • Maintenance stipend: £22,780 for full-time study in 2025/26 (pro rata for part-time); 2026/27 rate to be confirmed.
  • Research costs of up to £1,200 per year.
  • Standard length of the research portion, normally 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time, subject to progress; extended to the 4th year for 4-year integrated programmes. Writing-up years are not funded.
  • Deadline: Friday 9 January 2026 (2026/27 round, now closed); some departments set earlier deadlines.
  • Decisions notified by mid March 2026.
  • UCL invites registration of interest for the 2027/28 round.
  1. Submit a complete admission application to an eligible programme by the deadline.
  2. Tell your academic department you wish to be considered and send your scholarship documents to it.
  3. Ask two referees to send their references directly to the department by the deadline.

Official links

Documents you will need

  • Research Scholarships cover sheet.
  • Up-to-date CV listing publications, prizes, awards and scholarships.
  • Lay summary of the research proposal, maximum 200 words, written by the applicant.
  • Academic transcripts for all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with the grading scale.
  • Two references: one on the most recent degree, one from the intended UCL research supervisor (different people), on the UCL reference forms.

How selection works

  1. Departments submit applications to their faculty, which places applicants in priority bands and a REF theme.
  2. Faculties nominate a shortlist to a central panel (120 nominations in total).
  3. The central panel makes 40 awards using priority bands and balance across four themes; a lottery decides where a theme is oversubscribed.

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