How to apply for an advertised PhD studentship
Pursue cutting-edge research with financial support, expert supervision, and access to world-class facilities
What is a PhD studentship?
Do you know the research area you’d like to work in, but without a clear idea for a specific PhD project?
Our funded PhD studentships will help you take the next step in your research career. Studentships include financial support, expert academic supervision and access to our QS 5 Star facilities (2025).
Projects are typically pre-defined with named supervisors, offering clear direction and specialist guidance. Occasionally, there's a broad subject area to choose from with no specified supervisor.
For home students, funding typically covers tuition fees and provides a living allowance. Some studentships require international students to supplement tuition fees, due to the higher associated costs.
Studentships embed you in our vibrant academic community, helping you build networks, publish work, and develop specialist skills that open doors to careers in academia, industry, and beyond.
Step 1: Find the project you’re interested in
Our funded PhD projects or studentships are advertised on our main funding pages. Search ‘studentship’ in the search bar and explore your options.
This includes studentships funded by the University or other bodies, and those funded within a Centre for Doctoral Training, Doctoral Training Partnership or Doctoral Training Centre.
It’s important to start researching early. Studentships are normally advertised in late Autumn or early Spring for entry the following September. Check back regularly to make sure you see all of your options. Specific application instructions are given in each advert, so make sure you read each one closely.
Step 2: Check entry requirements
Typically you will need an upper-second-class Honours degree (2:1) or international equivalent.
Details, eligibility criteria, and language requirements can be found on the individual adverts. Be sure to read them carefully, as they do vary between studentships. The requirements can help you in writing your personal statement, as you outline your suitability.
Step 3: Find out more
Once you’ve read the detailed information available online, you can contact the relevant Academic School or Research Institute to find out more about your study area of interest.
Contacts details can usually be found on the individual adverts, and you can also research specific Faculties, Schools and research units through our website.
Step 4: Prepare your documentation
On the studentship advert, you'll find details of the documents you need to apply. The requirements vary, but are likely to include some or all of the following:
- a personal statement, setting out your reasons for applying
- a covering letter and CV
- degree transcripts and certificates
- letters of reference to support your academic credentials
- a copy of English language certification (if required)
Make sure you provide all of the information requested, within the given word limits.
Step 5: Submit your application
All applications should be submitted through our Apply to Newcastle portal.
Once you have registered, select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’. Identify your programme of study, and provide the required information. You'll find specific details, including programme codes and unique studentship codes, on the studentship adverts.
What happens next?
Once you've submitted your application, there are some key steps that will take place before a decision is made. If you have any queries during this process, you should log into your Applicant portal and raise your query there.
Initial review
Our Admissions team will carry out an initial check to make sure your application is complete and the required documents have been uploaded. If any further information is needed, we’ll contact you via email to let you know. You should log into your Apply to Newcastle portal to upload the requested documents before the given deadline. You won’t need to supply references with your application, just details of referees we can contact.
Academic review
Once your application is complete and ready, it will be sent to the relevant school for assessment. Potential supervisors or admissions selectors will review your research proposal, qualifications, references, and supporting documents. This can take a little longer if a potential supervisor hasn’t been stated within the application. During this time, you will see 'awaiting decision' when you log into the Applicant portal. Timeframes for this process can vary as it can depend on factors such as whether there is a studentship deadline, or if interviews have to take place.
Final decision
You will be notified by email if you’ve received an offer after the academic review has been completed. If you have been made an offer, this will appear in your Applicant portal, along with the details of any conditions that you need to meet (unless you receive an unconditional offer). If references are required, they won’t be requested until this point.