Cardiff University Scholarships 2027 | Fully Funded PhD UK
Overview
Cardiff University offers fully funded PhD studentships in the UK for Home and international students across many disciplines. Funding comes mainly from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research councils, Doctoral Training Partnerships and institutional grants. Eligible international UKRI scholars receive tuition coverage equal to Home students, with Cardiff covering the fee difference.
What you get
The scholarship covers 100 percent of tuition fees for the PhD project and provides a minimum tax-free stipend of GBP 21,805 per year, paid in quarterly installments. A Research Training Support Grant helps with laboratory consumables, computing hardware, field trips and conference travel. Students can also access training modules, interdisciplinary networking and career mentorship through Doctoral Training Entities.
Who can apply
Applicants need an upper second-class (2:1) or first-class undergraduate honors degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject, and a relevant Master's degree is preferred for many projects. UK and international applicants can apply, but UKRI policy limits international awards to a maximum of 30 percent per cohort per funding scheme. Applicants must meet general UKRI eligibility on academic background and residency, and show English proficiency, such as an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 to 7.0 depending on the school.
Funded projects cover arts, humanities and social sciences, including business, law, journalism, history and languages. They also cover biomedical and life sciences, such as biosciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and psychology, and physical sciences and engineering, such as physics, computer science, chemistry and earth sciences.
Requirements
Applicants upload academic transcripts and degree certificates, a CV, a research proposal or project statement, two references, proof of English proficiency where applicable and a copy of their passport.
How to apply
Candidates pick an open funded project or Doctoral Training Partnership, contact the lead supervisor to discuss fit, and apply through the university's online application system, stating the project title and funding code. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online academic interview.
Key dates
The primary competition deadline is October 21, 2026, and selected project deadlines range from October to December 2026. Shortlisting and interviews take place from November 2026 to January 2027, and the program starts on October 1, 2027.