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How to Apply for PhD in UK: Requirements, Universities and Scholarships
Edited By Sareena Kaur Sethi | Updated on Aug 27, 2024 04:43 PM IST
The population of international students going to UK to pursue PhD and other postdoctoral courses has increased massively. As the country is home to some of the top universities in the world, offers different specialisation and research fields, and also provides mandatory work experience in the chosen field. Therefore, it becomes important to learn about how to apply for PhD in UK during the initial phase of your application process.
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Some of the universities that provide excellent and comprehensive PhD courses to international students are the University of Edinburgh, the University of Machester, the University of Sussex, and many more. However, the biggest dilemma remains “How to apply for PhD in UK from India?”. There are some basic prerequisites that one needs to fulfill to be eligible to apply for PhD programmes in UK.
This may include possessing a Master’s degree in the same field, having relevant work experience for a minimum of 2 years, published a thesis or research papers as a part of your educational journey, and much more. One can opt for a full-time or part-time PhD programme in UK and also apply for various funding opportunities to pursue their doctoral degree. Read the article to learn about how to apply for PhD in UK, the eligibility requirements, tuition fees, benefits, etc.
Read More: Study in UK for Indian Students
Why Apply for PhD in UK?
UK is known to be one of the most desirable study-abroad destinations by international students due to many factors. However, it has gained immense popularity for its specialised PhD programmes. So before understanding how to apply for PhD in UK we need not know the perks and benefits of pursuing the degree in the country.
Top Ranking Universities: Almost every international student dreams of pursuing a post-doctoral degree at a reputed and highly ranked university. The UK offers plenty of such institutes if one opts for the PhD courses due to the higher availability of seats in that semester.
More Course Options: As compared to other countries, the UK offers way more PhD programme options to choose from as an Indian student. One can apply to a course of their choice and have a higher chance of getting admitted if they fulfill the basic eligibility criteria.
Availability of Financial Aid: Another important factor that makes the PhD programmes in UK popular is that it offers a wider range of financial funding to international students. An applicant can choose from a range of scholarships or grants that best suit their profile and can reduce their financial burden by getting waivers on tuition fees or assistantship opportunities at Universities.
Enhanced Career: Pursuing a PhD in UK can open pathways to success for an international student real quick. One has access to global opportunities as their skills are industrial-based and hence, have higher chances of getting a high-paying job.
Also Check: Benefits of Studying in UK
Steps to Apply for PhD in UK
The essential part of the application process remains to be “How to apply for PhD in UK from India?”. Therefore, we have mentioned a detailed step-by-step procedure that Indian students can adhere to before starting their study abroad journey.
Step 1: Research and shortlist universities in UK that offer PhD courses of your choice.
Step 2: Go through the eligibility criteria at the official portal of the college to gather all the requirements.
Step 3: Also scroll through various financial funds offered to international PhD scholars at UK universities and choose what best suits your needs.
Step 4: Start applying before the deadline closes as the majority of PhD programmes in US commence in either January or September therefore, stay ahead of time as the processing time may be 2 to 3 months.
Step 5: During the time of application ensure that you have research proposals and a statement of purposes drafted already to clarify your intentions of pursuing the particular course at the university.
Step 6: Submit all the relevant documents such as Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, published research papers, thesis, dissertations, English language proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL), etc.
Step 7: Pay the application fees that vary from institute to institute.
Step 8: Be prepared with all your work experience and proposal at the time of the interview for the pre-selection round that most of the universities conduct in UK when accepting PhD students.
Step 9: If your work, essays, and academic background meet the requirements of the universities your application will be selected for admission.
Read about: Intakes in UK 2024
What are the Requirements for PhD in UK?
There are plenty of requirements when it comes to applying for PhD in UK as an international student. Therefore, we have mentioned some of the most basic ones below for your reference.
Academic Transcripts (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree both)
Resume
Research Paper Proposals
Essays
Dissertation (if any)
Valid Passport
Photographs
Proof of Funds
IELTS, TOEFL, etc Score Sheet
GRE/GMAT Score Sheet
Internship Certificates
Salary Slips (if required)
Portfolio (if required)
Other Certificates
Top Universities for PhD in UK
Many prestigious universities in UK offer a wide range of PhD courses to international students at affordable tuition fees and extensive research-based training. Therefore, one can find the same given below along with their QS World University Rankings 2025.
Best Universities for PhD in UK
Know about: Top Universities and Colleges in UK
PhD Scholarship in UK for Indian Students
The duration of completing one’s PhD can take up to 3 or 4 years in UK if the student takes up full-time coursework. However, the time may differ depending on a lot of factors. Irrespective of that the tuition fees for pursuing PhD in UK for international students can be anywhere around GBP 18,000 to GBP 25,000 per annum.
Therefore, one needs to be prepared to deal with not only the educational finances but also the cost of living in UK hence, opting for a funding source can be beneficial. Hence, we have given below some of the popular PhD scholarships for Indian students in UK.
Leeds Doctoral Scholarship
President’s PhD Scholarship
University of Exeter PhD Scholarship
Read more: Top Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in UK
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How can I get PhD admission in the UK?
The basic requirement for admission at PhD level in UK is to possess a master’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum GPA of 2.3. Some of the other requirements may consist of submitting research proposals, essays, LORs, and much more.
2. What are the minimum requirements for PhD in UK?
The minimum eligibility requirements to apply for PhD in UK include holding a Bachelor’s and master’s degree, having relevant work experience, submitting previous research papers, dissertations, and proposals, showcasing proof of funds, and much more.
3. How much does a PhD cost in the UK?
Pursuing PhD in the UK can cost anywhere around GBP 20,000 to GBP 70,000 annually for international students. However, there are various financial aids that one can opt for to apply for PhD in UK.
4. Is it difficult to get a PhD in the UK?
No, UK is one of the top countries offering diverse PhD programmes to students from all over the world at esteemed and top-ranking universities. However, there are some prerequisites that one will have to fulfil to be accepted easily.
5. What is the duration of PhD in UK?
PhD in UK takes about 3 to 4 years if enrolled in a full-time course, and 5 to 6 years if pursuing part-time studies. The duration of PhD programmes depends on other aspects such as funds, proposal drafting, university protocols and much more.
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Hello,
Hope you are doing great.
Answering to your question, Certainly, you are eligible to participate in the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), a crucial pathway for pursuing medical education in India. Let's break down the eligibility criteria:
Age Requirement:
- You must be 17 years or older by December 31, 2024, to qualify for NEET.
- There is no upper age limit for appearing in the NEET exam.
Academic Qualification:
- Completion of your 12th standard (10+2) with the following subjects is necessary: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- The minimum percentage of marks required in class 12 boards is:
- 50% for General and EWS applicants
- 40% for SC/ST/OBC applicants
Additional Subject Consideration:
- If you had PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) with Biology as an additional subject, you can still apply for NEET 2024.
- It is mandatory to have studied biology in your 10+2 curriculum to meet NEET eligibility criteria.
Attempts and Age Limit:
- Unlike some other government entrance exams, there is no limit on the number of attempts for NEET.
- You can take NEET regardless of your previous attempts.
Hope this helps!!
satyamercedes0626 04 March,2024
dear student,
yes you can get job in uk and outside india with bsc and msc in geology from india.
your degree is valid outside also.
in recent times there is a rise in the demand for geologist around the globe and if you have a good resume and some work experience getting a job in united kingdom will be easy for you.
hope this helped.
shabinalunkal 20 July,2022
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well...
Masters in Aviation Management in UK Universities
Aviation Management universities in UKMasters in Aviation Management in UK
- Cranfield UniversityMSc in Air Transport Management
- Cranfield UniversityMSc in Airport Planning and Management
- Cranfield UniversityMSc in Safety and Human Factors in Aviation
Hope it's helpful thank you
AVINASH KUMAR 18 April,2022
Hello Student
In the school level e face student has a gap period of 2 years then he or she will be allowed for taking admission in United Kingdom for higher studies. Baat inke supposed variation if there is a gap of 5 years in the graduation level then the candidate will be allowed for taking admission in post graduation in United Kingdom. As the rules permit your gap of 5 years for taking admission in prostation level then you are mostly eligible for taking admission in MSC courses in United Kingdom.
This will help.
Sohamsengupta8 21 March,2022
hi Aspirants,
As per your query,
In short, Indian pharmacy degrees are not directly accepted by the UK you will need to do a 1-year University-based conversion course called the OSPAP, after this, you will need to do the “pre-reg exam” and then you will become licensed to work by the GPhC .
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) (https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/) is the regulator of pharmacists and pharmacies in the UK, this is similar to the FDA in India.
for further information, you can check out this link as given below:
https://www.careers360.com/articles/4679-UK-Degrees-Validity-British-Accreditation-Council
Hope you understand , in case of any query you can comment here.
Thank you .
Anushri Varshney 13 March,2022
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