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Study PhD in the UK in 2025
Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Mar 24, 2025 06:03 PM IST
Looking to study PhD in UK from India? We have mentioned the complete details of everything you need to know about PhD in UK 2025 from types of specialisations and requirements to tuition fees and scholarships. Rigor PhD programs in UK for international students help to specialise in the preferred research field as well as gain industry work experience.
This Story also Contains
- Why Study PhD in UK in 2025?
- Types Of PhD Programs in UK For International Students 2025
- PhD Specialisations in UK 2025
- Top 10 PhD Universities in UK 2025
- PhD Requirements In UK For International Students 2025
- Cost of Studying PhD in UK 2025
- PhD Scholarships in UK 2025
- Top Recruiters After PhD in UK
A PhD in UK university is a research degree which is also the highest academic degree. Typically, a thesis is submitted under the PhD course in UK that is to be defended in oral exams and further assessed by a panel of experts. However, sometimes, a PhD programs in UK for international students can include taught based modules.
Graduating with a PhD in UK 2025, the highest academic qualification, it opens doors to numerous career opportunities including advanced professional roles in your field of expertise.
Also Read:
Why Study PhD in UK in 2025?
A PhD in UK is a great option for foreign students who are looking to advance their degree through the latest research opportunities and up-to-date curriculum offered by some of the oldest universities in the world. From Oxford and Cambridge to Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities, students can carry out research in major subject areas such as AI, machine learning, health sciences, etc. Here are some of the main reasons why you should study PhD in UK 2025:
Oldest Universities in the World
The UK is known for its high reputation in the world for world class education in the oldest universities. Also, these universities are recognised under THE and QS WUR 2025 as some of the best universities in the world. British Universities have evolved over the years and advanced the fields of medicine, philosophy, arts, etc, offering best PhD in UK for international students.
Financial Assistance for PhD programs in UK
UK universities are renowned for offering scholarships or funding PhD programs in UK for international students 2025 specifically for meritorious and leadership students. UK spends heavily on PhD advanced training facilities, offering funding through Research Councils, a government loan system for PhD students, and international support services.
Diverse Range of PhD Specialisations in UK
Top UK universities offering rigour PhD programs for international students in diverse academic fields such as engineering, medicine, humanities, business, and social sciences. Universities from Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and University College London (UCL) are known for their world-leading research and innovation. The PhD courses in UK colleges offer the following:
Cutting-edge research in high-demand fields
Encourage interdisciplinary research across different fields.
Thesis and research under PhD in UK often are highly related to the industry.
Types Of PhD Programs in UK For International Students 2025
Lets now talk about the types of research degrees offered in UK:
MPhil (Master of Philosophy): Thesis only format for 1 to 2 years.
MRes (Master of Research): Advanced PG degree in the academic field of art, humanities, and social sciences.
Professional Doctorate: Similar to PhD in UUK but is for the advancement of professional practice.
PhD Specialisations in UK 2025
The UK is renowned for its expertise and advanced degrees in different academic disciplines. Here are the top PhD specialisations in UK universities and colleges for international students:
PhD in Artificial Intelligence
PhD in Biomedical Sciences
PhD in Economics
PhD in International Relations
PhD in Climate Change
Top 10 PhD Universities in UK 2025
Here are the best universities offering the most rigor and updated PhD programs in UK for international students 2025. These universities are renowned for their advanced research degrees in UK offering advanced research facilities and industry level experience.
Best PhD Universities in UK for International Students 2025
University | QS WUR 2025 |
Imperial College London | 2 |
University of Cambridge | 3 |
University of Oxford | 4 |
University College London (UCL) | 9 |
27 | |
34 | |
40 | |
50 | |
54 | |
69 |
PhD Requirements In UK For International Students 2025
To be eligible for PhD in UK universities and colleges, applicants must comply to some of the eligibility criteria as per their preferred institution. These academic standards must be met to be accepted in a university offering PhD programs in UK for international students. Here are the common PhD in UK requirements for Indian students:
A master's degree in the relevant field of study that is at least equivalent to UK grading system of a lower second class ((i.e., 2:2).
Professional work experience
Academic transcripts in the related disciplines and other certification references.
Research proposal within the preferred discipline
Additional requirements such as SOP, LOR, resume, etc.
Important PhD Eligibility: One of the major requirements to start PhD in UK for Indian students 2025 is that the proposal submitted by candidate must be accepted by a panel of subject matter experts.
Cost of Studying PhD in UK 2025
It is crucial for international students to be aware of the PhD in UK cost for proper financial planning. The average PhD in UK fees 2025 for international students is generally GBP 15,000 to GBP 40,000 per year. However, the exact cost of PhD programs in UK for international students varies depending on the chosen university and the research field.
PhD Scholarships in UK 2025
There are numerous scholarships for international students looking to study PhD in UK. These PhD scholarships in UK helps students in financial planning and help them in covering tuition fees, living expenses, and additional costs. Here are the most popular scholarships to study PhD in UK 2025:
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Scholarships
University-Specific Scholarships
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Industry-Sponsored Scholarships
Also Read:
Top Recruiters After PhD in UK
Here are the top 5 companies hiring international students graduating from universities with PhD programmes in UK for international students:
Meta (Facebook)
McKinsey & Company
AstraZeneca
GlaxoSmithKline
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which PhD is most in demand in UK?
A few of the in-demand PhD course specialisations in UK include artificial intelligence, cybercrime, engineering, business, and climate change.
2. When should I start applying for PhDs in the UK?
To apply for PhD in UK, students must apply at least 4-5 months before the admission intake. For say, students must apply at least between November and March for the September intake in UK.
3. Is it possible to get a fully funded PhD in the UK?
Yes, it is possible to study a fully funded PhD program in UK for international students. Students can apply for scholarships from either government, university, or private organisations. Some of the popular scholarships for PhD in UK include Commonwealth and Chevening.
4. How much is a PhD salary UK?
Generally, a PhD salary in UK will increase to GBP 20,780 per year effective from October 2025. This PhD in UK stipend is typically a tax-free stipend.
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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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