6 Things Irish Students Need to Know About PhD Study in the UK

The UK is a great place to do a PhD, with established research networks and generous funding programmes. And Irish nationals are able to access these opportunities under the terms of the Common Travel Area – these rights are completely unaffected by Brexit.

This blog is a quick introduction to doctoral study in the UK, featuring advice and information on applications, funding and more.

The first place to start your PhD journey is right here on FindAPhD.com, so you’re already on the right track! We list over 6,000 PhD projects and opportunities at universities in the UK, each with information on entry requirements, supervisors and contact details.

Generally speaking, you should first get in touch with a potential supervisor and apply for a PhD before sorting out your funding (your supervisor will be able to help you with your funding application).

Despite Brexit, the UK is still a part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and a member of the Bologna Process that standardises higher education in Europe.

And, just like in Ireland, full-time PhDs in the UK usually take between three and four years to complete. You’ll initially be registered for an MPhil degree before ‘upgrading’ to a full PhD in your first year.

At UK universities, the PhD thesis is usually between 70,000 and 100,000 words long. At the end of your PhD you’ll also need to complete a viva exam where you’re assessed on your understanding of the research you’ve done.

So, all in all, a UK PhD isn’t a whole lot different to those offered by Irish universities, which isn’t a huge surprise.

On FindAPhD.com you’ll find that PhD opportunities tend to fall into two main categories: advertised projects and open proposals.

Advertised projects usually already have funding attached to them (often in the form of Research Council studentships – more on that in the next point). So the application process is almost like applying for a job, proving that you’ve got what it takes to make a success of this particular project. These advertised PhD projects are more likely to be found in STEM subjects than in the Arts and Humanities.

Open proposals, meanwhile, are PhD programmes where you submit your own research proposal. You’ll need to come up with your own research topic, get in touch with a potential supervisor and be accepted onto a university’s PhD programme. Once this has happened, you can think about applying for funding.

The main way PhDs are funded in the UK is through its network of Research Councils, each specialising in a particular group of disciplines:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Biotechnology and Bioscience Research Council (BBSRC)
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Irish nationals who live in the UK or Ireland are able to access funding through the Research Councils on the same basis as UK nationals through the Common Travel Area arrangement.

If your application for a Research Council studentship is successful, you’ll receive the following:

• A tuition fee waiver
• A tax-free doctoral stipend of at least £19,237 (this amount is larger for students in London)
• A Research Training Support Grant of around £5,000 to cover additional costs associated with fieldwork, lab equipment et al

As you’d expect, competition for these studentships is tough – but you shouldn’t let that put you off! Our guide has more information on how to apply for a Research Council studentship.

Applications typically open in autumn for projects beginning the following academic year, with deadlines between January and February.

The UK government’s PhD loan scheme is open to Irish nationals if they’ve lived in the UK or Ireland for the past three years.

These loans are worth up to £29,390 for the duration of your PhD, paid in three instalments per year. They’re not means-tested, so they aren’t based on your household income.

There are a few caveats to these loans, however:

• You need to be doing a PhD at an English or Welsh university
• You can’t combine them with a Research Council studentship (or any other form of UK public funding, such as NHS or Social Work bursaries)
• You must be 59 or younger on the first day of your degree
• You can’t already hold a PhD qualification

£29,390 is the entire amount available for a PhD – there isn’t an extra maintenance or tuition fee element, which means you’ll need to find an extra source of funding to cover all of your costs during a PhD.

Our guides to PhD funding are a good place to start with this, including our page on PhD funding from universities.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that part-time PhDs are eligible for these loans, opening up the possibility of working while you do your doctorate.

Loan applications for PhDs beginning in 2024-25 are now open.

The whole process can be done online. You’ll need to create an account with Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales, depending on where you want to do your PhD.

You’ll usually need to provide your passport details and may need to submit proof of your residency status.

You don’t need to have been accepted onto a PhD programme when you make your application, but you’ll still need to mention which university you hope to complete your doctorate at (as well as how long you think the project will take).

Repayments only begin once you’re earning above £21,000 . You’ll repay 6% of what you earn above this threshold.

You may also like...