5 Things American Grad Students Need to Know About Doing a PhD in the UK

Thinking of heading across the pond to do your PhD? You’re not alone! According to the latest student mobility figures from UNESCO, over 19,000 Americans recently attended British universities, making the UK the most popular study abroad destination among US citizens.

But what do you need to know about PhD study in the UK? And how does it differ from doctoral programmes offered by American universities? This blog aims to answer those questions, as well as providing useful information on applications and funding opportunities.

American PhD programmes (or should I say ‘programs’?) usually involve comprehensive training, with lessons, seminars and lectures an important element of the preparation needed to tackle the dissertation.

By contrast, PhDs in the UK place more emphasis on being able to dive into your research project right from the start, whether that means beginning your dissertation / thesis or commencing the lab experiments that you’ll be analysing later on.

This is one of the reasons why a UK PhD is usually shorter than its American cousin, taking between three and four years of full-time study.

Although British doctoral programmes don’t typically place as much emphasis on training as their American counterparts, students still have plenty of opportunities for extra-curricular activities like teaching, publishing and presenting at academic conferences.

In order to pass your PhD, you’ll need to successfully complete an oral exam known as the viva, taking a similar format to a PhD defence. Indeed, you’ll be required to ‘defend’ your thesis against a panel of experts and their probing questions.

When you’re applying for a PhD at a British university, the process largely depends on your research area, as well as the kind of project you want to undertake.

If you’re applying for a PhD in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, it’s likely that you’ll be making your own research proposal: a document that clearly outlines your project and underlines the significance of the work you want to do. You’ll need to scope out potential supervisors who will be willing to guide you through the process.

For STEM subjects, on the other hand, it’s more common for students to apply to a project that’s already been planned and agreed on – often with funding attached. Applications in this case are more like a job interview, where you prove your capability of taking on the PhD project in question.

You can find thousands of calls for proposals and advertised projects on our website.

It’s quite common in the USA for Bachelors students to go straight to a PhD, but this isn’t always the case in the UK – you’ll normally need a Masters-level qualification to meet the entry requirements for a British PhD (particularly for AHSS subjects).

There are several viable options for funding a PhD in the UK, from studentships funded by the UK government to international scholarship schemes and federal loans. We’ve covered a few of the main ones below.

Research Council studentships

The seven Research Councils are the biggest funders of PhD research in the UK:

• 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)

These organisations offer studentships that include a tax-free, annual stipend of around £17,668 (USD $20,788) as well as a contribution to PhD tuition fees.

Previously, this funding was only fully available to UK students, but as of the 2021-22 academic year, international students (including Americans!) are eligible too.

Please note that you still apply directly to the university for this kind of funding, rather than the Research Councils themselves.

Fulbright Scholarships

The Fulbright Commission aims to foster cultural and scholarly connections between the UK and the USA, funding student exchanges between the two countries.

Fulbright Postgraduate Awards are one element of this, providing a full tuition fee waiver for outstanding US students to undertake a year of PhD study at a UK university, as well as a generous living cost stipend and healthcare coverage.

PhD programmes at selected universities are eligible for this funding, as well as Masters courses.

The application deadline for next year’s round of Postgraduate Awards has now passed, but you can find out more about how to apply on the Fulbright Commission website.

Marshall Scholarships

Marshall Scholarships also provide funding for talented American students to embark on PhD study at any UK university.

This financial support comprises a tuition fee waiver, an allowance for living costs, a return ticket from the USA and educational expenses.

These scholarships cover three years of PhD study, with extensions only available in limited circumstances.

The deadline for Marshall Scholarship applications has now closed.

Federal student aid

It’s possible to secure federal student aid for a PhD in the UK. First of all you should check that your prospective university participates in a federal student aid programme.

There are two options available to graduate students:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Direct PLUS Loans

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are non-means-tested and can provide up to $20,500 per year (this amount depends on your cost of attendance and other financial support you have, such as university scholarships). The total amount of unsubsidized loans you can claim is $138,500. Compared to subsidized loans, the US government does not contribute towards the interest on these loans while you’re studying and for the first six months after you’ve finished the course.

Find out more about Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

Direct PLUS Loans are intended to contribute towards any other study costs not already covered by loans or financial support. This means they can make up for a shortfall from a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Find out more about Direct PLUS Loans for grad students.

You’ll need to pass a credit check in order to apply for federal student aid. You can find out more about repayment plans on the US Department of Education website.

After you’ve chosen your PhD programme and sorted out your funding, you can start thinking about applying for a student visa.

We’ve written a comprehensive guide to how student visas in the UK work, but these are the basics:

• You can begin your visa application online six months before the start of your PhD
• You’ll need to provide proof of your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) – this is a statement that your prospective university will supply
• The application process is mostly online although you’ll have to submit fingerprints and a passport photo at a visa application centre in the States

You’ll need to provide evidence of your financial support:

• £1,334 per month (USD $1,835) for up to nine months for courses in London
• £1,023 per month (USD $1,405) for up to nine months for courses outside of London

The UK student visa allows you to work 20 hours a week part-time during term time and full-time during academic breaks.

If you decide to stay in the UK after your PhD, the Graduate Route visa offers international postgraduates the opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to two years after their course finishes.

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