Full PhD scholarships for UK Black researchers at the University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is once again running their Black Futures PhD scholarships scheme for UK Black researchers for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This prestigious scheme is aimed at talented UK-domiciled Black and mixed-Black heritage students who want to pursue a PhD at Southampton.

What does the Black Futures scholarship include?

The Black Futures scholarship comprises:

• A £20,000 per annum tax-free stipend, for 3.5 years
• Full UK fees paid
• An annual researcher training and support grant of £1,000 per year, to assist with researcher development

What subjects do the Black Futures scholarships cover?

Black Futures scholarships are open to UK Black students wanting to pursue a PhD in any subject area at Southampton.

Who is eligible for a Black Futures scholarship?

The Black Futures scholarships are open to applicants who:

• have identified an academic supervisor who is willing to supervise their PhD project starting in the 2025-2026 academic year
• have Black or mixed-Black heritage
• are resident in the UK and eligible for UK fees

How do I apply for a Black Futures scholarship?

To apply for a Doctoral College Black Futures scholarship, you need to:

1. Identify a PhD project from our current projects or create your own proposal
2. Apply online for your chosen PhD project
3. Apply online for the Black Futures Scholarship Scheme

The deadline to apply for a Black Futures scholarship is 11:59pm on Friday 28 February 2025. Please note, this scholarship funding is highly competitive and we may close applications earlier than this deadline, therefore we encourage you to apply early.

You can find full details of how to find a PhD and apply for the Black Futures scheme on the Southampton website.

Join our Black Futures webinar

We’re running a dedicated Black Futures information webinar on Monday 13 January 2025, where you can discover the exciting opportunities offered by the Black Futures scheme.

Join Black Futures tutor Booker Ogutu to learn more about the benefits of the scholarship, as well as the eligibility criteria and application process. You’ll also have the chance to hear from current academics and students and ask any questions you may have.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how the University of Southampton can support your academic and personal growth – register for the webinar.

Other financial support for PhD study at Southampton

As well as the Black Futures scholarship, the University of Southampton are offering the following schemes to help talented researchers undertake a PhD with them:

• Innovation and Social Impact scholarships for researchers looking to drive social impact through their work
• EU fee waivers for researchers from EU and Horizon-associated countries
• Presidential Bursaries or overseas postgraduate researchers outside of the EU, covering the fee difference between UK and overseas fees

Why do a PhD at Southampton?

With fully-funded scholarships available, there’s never been a better time to start your PhD at Southampton.

Part of the prestigious Russell Group, the University of Southampton is a research-focused university where over 96% of our research has been assessed as world leading and internationally excellent. We are consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the UK, including by the Complete University Guide 2024 and Good University Guide 2024.

We offer over 90 research courses and have a wide range of PhD opportunities available at any one time - you can view our latest PhD opportunities here. Alternatively if you want to create your own research project with us, you can find guidance on how to do that with us here.

By doing a PhD at Southampton, you’ll become part of our exciting research environment, with access to cutting-edge facilities and global collaborations. You’ll also join a welcoming and supportive doctoral community, with our dedicated Doctoral College on hand to guide your personal and professional development.

Start your doctoral journey with us today