PhD studentships in Philosophy

The Department of Politics, International Relations, and Philosophy (PIRP) at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL) offers fully-funded studentships in philosophy, awarded on a competitive basis, via the Techne Doctoral Training Partnership. Techne is funded by the arts and Humanities Research Council. We welcome applicants interested in proposing that fit TECHNE’s remit to support innovative, interdisciplinary and creative approaches across the arts and humanities. Projects are open as to specific research focus and may be co-developed between the students and the academic supervisor.

The department

The Department of Politics, International Relations, and Philosophy is an established centre of teaching and research excellence. The 2021 Research Excellence Framework ranked the department as #2 in the UK for studying politics. Our academic staff in Philosophy have expertise spanning ancient, continental, modern, and contemporary philosophy. Our department houses the Contemporary Political Theory Research Group and a unit on Contemporary Political Thought. Read more about our academic staff in Philosophy here.

The PhD programme

PIRP has an active PhD programme with several dozen students. Entering first-year students form a cohort and together take a professional development module that covers all aspects of progressing through the PhD programme alongside preparing for careers in academia and beyond.

To apply

To enter the TECHNE competition, you must apply for the PhD Programme in Philosophy and TECHNE simultaneously. Applicants should contact members of our academic staff about potential projects and work to develop their applications. A full application guide is available here.

The deadline for the PIRP PhD Programme admission and the first round of TECHNE applications is 7 January 2025 at 17.00.

If you are successful with your application to TECHNE, your studentship will cover a stipend and the UK rate fees for 3.5 years (42 months) for a full-time student, or 7 years (84 months) for a part-time student (50% of the full-time rate of stipend). These rates are pro rata if you have already started your PhD. You can learn more here.