Research Council Funding

The main sources of funding in the UK are the Research Councils, each of which covers different fields of study. Only UK and EU nationals are eligible for support (and EU nationals are not currently eligible for living costs, only tuition fees unless resident for 3 years in the UK). Most research council studentships are awarded for doctoral study (PhDs, or occasionally professional doctorates). Competition for these funds is very great.

MRes + PhD Awards

Both the AHRC and ESRC offer 4-year studentships (1+3 awards) where students study an approved research training Masters course (normally MRes) for one year, followed by 3 years’ PhD study. Students who have taken approved MRes courses will normally be exempt from the formal requirements of Keele’s research training programme for a PhD or MPhil.

The ESRC has a formal recognition exercise to approve specific Masters courses for this purpose. Keele’s ESRC-approved courses are as follows:

  • International Relations (MRes)
  • Global Security (MRes)
  • Diplomatic Studies (MRes)
  • Environmental Politics (MRes)
  • Psychological Research Methods
  • Social Science Research Methods (Management, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Public Policy and Management, Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology, Social History)

The AHRC does not recognise specific courses, but it does have certain research training requirements. The MRes Humanities course (all disciplines) fulfils AHRC’s requirements, and students have also received support for Music Psychology. In all cases, students will be required to confirm their intention to study for a PhD.

All applications must be made via the University and you should contact Admissions in the first instance email: admissions.ukeu@keele.ac.uk or international@keele.ac.uk telephone: +44 (0)1782 733726.

Look at the current Studentships on offer at the University.  The University will select only the highest quality applications for support.