The University allocates more than £8 million each year in postgraduate research studentships and bursaries, so there are many opportunities to access funding. And, as an outstanding applicant, you may be eligible for one of around 150 entry awards we allocate each year.

We've detailed the costs of your research programme and the funding available to you here, but you may also like to consider a loan or some other means of supplementing your income while you undertake your doctorate.

Funding

Studentships

In general, studentship opportunities will vary according to where you are from. We update the information here as new funding becomes available, so check back regularly to keep up to date.

Find out about studentships for UK/EU applicants 

Find out about studentships for international applicants 

Alternative sources of funding

If you need to consider other sources of funding, the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online database provides a range of opportunities that you may find useful. The University of Reading has a licence to access the database, making this resource available free of charge to current and prospective postgraduate researchers.

Guide to Alternative Postgraduate Funding 

Fees

Find out about the fees and expenses for new and continuing postgraduate researchers, as well as information about how to pay and the potential discounts available.

Find out about our fees for doctoral research programmes  

doctoral loans

• If you are planning to begin your PhD or Professional Doctorate during the 2019/20 academic year, you may be eligible to apply for a government-backed loan of up to £25,700.
• If you are planning to begin your PhD or Professional Doctorate during the 2020/21 academic year, you may be eligible to apply for a government-backed loan of up to £26,445.

Doctoral loans will be available for either full-time or part-time study for a duration of 3 to 8 academic years.

To qualify for a postgraduate doctoral loan, you must be:

• a UK/EU national ordinarily living in England
• aged 59 or under
• applying for a doctoral qualification (i.e. a PhD, Professional Doctorate or DPhil)
• not receiving funding from a UK Research Council.

Find out more about Doctoral Loans  

Ways to supplement your income

You might like to consider part-time or casual work, as a means of supplementing your income and, possibly, improving your employability on finishing your studies. Your options could include:

• Supporting the teaching and learning of other students. There may be opportunities to gain experience of teaching at undergraduate level and these will be advertised by your School or Department. The work could involve delivering laboratory or computer classes, demonstrating, running problem solving sessions, taking tutorials or seminars, giving lectures, performing assessments or providing feedback. In addition to any specific training offered by the School or Department, the Graduate School runs the Preparing to Teach course, which forms part of the Reading Researcher Development Programme (RRDP).
• Campus Jobs. The University employs students in a variety of roles that makes use of their knowledge of its structure, campus and systems. You may see roles advertised for Open Day ambassadors, IT assistants, receptionists, alumni callers, bar assistants. Visit Jobs on Campus for more information on Campus Jobs.

• Part-time work in Reading. Reading has a large town centre just 25 minutes' walk from campus, with two shopping malls, plus a busy high street with pubs, bars and restaurants. If you want to work off-campus whilst you study, our dedicated online portal - My Jobs Online - provides exclusive access for our students to view advertised opportunities all over Reading.