University of Edinburgh Career Development PhD Scholarship 2026

The School of Physics and Astronomy Career Development Scholarship provides full PhD funding for students from a Black heritage background. It covers all tuition fees, a 42-month tax-free living stipend, and a £4,200 research grant. Applicants can choose from PhD programmes in Astrophysics, Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, or Condensed Matter Physics.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: 24 November 2025
2. Value: Full tuition fees, 42-month tax-free stipend, £4,200 research grant
3. Study Level: PhD
4. Sponsor: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
5. Course to Study: Astrophysics, Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, Condensed Matter Physics
6. Eligible Countries: All Countries

Eligibility Criteria for University of Edinburgh Career Development PhD Scholarship 2026

Applicants must identify as having Black heritage (including mixed Black background), meet PhD entry requirements at the University of Edinburgh, and complete both the university and scholarship application forms before 24 November 2025.

Benefits of University of Edinburgh Career Development PhD Scholarship 2026

1. Full tuition fee coverage, a monthly stipend for 42 months, a £4,200 research grant, a travel allowance, and guaranteed PhD funding.

How to Apply

Step 1: Choose a project

Review the PhD research opportunities on offer within the School of Physics and Astronomy, choosing up to four different projects or supervisors that you would like to work with.

Step 2: University of Edinburgh Application Portal

All prospective students must initially apply through the University of Edinburgh Application Portal. Select “Postgraduate Research” and search "Astrophysics" or “Physics” in the Degree Finder, clicking the relevant PhD link and “Apply Now.” If you are interested in conducting Physics Education Research, please apply for the Condensed Matter Physics PhD Degree.

Once you have submitted your University degree application, you will be emailed a Unique University Number (UUN, the letter S followed by a 7-digit number) to be used in the next step. Your referees will be automatically emailed by the University. They should submit their letters to our online portal by the 24th November 2025.

Note that if you are applying for an Astrophysics PhD, you do not need to fill in all the sections of the University form. For applications to our other Physics PhD degrees, however, please fill in all sections. For applications to all programmes you will need to upload degree certificates and transcripts, language certificates (where applicable), and also provide contact details for us to contact your referees. We are unable to process applications without this documentation.

We recommend completing this step as early as possible to make sure the system provides your UUN well in advance of the deadline.

Step 3: Career Development Scholarship Application

To apply for this scholarship, please fill in this Application Form(link is external) (to edit it, you will need to make your own copy of the Google Doc: File > Make a copy). This form must not exceed one page and be emailed directly to gradschool.physics@ed.ac.uk(link sends e-mail), along with a one-page CV, before the 24th November 2025.

Step 4: Timeline

Online interviews will take place in mid-December, with offers made before the end of the year. Students who accept our offer will then be nominated for the Institute of Physics Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship(link is external), and must apply for this scheme as a condition of their offer letter. The student, supervisor and Director of Graduate studies will work together to submit the relevant paperwork for this additional award with a deadline of 19th January 2026.

By accepting an offer for the Career Development Scholarship, full PhD funding is guaranteed, irrespective of the outcome of the Bell Burnell application. If you are successful, however, you will become a joint Bell Burnell Scholar and Career Development Scholar.

Alternative funding opportunities

If you are not selected for this Career Development scholarship, you will still be considered for our other funding schemes and may be invited for an interview at a later stage. Students wishing to be considered for the general call to the Astrophysics PhD programme must submit an additional anonymised application form.

If you have any application-related questions that aren't already answered on this webpage, please e-mail gradschool.physics@ed.ac.uk(link sends e-mail).

For more details, visit University of Edinburgh Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

November 24, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for University of Edinburgh Career Development PhD Scholarship 2026