Wilkie Calvert PhD Studentships 2026

Funded by the University of Reading, the program covers full tuition fees at the UK/Republic of Ireland rate for six years, enabling professionals to conduct research without financial burden. Candidates must secure employer support, ensuring both intellectual and practical backing for their research journey.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: 01 May 2026
2. Value: Full tuition fee coverage
3. Study Level: PhD
4. Sponsor: University of Reading
5. Country to Study: United Kingdom
6. Eligible Country: United Kingdom

Eligibility Criteria for Wilkie Calvert PhD Studentships 2026

Candidates:

1. will normally be expected to hold an undergraduate degree (at the 2:1 level or equivalent) and a master's degree. This requirement may be waived where candidates have a body of relevant professional experience
2. will normally be UK or Republic of Ireland nationals. Those who are not eligible for UK/Republic of Ireland fee status may apply, but they would be liable to provide the additional funding required to cover the international fee rate. They would also be required to meet the standard English Language requirements.

Employers:

1. may include private sector and not-for-profit organisations, charities, public sector organisations; employers should not be academic organisations (e.g. universities, colleges)
2. are required to provide a letter of support indicating how they are willing to support the candidate in their research and the relevance of the research to the employer's interests.

What support is asked of employers?

Employers are asked to provide candidates with tangible support which could consist of:

1. allowing a portion of the candidate's working time to be spent on the research providing access to specific facilities, data, or archives
2. mentoring for the candidate
3. providing additional funding for research-related expenses.

Benefits of Wilkie Calvert PhD Studentships 2026

The University will provide funding to cover the cost of tuition fees for part-time PhD study at the UK/Republic of Ireland rate for six years. Successful applicants will be supported by a supervision team with expertise relevant to the research and have access to a suite of researcher development training.

How to Apply

1. Seek the support of your employer and consult with them about their specific research proposal; gain a letter of support from their employer.
2. Apply online for a place of admission (and have a PhD place confirmed) at the University by the deadlines given above.
3. Complete a Wilkie Calvert Studentships application form.
4. Submit the completed application form and letter of support from the employer by email to the Doctoral Studentships Officer.

For more details, visit University of Reading Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

May 1, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Wilkie Calvert PhD Studentships 2026