Presidential bursaries for overseas researchers

We are offering presidential bursaries for 30 overseas postgraduate researchers to join us this year. These bursaries will cover the fee difference between UK and overseas fees, and are open to all overseas candidates.

You do not need to apply for a Presidential Bursary. Your faculty will automatically consider international students for a Presidential Bursary if you have applied and received an offer to undertake a PhD with us by Friday 17 March 2023.

Further details about each scheme can be found under the tabs below.

Applications for Presidential Bursaries are accepted from overseas candidates demonstrating exceptional academic performance. Applicants must be accepted to commence doctoral study by research at the University of Southampton in the academic year 2023/24. We encourage applications from all overseas students in all subject areas.

Candidates must be in possession of, or due to receive, either:

• A first class or equivalent in their undergraduate or integrated masters degree
• and/or a distinction overall, with a distinction in the project or equivalent in a standalone masters.

Equivalency may be established by reference to standard comparators such as NARIC.

Scholarship recipients must commence their doctoral studies by research between 1 August and 1 December 2023.

The Presidential Bursaries do not require a separate application from the candidate. International candidates who have received an offer to undertake a PhD with us by Friday 17 March 2023 will be considered for a Presidential Bursary. Faculties will make applications for bursaries to the Doctoral College on behalf of suitably qualified candidates.

CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD

• Candidates in receipt of a Presidential Bursary will be known as “Doctoral College scholars"
• Successful candidates who wish to accept the offer of a Presidential Bursary must agree to abide by all the eligibility, terms and conditions of the award outlined here and any changes to them, throughout the time of the award, or the offer will be withdrawn.
• Candidates in receipt of an offer of a Presidential Bursary must register for, and start their doctoral studies, between 1 August 2023 and 1 December 2023.
• The bursary will be paid for a maximum of up to 3.5 years funding (pro-rata for part-time students), or the date of first submission of the thesis, whichever is the sooner.

Presidential Bursaries may be removed at any time if:

• Progress of the recipient is deemed not to be satisfactory, as determined by the University Progression Monitoring as defined in the University Calendar, Section V;
• Recipients who require a UK Visa for study fail to satisfy any requirement of it and at any time throughout their doctoral candidature;
• The Faculty Director of the Graduate School in the host Faculty, or Doctoral College Director, determines that there has been a material breach of the conditions of the award.

Further conditions:

• Doctoral College scholars must agree to contribute to physical and online events promoting the scheme, their research work and activities as a condition of the award.
• The conditions of a Presidential Bursary may vary during the time of the award. Notification of any changes will be communicated to the recipient.The decision of the awarding panels is final.
• Recipients of the bursary are expected to spend the majority of time of study at the University of Southampton in the UK.
• The scheme is only open to new applicants for research doctorates. Existing students registered for doctorates at the University of Southampton are ineligible for a Presidential Bursary.
• Candidates undertaking part-time doctoral studies by research are also eligible for consideration, but any bursary will be paid at a pro-rata level.
• A review of the bursary funding levels will take place each year and continued payment will be contingent on satisfactory progress, as measured by the University of Southampton annual monitoring process.
• Candidates undertaking taught doctorates are not eligible for consideration for a Presidential Bursary.