A Complete Guide To PhD In UK For International Students

UK universities rank among the world’s most research-intensive. A UK PhD is successful due to great research infrastructure and results. Top universities are also known for offering international students fully supported PhDs in the UK through grants or scholarships.

As an international student, we can help you find UK PhD courses and universities. Read on for UK PhD cost, requirements, eligibility, and more!

PhD programs in the United Kingdom are the result of strong research and industrial partnerships. In the UK the PhD program lasts three years and concludes with the submission of a thesis 12 months before the program’s finish. Although each PhD university in the UK has its own curriculum and timetable, let us emphasize the primary advantages of earning a PhD in the UK:

• PhD Duration in UK: 3-4 years
• Average Tuition Fee: £15,000 to £20,000/ year
• Mode of study: Full time or part time
• Popular Phd Course in UK: Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Paramedic Sciences, Law, Social Science, Architecture, etc.
• Top Universities: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science

Now you know the basics about the PhD courses in UK. Next, let’s explore…

Why Study PhD in UK?

UK universities conduct research in all key topic areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and so on. In addition, the UK government intends to assist international researchers by instituting a three-year post-study visa and extending studentships for international students earning PhDs. This is a primary reason why one should pursue PhD programs in the UK.

• Popular Study Destination: Having more than 10 universities in top 100 universities list across the globe, UK as a study destination is very popular among the international students.
• Best Research Facilities: UK is home to some of the world’s best universities. These are known for their state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and therefore, pursuing PhD in UK for international students is a dream come true.
• Diverse Culture: PhD programs in UK provide international students with the best infrastructure/facilities and a chance to explore diverse cultures.
• Career and Scope: Being a part of globally recognized PhD universities in UK will bring you a career immensely great returns. After the completion of PhD, students can go in for commercial research, business-oriented research, or academia.

Types of PhD in UK

Along with 3-4 years PhD duration in UK, there are several types of PhD an international student can pursue. Let us walk you through the type of PhD in UK:

• Standard PhD

This is the most basic type of PhD, in which students debate a research project with their supervisors, gather and analyze data, and finally prepare a thesis. Most universities in the UK offer regular PhD programs.

• Integrated PhD

The integrated PhD combines one year of MRes with 3 years of a standard PhD. Providing students with a lot of opportunities, over 30 universities in th UK offer Integrated PhD to international students.

• Professional PhD

A professional PhD is aimed at providing students with ample employment opportunities. Offered in disciplines like engineering, science and medicine, a professional PhD is the most sought-after type of PhD in UK.

• Distance Learning PhD

This type of PhD is useful for part-timers or international students who have a busy schedule. The distance learning PhD can be completed in a time span of around 5-6 years.

• PhD by Publication

Most of the universities offering this type of PhD admit only their alumni. Also known as the higher doctorate, this PhD can be applied by students having their own papers, publications, or articles worth 5,000-20,000 words each.

In order to pursue a PhD, international students must fulfill certain admission requirements. Let us find out more about these PhD requirements in UK for international students.

Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study PhD in UK

What is the PhD eligibility in UK? The admission requirements for PhD in UK for Indian students differ between the universities and the course you wish to pursue. Let us check out the basic requirements to apply at PhD universities in UK:

• A masters degree
• Research proposal
• English proficiency test scores
• Additional documents like SOPs, LORs, CV/Resume.

Let us now talk about these PhD requirements UK briefly!

• Masters Degree and Academic Transcripts

The most basic requirement to apply for a PhD in UK is to have a masters degree in a related field, with the academic transcripts for each level of study. Some universities may ask for only a bachelor’s degree, which entirely depends on a case-by-case basis.

• Research Proposal

A research proposal is a document that is asked by a majority of universities admitting students for their PhD programs. A research proposal should have the topic you wish to research, the intention of research, and a plan on how the research would be conducted.

• English Proficiency Test Scores

It is essential for you, as an international student, to have English proficiency proof in terms of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or other tests. The minimum IELTS requirement for PhD in UK for Indian students is a score of 7.0 or above.

• Additional Documents

Additional documents like the statement of purpose, work experience, and recommendation letters will add more value to your overall application.

Now that you are aware of the requirements, let us take a quick look at the application process for PhD in UK.

Application Process for PhD in UK

How to apply for PhD in UK? The application process for PhD admission in UK is quite simple to pursue. Here is a quick look at the steps you need to follow:

• Choose your discipline and a university to start your research in UK.
• Submit the application form along with the application fee.
• Submit all the required documents and requirements asked by the particular university.
• Create a research proposal to be submitted along with all the documents.
• Find a supervisor to start your doctoral degree under.
• Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university.
• Wait for the admission decision.

Note: Finding a supervisor can be a cumbersome job, and so universities assist you in the same. Also, know that you may not get the supervisor that you had asked for, universities take these decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Another important factor that impacts your decision to study abroad is PhD fees in UK. So, let us briefly take a look at the cost of studying and PhD Scholarships UK.

Cost of PhD in UK

UK PhD costs vary for international and domestic/EU students. The cost is £6,000 per year for domestic students. International students pay £16,000–£24,000.

In addition to tuition, UK students must pay living costs. UK living costs average £1100–£1300 per month. This cost varies by lifestyle and city.

Most universities provide PhD scholarships or bursaries to international students. Let’s investigate scholarships!

Scholarships to Study PhD in UK for International Students

Almost all of the top universities offer PhD scholarships for Indian students in UK. PhD funding UK ranges from scholarships to bursaries to studentships. We have curated a list of some PhD scholarships UK below:

Scholarship:

• Ertegun Scholarship program in Humanities through Oxford University, awarded to students pursuing DPhil in humanities – £15,609 + full course fees.
• Gates Cambridge awarded to Non-EU students enrolled in a postgraduate program –  £17,500 + full course fees + two air tickets + visa
• President’s PhD Scholarship Scheme through Imperial College London awarded to High performing masters students with excellent academic performance and research potential – Full tuition fees + £21,800 per annum for 3.5 years
• Edinburgh Doctoral Scholarships, awarded to Students showcasing outstanding merit and research potential -University tuition fee + stipend of £15,609 per annum

Top 5 Universities in UK for PhD

The UK, being a nation known for its high standards in the field of research, is very much preferred by international students. Most of the PhD universities in UK are renowned for their research outputs. We have curated a list of the top PhD universities for you below:

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• University College London
• University of Edinburgh

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has garnered numerous awards for groundbreaking research, innovation, and academic performance. The university provides an environment that is incredibly advantageous and highly desirable across nations for overseas students interested in pursuing a PhD in the UK.

• QS World University Rankings 2023: 3
• Popular Programs; DPhil Socio-Legal Research, DPhil Theoretical Physics, DPhil Clinical Medicine, DPhil Archaeology
• Average tuition fee; £28,650/ year

2. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is known for its research practices around the globe. Majority of international applicants receive PhD scholarships in UK through the University of Cambridge. Besides, this university also offers funded research projects to international students.

• QS World University Rankings 2023: 2
• Popular Programs: PhD Clinical Psychology, PhD Mathematics, PhD Clinical Neurosciences, PhD Zoology, PhD Physics
• Average tuition fee: £33,972 / year

3. Imperial College London

The Imperial College London is known to focus exclusively on subjects like sciences, business, medicine, and engineering. Having research impact as the top priority since 1907, Imperial College London should be one of your top choices for a fully funded PhD in UK for international students.

• QS World University Rankings 2023: 6
• Popular Programs: PhD Design Engineering, PhD Immunology and Inflammation, PhD Mathematics,
• Average tuition fee: £26,500/ year

4. University College London

Greatest industrial contacts, excellent collaborations, partnerships with nations across the world, and top-class research infrastructure is what sums up PhD at University College London. Home to more than 20,000 graduate students from around 150 countries, UCL is also known internationally for its employment opportunities after research.

• QS World University Rankings 2023: 8
• Popular Programs: PhD Behavioural Science and Health, PhD Chemistry, PhD Architectural Design, PhD Financial Economics
• Average tuition fee: £25,730/ year

5. University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is ranked fourth in the United Kingdom for research and is one of the greatest universities, offering multiple fully supported PhD programs. With many relationships around the world, it provides multiple job prospects for PhD students. Students can choose between a pre-defined PhD project and developing their own research proposal.

• QS World University Rankings 2023: 15
• Popular Programs: PhD Accounting, PhD Finance, PhD Engineering, PhD Informatics, Doctor of Clinical Psychology
• Average tuition fee: £23,350/ year

Career Opportunities after Pursuing PhD in UK

UK PhD costs are expensive, but profits are too. UK PhDs conduct commercial research in education, science, technology, medicine, and others. In addition to academics and higher education, students work in the corporate sector doing business research.

The salaries for various PhD job descriptions are listed here to help you understand UK careers after PhD:

Job profile\Average Annual Salary

• Senior Economist – £64,000
• Data Scientist – £52,000
• Senior Software Engineer – £70,900
• Associate Professor – £62,000
• Research Scientist – £46,000

With an average pay of £49,825, the United Kingdom is without a doubt one of the best PhD locations. Not only do international students have a greater rate of return, but they also have an easier time obtaining PhD scholarships in the UK.

FAQs

• Which are the top universities for PhD in UK?

The top universities for PhD in UK are:
1) University of Oxford
2) Imperial College London
3) University College London

• How much does a PhD in UK cost?

PhD in the UK costs in the range of £15,000 to £20,000 per annum on an average for international students.

• Is it easy to get a job after pursuing a PhD in UK?

Yes! PhD graduates can very easily grab an average salary of £49,825 per annum post graduation.

• What are the popular courses to pursue PhD in UK?

The most popular courses are clinical psychology, physics, mathematics, immunology, and medicine.

• What is the minimum average grade requirement for masters to pursue PhD in UK?

The minimum score a student must achieve to pursue PhD in UK is 60% in both taught course units and dissertation.