University of Glasgow School of Social & Political Sciences PhD Scholarships

Information on the School/Research Group

The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, is one of Scotland’s ancient universities and the 4^th oldest university in the English-speaking world. Today, the University’s School of Social and Political Sciences (SPS) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan center for world-leading social scientific scholarship, recognized by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework as having 90% or more of its research as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in terms of its originality, significance, and rigor. The School is a leading center of interdisciplinary social science, bringing together research, innovation, and student education to tackle the key social and political challenges of our time.

Further information about the University of Glasgow’s School of Social and Political Sciences can be found at https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/ and https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/   

Abstract

The School of Social and Political Sciences invites applications for three funded PhD scholarships for doctoral research (3 international and 2 home scholarships). Three International scholarships will be awarded to candidates from a country or territory listed as either ‘Least Developed, Low Income, Lower Middle Income or Upper Middle Income‘ by the OECD, and two Home scholarships to be awarded to UK Widening Participation candidates.

Eligibility

The scholarships are open to anyone who, by September 2025, will hold an honors degree in the social sciences. A Master’s degree (or overseas equivalent) may be an advantage but not essential.

Applicants must have a minimum of an upper second-class honors undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent), which should include evidence of at least some performance at first-class level (or overseas equivalent). Applicants without a Master’s degree (completed or in progress) must either have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) a first-class honors (or ‘distinction’) degree classification in their undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent).

Please note that all applicants must also meet the eligibility criteria of the Research Opportunity they intend to undertake. Research Opportunity eligibility information can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/

Award details

The scholarships will provide funding for 3.5 years of research towards a PhD in the School of Social and Political Sciences. The programme will commence in October 2025. The full scholarship package includes:

• An annual stipend at the UKRI rate
• Fees at the standard home rate or international rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £940 per year
• Commencement Bursary (single payment at the start of the PhD)

Further information

Applicants must contact potential supervisors for advice before applying; potential supervisors cannot suggest a topic but may be able to advise on the feasibility of – and suggest potential refinements to – a proposed area of study.

You can start to search for potential supervisors using the University’s Staff research interests search, and the School of Social & Political Sciences’ Our Staff webpage

Application process

Applicants must apply via the Scholarships Application Portal (please see Scholarships Application Portal – Applicant Guide for more information), uploading the following documentation:

• SPS PhD Scholarship application form (which includes a lay summary, a section on preparedness, and your research proposal)
• Academic transcripts (All relevant Undergraduate and Master’s level degree transcripts (and translations, if not originally in English) – provisional transcripts are sufficient if you are yet to complete your degree). Please see the Scholarships Application Portal – Applicant Guide for more information.
• Contact details for two referees (where possible your referees should include an academic familiar with your work – they can be, but do not have to be, a member of your proposed supervisory team. Both referees can be academics but you may include a work referee, especially if you have been out of academia for more than 5 years). Please note, a CoSS PGR Funding Reference template will be sent to your referees for completion*
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (academic where applicable).
  
• SPS PhD Scholarship Supervisor Statement of Support
• Demographic eligibility
  • Home applicants will need to upload a Widening Participation Eligibility Declaration
  • International applicants will need to upload:
    • proof of citizenship (e.g. passport photo page) of a country or territory listed as ‘Least Developed’, ‘Low Income’ or ‘Lower Middle Income’ or ‘Upper Middle Income’ by the OECD; and
    • proof you have been through the Secondary education system of that country (e.g. Secondary/High School transcript or certificate)

*Please note that when you enter your referee’s contact details on the Scholarships Application Portal and send the reference request, your referees are expected to provide their references by the closing date of the Scholarship (below). It is highly recommended you complete this as soon as possible, as late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing Date: 31 March 2025

Selection process

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel and shortlisted applicants may be asked to attend a remote (online) interview.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme within the School of Social and Political Sciences. Successful applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.

Key contact

sps-scholarships@glasgow.ac.uk