£23,805 Stipend Social Purpose PhD Scholarship

Royal Holloway, University of London is funding 10 PhD studentships through its Social Purpose Centre for Doctoral Training, for doctoral research that tackles a real social, health or environmental challenge rather than knowledge for its own sake. Students join a cross-university cohort, work with at least two Royal Holloway supervisors, and spend up to three months on a placement or challenge-led project with a business, public body or charity. Projects can come from any department, from computer science and AI to law, psychology, music and biological sciences.

What you get:

• Full UK-rate MPhil/PhD tuition fees for 3.5 years (full-time equivalent)
• A UKRI-rate stipend, £23,805 a year for 2026/27, including London Allowance
• A placement or challenge-led project of up to three months with a business, public or third-sector organisation
• A supervision team of at least two Royal Holloway supervisors
• Cohort training in communicating research and translating findings for policy and practice audiences

What you'll do:

• Carry out a PhD project with a clear social purpose, either your own proposal or one proposed by a supervisor
• Complete at least 10 days of training and development activities each year, including Social Purpose CDT cohort training
• Take part in on-campus cohort activities, the Doctoral School training programme and its annual conference
• Write your thesis in an alternative format that includes at least three sections on your learning and skills development

Key dates:

• Online information events: Thursday 24 September 2026, 1.30pm to 3pm, and Wednesday 30 September 2026, 12.30pm to 2pm
• Applications close 20 October 2026
• Interviews for shortlisted applicants: 20 October to 3 November 2026, dates vary by department
• Outcomes: the guidance document says decision letters on 6 November 2026; the programme page says applicants are notified on 1 December 2026
• Studentships start 11 January 2027

More information:

• Applicant guidance document: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/qstfryz1/social-purpose-cdt-applicant-guidance-fv.pdf
• Potential supervisor-proposed projects are listed at the bottom of the programme page
• Questions go to the relevant Department Postgraduate Lead, listed on the programme page

• Must be eligible for UK home fees; applicants assessed as overseas are not accepted for this funding
• Must be available to start on 11 January 2027
• Must identify and contact a supervisor before applying, and have their agreement to support the application
• Current unfunded first-year Royal Holloway PhD students (started September or October 2026) may also apply, through a separate MS Form
• Application documents: personal statement (500 words max), research proposal (4 pages plus 1 page of references), supervisor letter (1 page), CV and qualification transcripts
• Assessed on applicant preparedness (40%), quality and feasibility of the proposal (40%) and fit with social purpose (20%)