PhD Fees and Funding FAQs

PhD Fees and Funding FAQs

Our current postgraduate research tuition fees are available on the PhD Funding and Scholarships section of our website. Fees are likely to incur a small inflationary rise each year of a research programme.

It is important to recognise possible costs beyond the tuition fees. Research can involve costs, for example travel to campus or conference venues, archives or libraries; copyrighted imagery payments and so on. You will also need to fund normal living costs during your studies.

Overseas students who require a visa to study in the UK must pay a deposit to secure their place on a chosen programme of study in order to receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). The level of deposit will be agreed each year and published on the PhD funding and scholarships section of our website.

International students can apply for a payment plan that allows annual tuition fees to be paid over two instalments. Further information is available in our Tuition Fee Policy .

Payment plans may also be agreed with all other self-funding students. In accordance with our Tuition Fee Policy , payment may be spread over 12 months for home PhD students.

If you are a graduate of the University of Suffolk or one of its current or former partner institutions, you may be entitled to benefit from our Alumni Postgraduate Loyalty Scheme, which gives up to a 25% reduction on course fees. You can find out more and see if you are eligible at https://www.uos.ac.uk/postgraduate-loyalty-scheme/ .

Any scholarships or other funding opportunities are advertised in the PhD Funding and Scholarships section of our website.

There may also be opportunities to apply for external funding, for example via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) doctoral training schemes, although it is important to note that these are often highly competitive.

No, the University is unable to waive your fees. You will need to ensure you have an idea of your funding source before applying, whether from an approved funding source at the University of Suffolk, a third party or self-funded. We are unable to accept speculative applications with no evidence of this.

If you normally live in England and are a UK national, have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or have indefinite leave to remain, you may be eligible to apply for a Doctoral Loan.

A Doctoral Loan of up to £31,122 (2026/2027) is available to help eligible students with the tuition fees and/or living costs of your postgraduate doctoral study. You can apply for the full amount regardless of the actual tuition fee that you will be paying. The loan is paid directly to you in three instalments in each year of study, approximately every four months. You can find out more on the UK Government website at https://www.gov.uk/doctoral-loan .

If eligible, we recommend that you only apply for a doctoral loan once you have received a formal offer of study from us. When applying for the loan through Student Finance England , you need to select the University of Suffolk as your university, using the course title outlined in your offer letter.

• How much will the PhD programme cost?
• Can I pay my tuition fees in instalments?
• Are there any fee discounts for alumni of the University or its partner institutions?
• Does the University have any scholarships or other sources of funding available?
• I have no funding – will the University waive my fees?
• Can I apply for a UK Government Doctoral Loan?

Research areas