PhD Studentships

Funded Postgraduate Research

PhD studentships are PhD funding opportunities supported by the University and organisations, where your research will be actively used in overcoming real-world problems. Contribute to research expertise at BCU and check back for available PhD studentships here.

Doctoral Landscape Awards

The AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award is a major new funding scheme from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) . Its aim is to grow the UK’s capacity for doctoral research in the arts and humanities and to create a vibrant, inclusive research culture.

Birmingham City University is one of 50 universities across the UK awarded funding to support 15 doctoral studentships over five years. This year BCU will offer six fully funded PhD studentships – three funded by the AHRC and three match-funded by BCU for September 2027 entry. This represents a major institutional investment in the next generation of researchers and in building a thriving and a diverse research community.

0:07 you study a 0:09 PhD number one become an expert in your 0:12 field doing a PhD at BCU allows you to 0:15 develop yourself not only personally but 0:17 professionally um it allows you to 0:19 establish networks and it allows you to 0:22 um broaden your scope and the research 0:24 that you are really passionate about 0:25 make a true impact in the 0:27 world pursuing further research enables 0:30 you that chance to really add something 0:33 to you know the growing field within 0:35 your of of research it allows you to 0:37 potentially make breakthroughs it allows 0:39 you to network with people nationally 0:41 and internationally um and it allows you 0:43 to make a real big change to the world 0:46 and the ever growing um Innovation 0:48 surrounding research in higher education 0:51 connect with other 0:53 researchers BCU brings together uh 0:55 students from across faculty and across 0:58 the whole University from the Arts and 0:59 the Humanities and the Sciences uh to be 1:02 able to network with each other and to 1:03 talk about our own research and uh 1:06 discuss ways in which we can collaborate 1:08 with each other as well with our 1:09 research um the doctor research College 1:11 in particular at BCU is really 1:13 supportive uh in bringing us together as 1:16 a unit receive advice and 1:19 support supervisors within BCU are 1:22 incredibly supportive and they are 1:24 experts in their field um they are 1:26 internationally renowned experts in your 1:27 field being able to have that two-way 1:31 relationship with your supervisors and 1:33 with wider members of the academic 1:34 community at BCU is integral to your 1:37 research and integral to um your 1:39 development as a as a as a professional 1:41 in your field grow personally and 1:44 professionally it broadens your mind to 1:48 what is possible or what what you can 1:50 achieve as an individual uh it enables 1:53 you to break down barriers and overcome 1:56 obstacles um that you thought would 1:58 never be possible at the time I'm really 2:00 proud to be able to contribute towards 2:02 the ongoing research that um is integral 2:06 to our identity as a city within the UK 2:09 and as as a country Birmingham is so 2:12 foundational to um so much research 2:15 going on in the UK at the moment it's so 2:17 culturally significant and has such a 2:19 rich history with regards to Industry to 2:22 Innovation um to the art and the humanity 2:25 scene as well um there is no better 2:27 place really

Hear from a final year PhD researcher on the benefits of studying a PhD at Birmingham City University.

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This funding model includes a 36-month funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with UK Research & Innovation values. For 2026/7, this will be £21,805 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Tuition Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.

Our PhD courses

Find out more about PhD courses on offer across our faculties at Birmingham City University.

Graduate Scholarship

The Graduate Scholarship is a 20% fee reduction available to all BCU graduates (BA, BSc, LLB, MA, MSc, LLM, PGCE) enrolling onto an eligible Master’s or PhD qualification for the first time in 2026/7.

Researcher Blogs

Hear from our postgraduate researchers on what studying a PhD is like, from career opportunities to effective time management.

Research Centres

Our research centres consist of groups of experienced academics and postgraduate researchers exploring topics which address key local, national and global challenges.

Research Projects

Solving real world problems with our expertise. Our research talent and drive to add a genuine contribution to knowledge help us make a difference through our work.

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