Doctoral loans

About the project

Whether you are planning to start your PhD or professional doctorate, or have already started, then you may be eligible to apply for a government-backed loan of up to £31,122 (2026/27 amount).

Doctoral loans are available for either full-time or part-time study for a duration of three to eight academic years.

To qualify for a doctoral loan, you must be:

Find out more and apply for a doctoral loan

• a UK national ordinarily living in England
• holding EU settled status or indefinite leave to remain, so there are no restrictions on how long you can stay
• under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course
• applying for a doctoral qualification (i.e. a PhD, professional doctorate or DPhil)
• not receiving funding from a UK research council.

Take the next step

• Email us
• Visit us
• Get a prospectus
• How to apply

Research areas