Each academic year, LSE offers approximately 80 studentships to new PhD students in the form of LSE PhD Studentships, LSE ESRC Studentships, LAHP AHRC Studentships and LSE & III PhD Studentships on Analysing and Challenging Inequalities. These awards are open to high calibre students of all nationalities studying across all research areas at the School but, in particular, we are seeking to support applications from:
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UK students
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Women whose research will be within the field of Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, Mathematics, Statistics and Methodology
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Black, Minority, Ethnic students, especially from Black African/Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage
LSE PhD Studentships
LSE PhD Studentships are tenable for four years and cover full fees and an annual stipend, which was £20,622 for students starting in 2023. They are available for UK, EU and international students undertaking research in any LSE discipline, with annual renewal subject to satisfactory academic performance.
These awards will be made solely on the basis of outstanding academic merit and research potential. This relates both to your past academic record and to an assessment of your likely aptitude to complete a PhD in your chosen topic in the time allocated.
These awards will be made solely on the basis of outstanding academic merit and research potential. This relates both to your past academic record and to an assessment of your likely aptitude to complete a PhD in your chosen topic in the time allocated.
Studentships are tenable for four years and cover full fees and an annual stipend, which was £20,622 for students starting in 2023.
ESRC funding
LSE has an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) and has ESRC studentships in several programmes across 19 departments. These studentships are available for students of all nationalities.
Studentships are tenable for three or four years, depending on the programme of study. They cover full fees (for international students, LSE will cover the difference between UK and overseas fees) and an annual stipend, which for 2023 entry was £20,622.
Individual programme entries detail which programmes are eligible for ESRC funding.
AHRC funding
LSE is part of LAHP (London Arts and Humanities Partnership), which is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Students of all nationalities can apply for one of these studentships.
Studentships are tenable for three years and they cover full fees (for international students, LSE will cover the difference between UK and overseas fees) and an annual stipend, which for 2023 entry was £20,622. LSE will also cover full fees and stipend for an additional fourth year.
LSE Departments that typically host AHRC studentships are International History, Media and Communications, Philosophy and Law, but students from other disciplines (for example, Anthropology, Gender Studies and International Development), can also apply if their research falls within the remit of AHRC, as explained on the UK Research and Innovation website.
To be considered for a LAHP studentship for 2023 entry, students need to have applied for their chosen programme of studies. They will also need to submit a separate funding application to LAHP, deadline to be confirmed. Details of the application process can be found on the LAHP website.
Department-specific funding
Check the programme-related funding page for PhD funding opportunities.
How to apply for funding
Except for LAHP studentships (see above), academic departments nominate students for the funding opportunity they may be eligible for. There is no separate application for LSE, ESRC and department-specific studentships. To be considered for this funding, you must submit your complete application for admission to LSE by a specific date. This date differs by academic department.
- deadline for being considered for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding for 2025 entry if you apply to a programme in the Law School : 1 December 2024
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deadline for being considered for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding for 2025 entry if you apply to a programme in the Department of Economics or Department of International Development: 18 December 2024
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deadline for being considered for the first round of LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding for 2025 entry for all other departments: 15 January 2025
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deadline for being considered for the second round of LSE PhD Studentships for 2025 entry (some departments only): 25 April 2025 depending on the programme you are applying to. Details can be found on the individual programme page.
For more information about fees and funding for research programmes at LSE, please view the Fees and Funding page.