2026 PhD Studentships in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education's REF power ratings).

The University of Edinburgh is seeking extraordinary doctoral candidates to take up PhD scholarship opportunities available across the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Our world-leading research influences policy, professional practice, business performance and the wellbeing of communities and cultures.

Join our 1,000 academics and students involved in research across our 12 Schools and become part of our extraordinarily rich and vibrant postgraduate research community.

Our scholarship opportunities include:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Award PhD Studentships

The University of Edinburgh is delighted to offer 3 doctoral studentships for 2026/2027, open to students in the following disciplinary panels:

- Media, Communications, Cultural Policy, Film and TV, Library and Information Studies
- Philosophy
- Theology, Divinity & Religions

These scholarships include fees and stipend for full-time or part-time study and additional training opportunities.

Full application and guidance can be found at - https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/scholarships-and-student-funding/prospective-postgraduates/funding-for-uk-students/research

• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) PhD Studentships

The University of Edinburgh is part of a consortium of Universities in Scotland which have been awarded funding from the Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) to support postgraduate studentships and training in the Social Sciences in Scotland.

These scholarships include fees and stipend for full-time or part-time study and additional training opportunities.

Deadline for applications to the University will vary according to each School.

https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/uk-eu/research-councils/esrc

We also have an exceptional range of discipline specific awards on offer across our 12 Schools.

These will be updated over the coming months.

https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/humanities

For further information, please contact our Postgraduate Office at pgawards@ed.ac.uk

Apply now to join us in 2026

Why study with the University of Edinburgh?

• The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power, with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.*
• We are consistently ranked one of the top 50 universities in the world. We are 34th in the 2026 QS World University rankings.
• The University of Edinburgh is located in the very heart of Scotland’s capital - a capital consistently considered one of the most desirable places to live in the world.
• There are 19 Nobel Prize winners who are alumni of the University or who have been members of academic staff here.
•   We’re ranked 18th in the world’s most international universities. 

* Times Higher Education's REF power ratings 2021

 ** Times Higher Education, The World's Most International Universities 2025