Eligibility

The Future Scholars Bursaries are open to students from the UK, EU and Overseas who are starting the first year of a PhD programme* in September or October 2026 at any UK university.

To apply for one of the bursaries, the student:
•    must have subscribed to receive our regular email newsletter
•    must have received an offer to study on a part-time or full-time postgraduate research degree
•    must register to receive the Postgraduate Studentships email newsletter and supply a personal statement of up to 200 words in length. AI generated personal statements are not encouraged.

To be awarded the bursary you must have enrolled**, and be able to provide proof of enrolment, onto a full Doctoral degree (eg PhD/DPhil, EdD, DBA, DClinPsy) by the end of October 2026 at any UK university. 

*A Doctoral degree (e.g PhD/DPhil, EdD, DBA, DClinPsy) is delivered under the QAA Framework at FHEQ Level 8 or FQHEIS Level 12. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the independent body that checks on standards and quality in UK higher education.

** in addition to the completion of an existing masters degree and providing proof of English language requirements, enrolment may require the payment of tuition fees before admission is confirmed.

Your PhD can be offered in any subject for study Full-Time, Part-Time, or by Blended Learning at a university located in the mainland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The course will be recruiting for admission in the autumn term, commencing in September or October 2026.

Think Postgrad Ltd will confirm the eligibility of the student selected, as well as the details of their university offer before making any payment.

Closing Date

The closing date to be considered for the bursary is Friday August 21st 2026

Terms of the Bursary

If you are selected to be awarded one of the £1,000 bursaries, you agree to participate in publicity including your name, your nationality, your study programme/course and university.

This publicity will include providing written content for a post about your experience of looking for and studying a PhD degree, including your photograph, for internal and external promotion, including but not limited to websites, social media, advertising and events. 

We will consider social media style submissions, such as vlogs and blog posts that are relevant for students looking for PhD Research opportunities in the UK.

Selection

The two £1,000 bursaries will be allocated by the judging panel during October 2026. The selection criteria for the shortlist will be based solely on the details of the 200 word personal statement submitted by the applicant.

The statement should be written by the applicant. Please do not rely on AI generated text for this task.

All reasonable attempts will be made to reach the selected candidates via the email address provided with your application. If we cannot reach you by the contact details supplied, Think Postgrad reserve the right to withdraw the offer and select another entrant.

Each applicant awarded one of the bursaries will be required to provide proof of enrolment. This proof MUST show that you are fully enrolled to study a PhD at a UK university. If you are unable to provide proof of enrolment you will become ineligible, and another entrant will be selected in your place.

Payment of the £1.000 bursary will be made after appropriate identity and enrolment checks have been undertaken. 

Applicants personal data will be used in accordance with appropriate data protection legislation in the UK.

The successful candidates will be announced in the Postgraduate Studentships email newsletter.

Due to the number of applications received, we are unable to contact unsuccessful applicants. If you have not been contacted by 31 October 2026 you have not been successful.

The decision of the judging panel is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

You are not eligible to enter if you are already enrolled on an existing PhD programme.

Duplicate entries are not acceptable. 

Your personal statement must be your own submission, and not supplied from a third party. Do not rely on AI generated text for this task.

Withdrawal of a bursary

Think Postgrad Ltd reserve the right to withdraw a bursary from anyone who is found to have misled Think Postgrad about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek payment for the full amount.

If a student changes to a programme of study outside the criteria under the eligibility section above, the bursary will be withdrawn.

Further information 

If you have any questions please email answers@thinkpostgrad.com
Alternatively, if you agree to meet our full terms and conditions, please register for the chance to be awarded one of the £1,000 bursaries.

Good luck!