This funding is available to all nationalities applying for PhD Politics.  Please note that existing postgraduate research students cannot be considered for this funding.

Academic requirements 

• Bachelor's (Honours) degree in a cognate subject at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 

• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent) 

Stage 1: Submit your completed online programme application for PhD Politics by 1 December 2025. We can guarantee eligible applications submitted by this date will be considered in the funding competition. If you apply after 1 December 2024 and would like to be considered in the competition, please contact lotte.hargrave@manchester.ac.uk.

Your programme application must contain all necessary supporting documents and indicate in section 9 your intention to apply for the Future of the Academy Studentship.

Stage 2: The completed Future of the Academy Application Form (link below) must be submitted to the Humanities Doctoral Academy via  hums.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk by  (date tbc). 

Application form: 

• https://uom.link/FOA

Your full online application must include;

• A 1,500 word  PhD research proposal .Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• A copy of your Bachelor's and Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
• The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form.
• A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency.

Successful candidates will be chosen on the basis of: 

• Academic merit and preparedness for research
• Quality and feasibility of research proposal
• Consideration of ethical responsibility

This award will cover:  

• Fees (Home or overseas) for 3.5 years. 
• An annual maintenance stipend (this was £20,780 p/a 2025/26). 
• A research training support grant.  

This award does not cover:

• Any costs incurred through a visa application (including the immigration health surcharge).
• Any costs incurred through travel or relocation.

All Future of the Academy PhD Studentship application forms must be received by TBC.

If you have any questions about this studentship, please contact 

Lotte Hargrave 
Deputy PGR Director and Admissions Tutor 
Email: lotte.hargrave@manchester.ac.uk  

Humanities Doctoral Academy 

hums.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk