Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Scholarship (SEED) 2026 Entry
Funding description
We aim to ensure our student cohort reflects the diverse community we serve. We recognise that the entire HE sector needs to do more to adopt an anti-racist and inclusive agenda. This scholarship is one of the ways that the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) is addressing the challenges.
This full award is for Home (UK) PhD applicants and offer holders who identify as Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME)/People of Colour. This funding is available to students undertaking study in:
- Architecture
- Counselling
- Education
- Geography
- International Development
- Planning, Property and Environmental Management
Key features of this studentship
- Full PhD tuition fees for 3.5 years (or 7 years part-time).
- Annual UKRI maintenance stipend - (this was £20,780 p/a 2025/26).
- Available to Home (UK) students only.
How to be considered
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do at The University of Manchester. We know that a diverse research community drives creativity, productivity and research quality, and strengthens our impact on society and the economy.
We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and career paths. We encourage interest from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation or transgender status.
This award is open to Home (UK) students only.
The scholarship is open to Home applicants and offer holders who identify as Black and Asian Minority Ethnic / People of Colour.
In order to be considered for this scholarship you must meet this criteria:
- Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
- Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)
Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency with their application. If English language is an outstanding condition of your offer, you must meet this by (date TBC) . If you do not meet this, we cannot include your application in the competition.
Acceptable evidence includes:
- IELTS test minimum score - 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing, 6.0 in other sections.
- TOEFL (internet based) test minimum score - 100 overall, 25 in all sections.
- To demonstrate that you have taken an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a majority English speaking nation within the last 5 years.
- Other tests may be considered .
- Choose your PhD programme in the School of Environment, Education and Development.
- Prepare a research proposal. Guidance on preparing a research proposal can be found here.
- Find your supervisor: You may also wish to look at our online guide ‘Find a supervisor’.
- Complete your application prior to the advertised funding deadline (see key dates below) with all necessary supporting documents (How to apply). Specify in the funding section of your PhD application form (Section 9) that you wish to be considered for the SEED SERE Studentship.
This award will cover:
- Tuition fees for 3.5 years (or 7 years part-time).
- Annual maintenance stipend.
Offers of funding are not deferrable. If you cannot start your programme by the date mentioned in your studentship offer letter, the award will be withdrawn. You are permitted to re-apply in future.
Application Deadline – tba
Receive Formal Offer – tba
Funding Interview Decisions – tba
If you have any questions about this studentship, please contact hums.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
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