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Four PhD studentships, and three fee waivers are available across the Departments of Sociology and Criminology, International Politics and, Economics.

Each Department will receive ONE studentship and ONE fee waiver, for home and international students. An additional studentship will be offered to a Black and British candidate, who can apply to any of these three Departments.

Closing application date: 11 February 2026 (17:00 GMT)

Our founding principles – to promote the education, wellbeing, and employability of students from all backgrounds – remain core to our School of Policy & Global Affairs (SPGA).

SPGA at City St George's is a cosmopolitan, outward-looking, and internationally excellent centre of education and research. We pride ourselves on our links, connections, and partnerships with business and the professions as well as with the wider communities in which we live and work.

SPGA brings together world renowned social scientists working in three Departments:

and nine Research Centres, and one Institute:

The School is a dynamic community, home to an inclusive mix of students, both local and global. It includes around 2000 students (140 postgraduate) and around 100 members of staff.

We would love to welcome you into our community. City St George's, University of London, is a cosmopolitan, industry-focused, socially engaged, and politically conscious centre of educational excellence and world-changing interdisciplinary research, shaping and influencing professional practice.

In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), 86 per cent of legacy City’s research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

We are particularly interested in research proposals which engage with professional practice, or which have the capacity to generate impact on public policy.

Black British studentship

One studentship will be offered to a Black British candidate from UK-permanent residents (UK fee-paying students) from the following ethnic group: Black (Black or Black British African, Black or Black British Caribbean, Black or Black British other or Mixed Black or Black British).

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement and the potential to produce cutting-edge research. Applicants should have a track record of high academic achievement, demonstrated by a first degree with at least a Second Class (Upper Division) or equivalent. Applicants should demonstrate a suitable aptitude to undertake a course of independent research.

What is included

Funding is available for UK, EU, and international students.

The doctoral studentships will consist of:

  • an annual stipend (currently £21,237; will rise in line with UKRI guidelines) for three years full-time (pro-rata for part-time study), inclusive of London weighting
  • a full UK tuition fee waiver
  • and £1,500 in research expenses/consumables over the course of the award.

Eligibility

The studentships will be awarded on the basis of academic achievement and the quality of their proposal. Projects demonstrating a commitment to interdisciplinarity, social change, and equality, diversity and inclusion are particularly encouraged.

Applicants must hold, or be on course to complete, at least a good Second-Class Honours degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant subject (or international equivalent) or, alternatively, provide equivalent qualifications or professional / practice-based experience that evidences their preparedness for PhD study.

Applicants whose first language is not English and whose qualifications were not completed in a majority English-speaking country must achieve at least 7.0 in IELTS (6.5 for Economics) or a recognised equivalent. Please read information on entry requirements.

Applicants must not be currently registered as a doctoral student at City St George's, University of London, or any other academic institution.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

City St George's, University of London, is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all its activities, processes, and culture, for our whole community, including staff, students, and visitors. As a global institution in the heart of London, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We actively embrace fairness and inclusivity and are dedicated to creating a place where everyone can thrive and belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in our workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people. We also welcome applications from people of different ages, marital and pregnancy status, nationalities, religions and beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds, including those with caring responsibilities.

How to apply

To apply for studentship funding:

  1. Complete an application form by selecting ‘How to Apply’ and ‘Apply Now’ via the programme’s course page. You will be asked to register before you can complete your application. Please note that registering does not commit you to studying if you are not successful in gaining funding.
  2. Upload your transcripts, language test results (if applicable) and research proposal (max. 2000 words exclusive of bibliography). Read guidance on preparing a proposal.
  3. Upload a short cover letter of no more than two sides of A4, with your application requesting that your application be considered for PhD Studentship funding. Please indicate in this cover letter if your application should be considered for the for the Black British studentship.
  4. All applicants should identify potential supervisors (each candidate will have two supervisors) and contact them in advance to see fit and availability. If one (or two) supervisor(s) has (have), in principle, agreed to supervise you, please indicate that in your cover letter.

Contact us

If you have any queries, please contact Dr Elinor Carmi.

School of Policy & Global Affairs