Fees and funding
Find out about the fees and funding associated with postgraduate research study as well as the many studentships we offer including the Vice-Chancellor's Studentship Award and Doctoral College Studentship Award.
Studentships
We appreciate that not all of those who want to start a Doctoral programme will be able to self-fund their studies. For those who require financial support there are options available to you. These pages are intended to help aid your search for funding.
"It is a priority for us to attract exceptional global research talent, in order to fulfil our mission to transform lives across the world through research and education. We are delighted to offer prospective international PhD students a generous funding package to support their development as future leaders in academia and beyond."
Max Lu, Vice-Chancellor of the University of SurreyLoans
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course, such as a PhD.
If you're studying for a PhD within a Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) or Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), your eligibility depends on whether your research is funded by a Research Council studentship. If it is, you won't be able to apply for a loan. Similarly, if you apply for a loan and subsequently receive research council funding you will required to pay back the loan.
Further information about the Doctoral Loan can be found here:
Employer sponsorship
If you want to do research within your current area of professionalism and believe that your doctorate will improve performance at work, it is worth discussing with your employer whether they may be prepared to help to subsidise or pay your fees. To get guidance on how to approach these conversations, we recommend you read the Prospects employer sponsorship information.
Departments in the University also offer commercial studentships, these programmes are embedded in industry with a sponsoring organisation.
Charities and learned societies grants
Charities and trusts sometimes provide smaller grants, often for students from poorer backgrounds or those who have achieved academic excellence. You can find out more at your local library in publications such as Educational Grants Directory; Charities Digest; Grants Register; and the Directory of Grant Making Trusts. You can also use the Family Action grant search.
Certain societies also offer funding for postdoctoral research. They include:
- British Academy (for humanities and social sciences)
- Cumberland Lodge
- Royal Academy of Engineering (for engineering)
- Royal Society (for science)
Postgraduate research tuition fees
View a full list of our postgraduate research fees.
Bench fees
Some programmes charge a bench fee (also known as a research support fee) in addition to the tuition fee. The bench is charged to cover additional costs incurred by the academic department to support your research, such as consumables, materials, additional specialist training and trips. These costs are not covered by the tuition fee. The bench fee is calculated on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the research project and is independent from the tuition fee status of the student.
If you are made an offer of admission to the University of Surrey, you will be notified of any bench fee applicable in your offer letter. Students or sponsors should contact the academic supervisor directly for information on the specific breakdown of what their bench fee covers.