Funding
We have a number of funded positions and funding opportunities available for our PhD applicants listed below. Please note that all submitted PhD applications are automatically considered for school based funding during the admissions process.
Please note that the funding opportunities below are for PhD applicants only and not for MSc by Research applicants. For alternative sources of funding for MSc by Research applicants, please see this webpage.
The School has a number of University of Bristol Scholarships for both Home and Overseas students commencing their PhDs in 2026/27. These can be awarded on a full-time or part-time basis. At least one scholarship will be allocated to a student in an under-represented group.
These scholarships, normally available for a period of up to 4 years, are awarded on a competitive basis across the School of Mathematics, to students with relevant undergraduate degrees at the First Class level, or equivalent.
For students eligible for Home or Overseas fees, a University of Bristol scholarship meets all the tuition fees and pays a maintenance allowance to the student. In 2025/26, the value of this allowance is £20,780 which is a net amount and not subject to tax or national insurance.
A common method of funding comes directly from the School, which receives partial funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for students undertaking PhD degrees, known as Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLAs) (formerly known as Doctoral Training Partnerships DTPs). These EPSRC studentships, available for a period of up to 3.5 years, are awarded on a competitive basis across the School of Mathematics, to students with relevant undergraduate degrees at the First Class level, or equivalent.
For eligible students, an EPSRC studentship meets all the tuition fees and pays a maintenance allowance to the student. In 2025/26, the value of this allowance is £20,780 which is a net amount and not subject to tax or national insurance. Supplements may be available for disabled students, mature students, students with dependents and for students with suitable postgraduate work experience.
PhD in Mathematics
The Heilbronn Doctoral Partnership invites applications for funded PhD studentships in association with the School of Mathematics at the University of Bristol. We are seeking applicants with preferred topics including the general areas of pure mathematics, probability, data science, and quantum information.
In addition to undertaking cutting-edge research, students on this programme will have the opportunity to attend various Heilbronn career development activities in each year of study.
These competitive studentships are awarded across the School of Mathematics for a duration of 3.5 years. Heilbronn studentships provide coverage for Home fees and include a stipend valued at £20,780 for the 2025/26 academic year. The stipend is paid as a net amount and is exempt from both income tax and national insurance contributions.
Students from traditionally under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
For further information about the Heilbronn Institute, please visit our website: https://heilbronn.ac.uk/
In order to apply, simply complete and submit a standard online PhD application to the University of Bristol and tick both the ‘I would like to be considered for a funding award from the Department’ box and the ‘Other’ box. Then write in the free text space that you would like to be considered for the Heilbronn Doctoral Partnership (in addition to all our other available funding sources).
For details on how to apply, please visit http://bristol.ac.uk/maths/postgraduate/phd/mathematics/apply/
Fully funded PhD studentships are available for those who are permanent residents of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application. Chinese students studying overseas may also be eligible. For more information see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fees-funding/awards/china-scholarship-council/
You must submit your PhD programme application with a valid English language certificate by 12 noon (UK time) on Monday 1 December 2025.
Fully funded PhD scholarships are available for strong students in Pure Mathematics (broadly interpreted) for entry from September 2026.
Each four-year studentship covers:
- Tuition fees
- tax-free stipend in line with UKRI stipend rates for living expenses,
- one-off relocation payment of £2,000,
- equipment and travel allowance to support research related activities, and
- development activities and events.
This opportunity is open to UK, EU, and international students*.
About the Project
We seek applications from students with research interests in one or more of the following areas: Algebra, Analysis, Combinatorics, Dynamical Systems, Ergodic Theory, Geometry and Topology, Number Theory, Probability, Set Theory and Logic. Applicants do not need to propose their own project, but should indicate their main area(s) of interest, and may identify possible supervisors or projects from the list below.
Examples of other types of funding can be found below.
For American students wanting to study in the UK. These are very prestigious scholarships, and the University would typically provide matched funding. For further details, please check the website.
Contact the British Council Office in your own country for details.
Postgraduate students may have an opportunity to supplement their income by giving first-year undergraduate tutorials and marking undergraduate work. As well as providing additional income, you also gain useful transferable skills.
We recommend that students only work up to 6 hours per week. Typically, as a rough guide, through these activities our students earn in the range of £1,000 to £2,000 per year. Overseas students would need to provide proof that they are allowed to work in the UK. The School organises training sessions for all students who undertake supervision or marking.