There are two different kinds of funding available. Full Maintenance & Tuition Grants cover both tuition fees and living expenses; Support Grants provide additional help for students who have a financial support from elsewhere, but which turns out to be insufficient.
Grants cannot be accumulated beyond full fees and maintenance cost; that is, no student is entitled to more than having his/her fees paid plus living expenses of up to £13,000.
For information regarding travel grants click here|.
Full Maintenance Grants
1. LSE Philosophy Scholarship
The Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics offers one full PhD Scholarship every year. The Scholarship covers tuition fees and living expenses of £13,000 each year for three years, with annual renewal subject to satisfactory academic performance. They are available both for Home UK/EU and Overseas students undertaking research in philosophy within the department. From the second year onwards, students will ordinarily teach up to three undergraduate classes (1h/week each for 20 weeks) as part of their funding. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and research potential.
Should it be the case that, satisfactory progress during these three years notwithstanding, a fourth year is necessary to complete the thesis, the department will consider an extension of the scholarship for a fourth year.
Current students are not eligible for this scholarship.
2. LSE PhD Scholarships
The LSE offers a number of full scholarships for new PhD students. The scholarships cover fees and living expenses of £13,000 each year for three years. They are available for Home UK/EU and Overseas students undertaking research in any LSE discipline, with annual renewal subject to satisfactory academic performance at the School. Scholarships will be awarded on academic merit and research potential. For further information click here|.
Should it be the case that, satisfactory progress during these three years notwithstanding, a fourth year is necessary to complete the thesis, the department will consider supporting the student for a fourth year out of its own resources.
Current students are not eligible for this scholarship.
3. AHRC Block Grants
The Arts and Humanities research Council (AHRC)| offers PhD funding via its Doctoral Awards Scheme.| Doctoral awards provide support for up to three years of full-time study, or up to five years of part-time study. Under the AHRC's new Block Grant Scheme| the LSE has two philosophy scholarships every year.
The AHRC has eligibility restrictions in place. The regulations state that to be eligible for a full award, the candidate must show that s/he has "a relevant connection with the UK, usually through residence". This is commonly taken to mean that candidates fall in one of the following categories: (a) they are UK citizens; (b) they are EU citizens who have spent the last three years in the UK either in full time education, full time work, or part time study/work; (c) they are non-EU citizens who have spent the last three years in the UK in full time employment (but not as students). If you do not fall within either of these groups but believe you have a relevant connection to the UK it is worth checking with the AHRC whether they would consider your application.
Should it be the case that, satisfactory progress during these three years notwithstanding, a fourth year is necessary to complete the thesis, the department will consider supporting the student for a fourth year out of its own resources.
Both current and new students are eligible for these scholarships.
4. BSPS PhD Scholarship
The British Society for Philosophy of Science (BSPS|) every year offers a scholarship for doctoral work| in philosophy of science in a UK university. The level of the award will be the same as that of AHRC funding and will cover fees and maintenance for three years. The BSPS award will not be awarded to anyone with another source of funding, but applicants will normally be expected to have applied for AHRC funding where eligible, and the BSPS scholarship will only be awarded when the AHRC has informed candidates of its decisions.
Should it be the case that, satisfactory progress during these three years notwithstanding, a fourth year is necessary to complete the thesis, the department will consider supporting the student for a fourth year out of its own resources.
Both current and new students are eligible for this scholarship.
5. Darwin Trust Scholarship
The Darwin Trust of Edinburgh offers a History of Philosophy of Science and Technology Scholarship in alternate years (the next being offered for entry in September 2010). This is a full scholarship (£13,000 maintenance and fees), and is open to candidates of any nationality who whish to pursue PhD studies in history of philosophy of science and technology at a UK university. The Trust has no website; information about scholarships will be send to the Department, and distributed to students via the usual departmental channels.
Application
You can be considered for all of these scholarships as soon as have submitted your application for the MPhil/PhD programme. If you wish to be considered please send an email to philosophy.phd@lse.ac.uk. The deadline for applications for the LSE Philosophy Scholarship, LSE PhD Scholarships, and the AHRC PhD scholarship is January 10. Since the possibility of applying for BSPS PhD scholarship is conditional on having applied for other sources of funding, the deadline is July 15 (although candidates could, in principle, apply directly to the BSPS, their application will only have a serious chance to succeed if the application is supported by the department and it is therefore important that the application is coordinated by the department).
Support Grants
1. LSE Research Studentships
The LSE provides each department with a limited amount of funds that the department can distribute among its PhD students under the so-called LSE Research Studentship Scheme. This scheme is intended for students who have secured funding from other sources, which, however, turns out to be insufficient. Studentships aim to cover the difference between available funding and what is necessary, or at least make a contribution towards this difference. The level of assistance given is determined by the Department of Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method and is usually given as a contribution towards fees.
Both new and continuing students are eligible for the scheme, regardless of whether they are Home UK/EU or Overseas students. Continuing students need to apply through the LSE Financial Support Office| (not the department). The deadline for applications is usually some time mid June. Information can be found here|; the application form can be downloaded here|.
New MPhil/PhD students who receive an offer of admission by the end of May will automatically be advised (via the Graduate Admissions Office) on how to apply for the LSE Research Studentship scheme. They should, however, also inform the Department at philosophy.phd@lse.ac.uk that they wish to be considered.
The Financial Support Office is responsible for notifying all applicants of the outcome of their application and will do so in August 2009.
2. AHRC Fees Only Award
The Arts and Humanities research Council (AHRC|) offers PhD funding via its Doctoral Awards Scheme|. A fees-only award provides payment of tuition fees, up to the RCUK maximum, but not a maintenance grant (i.e. it does not cover living expenses).
The AHRC funding schemes are currently under review and will probably undergo major changes in the near future, in particular due to the introduction of Block Grant Partnership scheme. So be careful to check with both the AHRC and the department what the regulations are at the time of applying.
The AHRC has eligibility restrictions in place. The regulations state that to be eligible for a fees-only award, applicants must have been ordinarily resident in the EU for the three years immediately preceding the start of the academic year in which the course will commence (notice that this implies that Overseas students who have been ordinary residents in the EU are eligible).
3. Lakatos Award
All new and existing graduate students are eligible for Lakatos Scholarship. This award is worth up to £4,000 and is given on the basis of outstanding academic work and promise. The Scholarship may be tenable for two years, although the second year is conditional on satisfactory academic progress in the first year. Applications for this scholarship are not required. Nominations will be made at the annual Departmental PhD Progress/Upgrading Meeting in July. Existing PhD students will be nominated on the basis of work done during the academic year; new PhD students will be nominated on the basis of their the file (writing sample and letters of reference) accompanying their PhD application. For further information visit the Lakatos Award Website|.
4. Shine Award
This award offers up to £2000 to an international student. The Awards recognise international students who are really getting the most out of their UK experience. This is a different kind of awards scheme - it focuses on your broader experiences and achievements, rather than your studies. For example, if you have learned new skills or developed new interests since coming to the UK, achieved personal goals, played an active role in your institution or community, or are generally trying to experience all that the UK has to offer, then these awards are for you. Entry is simple. You need to write a 'letter home', composed as if it is for relatives, friends or former teachers back home - submitted in an online format - explaining how you are making the most of your time in the UK. For further information click here|.
5. Part Time Teaching
The Department offers PhD students the possibility to teach undergraduate classes that accompany the lectures. This offers an excellent opportunity to acquire essential teaching experience, and it also offers a possibility to earn some money. The deadline for applications is usually at the beginning of May; please check the website for precise information. You will be notified shortly after the deadline if you have been allocated any classes. Please be advised that even if you have been teaching classes this year you should still submit a new application.
The level of pay depends on how many classes you teach, class size and on whether you are marking. As an example, if you taught one class with 10 students during the entire academic year and also marked their exams and held office hours, you would get a total of around 1000 Pound.
Those who wish to apply for class teaching should complete the application form, which is made available on the "Current Students" section of the department website (click here|)around the time when applications become imminent.
6. Further Funding Opportunities
There may be other funding opportunities that can arise in connection with your special personal circumstances. It is worth checking with the LSE Financial Support Office| whether they know of possibilities beyond the ones listed here.