Queen Mary University of London has officially opened applications for its HSS Doctoral Research Studentships 2026–27, a fully funded PhD opportunity for both UK and international students in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
This competitive doctoral funding is available for candidates planning to start their PhD studies in September 2026, making it a key opportunity for the 2026–2027 academic cohort. This article explains what the studentship offers, who can apply, how selection works, and the exact deadlines you must not miss.
About the Queen Mary HSS Doctoral Research Studentships
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) at Queen Mary University of London invites outstanding candidates to apply for doctoral research funding across its Schools, including Arts; Business and Management; Economics and Finance; Law; and Society and Environment. These studentships support full-time and part-time PhD programmes and are designed to attract high-calibre researchers from around the world.
Awards are made purely on academic excellence and research potential, with final offers expected to be issued in mid-March 2026.
What the Studentship Offers?
This is a fully funded PhD studentship, covering both study costs and living expenses for the duration of the doctorate.
The benefits include:
- Full tuition fee coverage for the entire funded period
- Maintenance stipend at the Queen Mary rate
- Approximately £21,874 per year for full-time PhD students
- Approximately £10,937 per year for part-time PhD students
- Funding duration of up to 3.5 years (full-time) or 6.5 years (part-time)
- Open to applicants starting a new PhD or those already in the early stages of doctoral study.
Eligibility Checks
To be considered for the Queen Mary HSS Doctoral Research Studentships 2026–27, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Open to UK and international students
- Must be applying for, or enrolled in, a PhD within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Should hold, or expect to complete by the end of the 2026 academic year, a master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
- Applicants may also be:
- In the first year of a full-time PhD, or
- In the first two years of a part-time PhD at Queen Mary.
A separate BAME doctoral studentship is available for UK home-fee candidates from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, aimed at addressing underrepresentation in doctoral research.
How Selection Works?
Applications are assessed through a two-stage process. First, each discipline ranks candidates based on academic and research merit. Shortlisted applications are then reviewed by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Assessment focuses on:
- Quality and originality of the research proposal
- Academic preparedness and relevant experience
- Feasibility of completing the project within the funded timeframe
- Fit with the expertise of the proposed supervisors.
Successful candidates will receive their offers in mid-March 2026, with one week to accept or decline.
Application Deadlines
The last date to apply for the Queen Mary HSS Doctoral Research Studentships 2026–27 through the university’s online PhD application portal is Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 17:00 (UK time) for most disciplines.
Applicants to the Department of Law / CCLS must submit their applications earlier, by Monday 4 December 2025 at 17:00 (UK time), while candidates applying to the School of Business and Management are required to apply by Friday 16 January 2026 at 17:00 (UK time).