UKRI stipend £19,237/yr, tax-free status, TA income, doctoral loan up to £30,301 — all 2025/26 rates
Estimate your total annual PhD income, monthly take-home, and whether your stipend is tax-free.
TA rates estimated at £35/hr for 30 teaching weeks. Tax calculations are estimates; consult your university or HMRC for your specific position.
| Research Council | Minimum Stipend 2025/26 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EPSRC (Engineering & Physical Sciences) | £19,237 | UKRI minimum |
| ESRC (Social Sciences) | £19,237 | UKRI minimum |
| AHRC (Arts & Humanities) | £19,237 | UKRI minimum |
| MRC (Medical Research) | £19,237+ | Clinical PhDs may be higher |
| BBSRC (Biological Sciences) | £19,237 | UKRI minimum |
| Industry co-funded (CASE) | £21,000–£29,000 | Enhanced by partner company |
| Doctoral Loan (no stipend) | Up to £30,301 loan | Repayable under Plan 3 |
Getting UKRI funding transforms the PhD financial picture. A fully funded UKRI student in 2025/26 receives £19,237 tax-free — equivalent to approximately £24,000 gross salary after tax/NI adjustments, enough to live modestly outside London.
A self-funded PhD student without any scholarship faces tuition fees of £4,500–£8,000+/yr plus living costs — potentially £25,000–£40,000+ in total over 3–4 years. The Doctoral Loan of up to £30,301 helps, but leaves a significant funding gap. Many self-funded students work part-time or take on heavy TA loads, which can extend PhD completion time.
International students who are unfunded face the highest barriers: overseas tuition fees often run £20,000–£35,000/yr plus living costs, with the UKRI 30% international rule still limiting access to stipend-funded positions.
The UKRI minimum stipend for 2025/26 is £19,237 per year, increased from £18,622 in 2024/25. This is the minimum amount — individual Research Councils (EPSRC, ESRC, AHRC, MRC, BBSRC, NERC, STFC) must pay at least this amount. Many universities and employers offering co-funded PhDs pay higher stipends, particularly in London or for industry-partnership projects.
Stipends from Research Councils (UKRI-funded) are generally not subject to income tax or National Insurance, as they are training awards rather than employment income. However, stipends from some other sources (e.g., employer-funded industrial PhDs, CASE studentships with employment contracts) may be taxable. Always check your specific funding letter and consult HMRC guidance or your university finance team.
Students without a stipend who are not otherwise funded can apply for a Doctoral Loan of up to £30,301 (2025/26 rate) to help with fees and living costs. This is repayable under Plan 3 (same as the Postgraduate Master’s Loan) at 6% above £21,000, with a 30-year write-off.
Search findaphd.com, jobs.ac.uk, university departmental pages, and Research Council advertised projects. UKRI-funded “studentships” are attached to specific projects or Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs). Contact potential supervisors directly with a strong research proposal.
These are PhD studentships funded by specific UKRI Research Councils. AHRC (Arts & Humanities), ESRC (Social Sciences), EPSRC (Engineering & Physical Sciences), MRC (Medical Research). Each council funds PhDs within its subject area. Students are allocated to Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) programmes.
Yes, within limits. Most Research Councils permit up to 6 hours per week of paid work (demonstrating, teaching, consultancy) on top of your stipend. Income from demonstrating/teaching assistant work is taxable, even if your stipend is not. Exceeding permitted work hours may breach your funding terms.
The UKRI stipend increased from £18,622 (2024/25) to £19,237 (2025/26) — an increase of £615 or approximately 3.3%. UKRI has committed to raising stipends in line with or above inflation in recent years. The rate is announced annually, typically in early spring.
At £19,237/yr, the UKRI stipend equates to approximately £10.02/hour for a 37-hour week (12 months, assuming no holiday), slightly above the 2025/26 National Living Wage of £12.21/hr. However, the stipend is tax-free for UKRI awards, so take-home is higher relative to a minimum wage job subject to tax and NI. PhDs typically involve variable and sometimes extended hours beyond a standard working week.
A co-funded (or CASE) PhD is jointly funded by a Research Council and an industry or charity partner. The company partner typically provides an enhanced stipend of £2,000–£10,000 above the UKRI minimum, in exchange for some of the PhD research being directed towards their commercial interests. Co-funded PhDs are popular in engineering, life sciences, and data science.
Since 2021, UKRI has allowed up to 30% of studentships in each Doctoral Training Partnership to be allocated to international students (from outside the UK). Previously, most UKRI funding was restricted to home (UK/EU) students. International students typically pay higher fees, which the studentship must also cover. Eligibility and availability vary by DTP and Research Council.
Some universities offer Teaching Assistant (TA) bursaries or contracts alongside PhD study. Rates vary but typically £30–£45/hr for demonstrating laboratory or tutorial sessions. Some departments offer set TA contracts worth £3,000–£6,000/yr. TA income is taxable employment income, unlike a tax-free UKRI stipend.
UKRI funding is typically advertised through Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) programmes affiliated with specific universities. You apply directly to the DTP/CDT for a studentship, often via a departmental application form plus a supervisor contact. Deadlines are typically January–February for October starts. Independent studentships can also be applied for through research proposals to some councils.