The University of Warwick in the UK is offering up to 80 Postgraduate Research (PGR) Scholarships for PhD, MPhil/PhD and EngD study starting in October 2027. Every scholarship pays full tuition fees at the UK or international rate plus a tax-free maintenance stipend, and the main Chancellors’ streams are open to applicants of any nationality, including Nigerians and other Africans.
Scholarship deadline: 10 December 2026 at 16:59 GMT (5:59 pm WAT, 6:59 pm CAT/SAST, 7:59 pm EAT). Note the earlier course application deadline of 7 December 2026: you must apply for your PhD place first. Late submissions are not accepted.
Key Details
- University: University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Number of awards: up to 80 across six streams
- Streams: Faculty Chancellors (up to 30), Interdisciplinary Chancellors (up to 12), AHRC Doctoral (up to 3), Doctoral Access – Pathway (up to 3), Doctoral Access – Sanctuary (up to 2) and China Scholarship Council (up to 30)
- One application puts you in consideration for every stream you qualify for
- Course application deadline: 7 December 2026, 16:59 GMT
- Scholarship application deadline: 10 December 2026, 16:59 GMT
- Reference deadline: 21 December 2026
- Mid-stage notification: 25 January 2027; offers released: by 5 March 2027
Benefits
All Warwick PGR scholarships include:
- Full payment of academic fees (home or international)
- A tax-free maintenance stipend for living costs
- Full-time or part-time study (part-time funding is 60% over a longer period, subject to visa rules)
- Up to eight weeks of annual leave a year, and the option to suspend studies for health or personal reasons
- Extra support for disabled researchers and access to professional development
The Faculty and Interdisciplinary Chancellors’ Scholarships add a UKRI-rate stipend for 3.5 years, a £5,000 Research Training and Support Grant, paid family and medical leave and, for eligible international applicants, the chance to apply for help with UK visa and immigration costs.
Eligibility
- Applicants of any nationality or fee status may apply for the Chancellors’ Scholarships
- You must apply for an eligible research degree at Warwick starting in the 2027/28 academic year (October 2027): PhD, MPhil/PhD, EngD, or the PhD stage of a Master’s+PhD route such as 1+3 or 2+4
- Scholarships cannot be deferred to a later year
- Current Warwick postgraduate research students are not eligible
- Some streams (AHRC, Doctoral Access and China Scholarship Council) have their own additional criteria, which are listed on the official page
How to Apply
- Read the scholarship assessment criteria and applicant guidance notes on the official Warwick PGR scholarships page.
- Contact a potential supervisor in your department and submit your research course application by 7 December 2026.
- Wait for an automated email with your seven-digit applicant ID (allow at least 48 hours), then register your ITS applicant account.
- Complete the Warwick scholarship application and upload any required documents by 16:59 GMT on 10 December 2026. Word limits are counted by the portal itself.
- Make sure your referees submit their references by 21 December 2026. Results come by email by 5 March 2027.
Tips for Nigerian and African Applicants
- Do not leave the course application to the last weekend. The applicant ID can take 48 hours to arrive, and Warwick says the scholarship form usually needs more than 36 hours to complete.
- The competition is competency-based, so read the assessment criteria and give concrete examples of research, leadership and impact from your own work.
- Get in touch with supervisors early in November; a supportive supervisor often strengthens the departmental case for your application.
- Prepare English language evidence and certified transcripts now, as Nigerian universities can take weeks to release them.
- Keep the Interdisciplinary stream in mind if your topic crosses two departments, for example health economics or climate and development.
