How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Eligibility, Stipend and Deadline

What a PhD advert is really telling you

A PhD advert is not only a project description. It is a short contract summary. It should tell you who can apply, how the position is funded, how much it pays, and when it closes. If an advert leaves out one of these parts, treat that as a sign to ask the department directly before you spend time on an application.

A university guide for staff who write these adverts, from Imperial College London, tells supervisors to cover four things in every advert: the duration, eligibility, the stipend, and how to apply. Use the same four points as your own checklist when you read one.

Studentship or paid contract

Most PhD adverts in the UK offer a "studentship": a stipend (a living allowance) plus your tuition fees, paid by a research council, a university, or a charity. A smaller number of adverts offer a paid research post, where you are an employee on a salary. The two are not the same. A studentship is usually not an employment contract, so check your offer letter or contract for the exact terms, including leave, sick pay, and pension, before you accept.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK's main public funder, does not let students apply to it directly. You apply to the university or institute named in the advert. UKRI sets a minimum stipend each year as a floor, not a fixed amount: some projects pay more. For 2025 to September 2026 the minimum is £20,780 a year, rising to £21,805 from 1 October 2026. An advert that quotes a lower figure, or no figure at all, is a reason to ask for the exact amount before you apply.

Eligibility: degree, fee status and English

Look for three eligibility conditions in every advert:

• Degree requirement. Many adverts ask for a first-class or upper-second-class honours degree, or an equivalent, in a named subject. A Master's degree is often described as an advantage, not a requirement.
• Fee status. Many fully funded studentships are open only to students with "home" fee status, because the funder covers only the home fee rate and the provider may have no budget for the difference. If the advert does not say, ask the contact named in the advert whether international applicants can apply, and on what funding.
• English language requirement. If your first language is not English, expect a required test score, even if the advert does not state one. Ask before you apply if it is not listed.

Tip: "Fully funded" normally means fees and a stipend. It does not always include visa costs. UKRI funding, for example, does not pay for a Student visa or the UK immigration health surcharge, so budget for these yourself.

The stipend or salary, and what it covers

Read the stipend figure next to the fee status rule, not on its own. A studentship stipend is usually tax-free and separate from any tuition fee the project also covers. A salaried research post is taxed like any other job and may include a pension. If the advert states a stipend "in line with UKRI rates," you can expect at least the current UKRI minimum, and your provider can confirm the exact figure for your start date, since it changes every year.

If you will need a Student visa, you must also show you have enough money to support yourself, on top of your stipend or salary, when you apply for the visa. The amount needed depends on your circumstances, so check the current rule when you are ready to apply.

Deadlines and the application timeline

Most PhD adverts give one closing date, not a rolling deadline. Some open competitions instead give a window and invite expressions of interest before a later, formal deadline. Read the advert for both dates if two are given: the expression-of-interest date and the final application date.

A typical timeline is: advert closes, shortlisting, interview, offer, then formal application through the university's postgraduate admissions system. If you need a visa, allow extra time after your offer: a Student visa decision usually takes 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, or 8 weeks from inside the UK.

Documents you need before you apply

• An academic CV
• A covering letter or statement that responds to the project description
• Contact details, or letters, for two or three academic referees
• Transcripts and degree certificates
• Proof of your English language score, if asked for

Most PhD adverts ask for a CV and a covering letter in the first stage. Only the candidate who is offered the position usually completes the university's full online application form.

Common mistakes when reading an advert

• Treating "fully funded" as covering every cost, including a visa and the health surcharge.
• Applying without checking the fee status restriction, then finding out late that you are not eligible.
• Missing the expression-of-interest date in a two-stage process, and so missing the final deadline too.
• Assuming the advert's stipend figure is fixed, when it may be a minimum that your provider can confirm or increase.

Where to find open PhD positions

PhD Atlas lists current PhD positions and funded PhD positions, including positions in the United Kingdom. Before you apply, read our guide on funded vs unfunded PhD positions to understand the terms used in adverts, and our guide on writing a PhD motivation letter once you are ready to apply.

Tip: Create a free account at /signup. PhD Atlas matches open positions to your CV, so you spend less time reading adverts that do not match your fee status or your degree.