We are inviting applications for Centre-UB PhD studentships starting in October 2026.
Please see Studentship Opportunities for more detailed information about the available projects.
Application deadline: Tuesday February 17th 2026, 5pm
Eligibility
There are many different routes into a PhD. In this brief video, members of Centre-UB share how and when they decided that they wanted to do a PhD.
To be eligible for a PhD studentship, you are required to have obtained or are expected to obtain at least a 2.1 degree classification from a UK university (or equivalent for a non-UK university) in an area related to the specific PhD project. Please check the specific requirements for your chosen project. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the supervisor of the PhD project.
Both home and international applicants are invited to apply. Due to funding stipulations set by UKRI, we are able to recruit at least 70% of home applicants and up to 30% of international applicants to the cohort each year. To be classed as a home applicant, candidates must meet the following criteria: a) be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), b) have settled status, c) have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or d) have indefinite leave to remain or enter. If you do not meet these criteria, you would be classed as an international applicant. For international applicants, please check the language requirements for the PhD programme you are applying to.
Centre-UB is committed to enhancing the diversity of the postgraduate research community. To do this, we are working with The Talent Foundry, an organisation that enhances social mobility in young people from underserved communities. This initiative is exclusively available to UK home students who meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants will be invited to access pre-application support, as well as interview preparation support (if shortlisted). To check if you are eligible for this support, please complete this brief survey.
What’s included
Stipend: Each 4-year studentship will include a stipend at UKRI rate (for 25/26 this was £20,780, paid in monthly instalments) and tuition fees. The stipend rate for 2026/27 will be announced here.
Partnership: Each studentship will be conducted in close collaboration with a partner organisation (including public, private, or third sector partners) with interest and expertise in human behaviour. Each doctoral researcher will be supervised by at least 2 supervisors at the University of Birmingham and a supervisor from a partner organisation.
Training opportunities: PhD students will have access to an exciting training programme to support their development as a researcher (see Benefits of a Studentship). As key members of Centre-UB, PhD students will also be given opportunities to engage with and present at a range of dissemination and public engagement activities.