Finding the Funding for PhDs

Considering getting a PhD but think you can’t afford it? Think again. The truth is that a multitude of scholarships, grants and other funding opportunities are available aimed at supporting PhD students. For starters, many universities offer PhD students a tuition waiver and stipend for living expenses in exchange for certain responsibilities, such as working as a lecturer or teaching assistant.

However, all is not lost if you do not receive full funding through your degree program. In fact, a number of other funding options exist. We’ve not only rounded up just a few of the many options out there, but we’ve also sorted them by five popular fields of study to make it even easier to identify one that fits your needs.

1. STEM
Because STEM grads continue to be in great demand, a number of scholarships exist aimed at helping students pursue advanced degrees in this sought-after field, including the following:

• The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Graduate Scholarship Programs
• The National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (US)
• The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
• The Smithsonian Institute Fellowship Program (SIFP)
• Science and Technology Facilities Council Studentships (UK)

2. History
While history may not be as flashy as STEM, it’s just as important: After all, the study of history “helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be,” according to the American Historical Association. “The past causes the present, and so the future.” PhDs in History can have extensive support, including the following:

• Commonwealth Scholarships (UK and Singapore)
• The Bibliographical Society
• The Library of Congress (US)

3. Art
The number of PhD programs in art continues to grow, as do the number of funding opportunities for students in this creative field. They include the following:

• The Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) (UK)
• The Folger Shakespeare Library Fellowships Program

4. The Social Sciences

Organizations like the UK’s Campaign for Social Science seek to raise the profile of this oft-overlooked field. If you’re considering a PhD in this vital area, funding options include the following:

• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (UK) Funding Opportunities
• The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Fellowships & Prizes
• Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program Doctoral Scholarships, and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships (Canada)

5. The Life Sciences
The life sciences comprise many challenging subjects, but they all share at least one thing: the exciting and rewarding ability to look closely at living things. This is prime breakthrough territory, which is why a vast number of scholarship support is designated to this area, including the following:

• VIB International PhD Program in Life Sciences

Even better news? These examples are just breaking the surface of support available for PhD students. By conducting your own research and checking in with your university, you should be able to compile a comprehensive list of your own potential funding sources.