PhD Studentship Opportunities at City St George’s, University of London (2026 Intake)

City St George’s, University of London has announced seven funded PhD opportunities within its School of Policy & Global Affairs (SPGA). These competitive studentships are open to UK, EU, and international applicants and span three key academic departments: Sociology and Criminology, International Politics, and Economics.

Located in London, SPGA is known for its strong interdisciplinary focus, international outlook, and close engagement with policy, industry, and wider communities.

Overview of Available Funding

SPGA is offering a combination of fully funded PhD studentships and tuition fee waivers for the 2026 academic cycle:

• Four fully funded PhD studentships

• Three full UK tuition fee waivers

• One studentship reserved for a Black British candidate, applicable across all departments

Each of the three departments will receive:

• One full studentship

• One fee waiver

Financial Support Details

Successful studentship recipients will receive comprehensive financial support, including:

• Annual stipend: £21,237 (inclusive of London weighting, subject to UKRI increases)

• Duration: 3 years full-time (pro-rata for part-time study)

• Full UK tuition fee waiver

• £1,500 research allowance for consumables and research-related expenses

Funding is available to UK, EU, and international students.

Fields of Study

PhD opportunities are available across the following departments:

• Sociology and Criminology

• International Politics

• Economics

Projects that emphasize interdisciplinary research, social impact, and equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are especially encouraged.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following academic and language requirements:

• A good Second-Class Honours degree (or equivalent)

• A Master’s degree in a relevant subject (or equivalent professional/practice-based experience)

• Strong academic performance and a high-quality research proposal

• English language proficiency:

  • IELTS 7.0 overall (6.5 for Economics), or equivalent

• Applicants must not already be registered for a PhD at City St George’s or any other institution

Application Requirements

Candidates applying for studentship funding must submit:

• Completed online PhD application form

• Academic transcripts

• English language test results (if applicable)

• Research proposal (maximum 2,000 words, excluding references)

• Cover letter (maximum two A4 pages) clearly stating:

  • Request for consideration for SPGA PhD studentship funding

  • Whether the application should be considered for the Black British studentship

  • Confirmation of agreed supervisors

Applicants are required to identify and contact two potential supervisors in advance and confirm their availability.

Important Dates

• Studentship application deadline: 11 February 2026 (17:00 GMT)

• General listing closes: 28 February 2026

• Studentships announced for: 2026 intake

How to Apply

• Visit the relevant PhD programme page on the City St George’s website

• Select “How to Apply” and then “Apply Now”

• Register and complete the online application

• Upload all required documents through the application portal

More details are available on the official SPGA studentships page.

Contact Information

For academic or application-related queries, applicants may contact:

Dr. Elinor Carmi
Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research
School of Policy & Global Affairs
City St George’s, University of London

Why Consider This Opportunity?

These PhD studentships are ideal for candidates who aim to:

• Conduct high-quality, policy-relevant research

• Work within an international and interdisciplinary research environment

• Contribute to research addressing social change and global challenges

• Study in one of London’s leading policy and social science institutions

This funding opportunity provides both financial stability and strong academic mentorship for aspiring doctoral researchers.