University College London (UCL)
UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES)
UCL's flagship scholarship for new research students, open to any nationality and any department. It pays full tuition at the overseas rate, a tax-free stipend and a research allowance for three years full-time (five part-time). Departments nominate candidates and a central panel picks 40 a year, with no account taken of financial circumstances.
Application round
The 2026/27 round closed on Friday 9 January 2026. You submit a complete UCL admission application for your research degree by the same date, then send the department a scholarship cover sheet, CV, a lay summary of your research (max 200 words), transcripts and two references (one from your prospective UCL supervisor). Some departments set an earlier internal deadline. Results go out by mid-March.
Next round
UCL hasn't published the 2027/28 dates yet. The scheme has closed in early January in recent years, so expect a deadline around early January 2027 and check your department's own cut-off in autumn 2026.
The IELTS requirement
The scholarship has no English requirement of its own: your UCL research programme's applies, and it's usually a condition of the admission offer rather than something you upload with the scholarship documents. UCL research degrees commonly ask for IELTS Academic around 7.0 overall, though the level varies by department, so check your programme's page. Have the score ready soon after the January deadline so your offer can be made unconditional before decisions in March.
Where is your IELTS score now?
Your university sets the IELTS score for this scholarship. Take the free level test to get an estimated band for each skill before you apply.
What it covers
- Full tuition fees, at the home or overseas rate
- A maintenance stipend for the standard research period (£22,780 in 2025/26, rising with inflation; the current rate is to be confirmed)
- Research costs of up to £1,200 a year
- Three years full-time or five years part-time; integrated four-year programmes are funded into the fourth year. Writing-up years, travel and visa costs are not covered
Who can apply
- Any nationality, with home or overseas fee status
- Starting a new full-time or part-time MPhil/PhD or EngD at UCL (distance learning, non-resident PhDs and professional doctorates such as DClinPsy are excluded)
- At least a UK 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent, held or expected
- Not already a current UCL student
- Selected on academic merit and research potential only; financial circumstances are not considered
Key facts
- Provider
- University College London (UCL)
- Where you study
- UK
- Study level
- PhD
- Funding
- Fully funded
- Application round
- Dates for the next round aren't published yet
Already know your score?
Build an IELTS plan for this scholarship
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What band do you need?
Your overall IELTS target.
We checked these details against the provider's official page on November 1, 2026. Rules and dates change every round, so confirm them there before you apply.
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