Postgraduate Funding Opportunities

The University provides information on scholarships and bursaries, giving you a list of available sources of funding. The following are more specific sources of funding for Law postgraduates.

Funding available to Postgraduate Research Students

Funding available to all Law Postgraduates

Funding available to Taught Postgraduate Students only

Post-doctoral funding

Funding available to Postgraduate Research Students

To be considered for any of the funding opportunities below you will first need to apply for the appropriate research degree in Law, namely the Master of Jurisprudence or Doctor of Philosophy. Prospective applicants should discuss their research proposal with a possible supervisor before submitting a formal application. Deadlines for October 2026 entry will be provided below once they have been confirmed by the funding bodies.

Please note that your college may also have some scholarship or bursary options, so please also consult your college website.

NINE DTP ESRC Studentships

Deadline: TBC

The NINE DTP is an exciting collaboration between seven universities producing world-class research across the full range of social science disciplines. NINE DTP builds upon the previous North East Doctoral Training Centre. These studentships require use of a social science methodology, e.g. an element of empirical research. For full details, please see the NINE DTP website and in particular the section on how to apply.

In order to facilitate the best level of support throughout the application process, we kindly ask that you adhere to the below internal deadlines, in addition to the final deadline specified above. 

Please send an informal expression of interest to law.researchofficer@durham.ac.uk, copying in your intended supervisor, if you would like to be considered for this studentship for October 2026 entry. 

China Scholarships Council

Deadline: TBC

These important scholarships are available thanks to a partnership with the China Scholarships Council. The scholarships are open to applicants from China wishing to study for a PhD at Durham. Further Information about scholarships from the China Scholarships Council is available here.

In order to facilitate the best level of support throughout the application process, we kindly ask that you adhere to the below internal deadlines, in addition to the final deadline specified above.

Please send an informal expression of interest to law.researchofficer@durham.ac.uk, copying in your intended supervisor, if you would like to be considered for this scholarship for October 2026 entry.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Closing date: TBC

Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. Further Information about Commonwealth Scholarships is available here.

MLR Scholarship

Closing date: TBC

The Modern Law Review has financial support available for students engaged in doctoral research on any subject broadly within the publishing interests of the Review; these scholarships are awarded by annual competition. 

Nominations are submitted by the Dean of Durham Law School. Please note that to be eligible for nomination, students must have completed the first year of their PhD research at Durham Law School and passed any necessary annual reviews at the time of the award (though not necessarily the time of application). Students who have not yet commenced their PhD at the time of nomination are not eligible for consideration.

Eligible students must send all completed paperwork to law.researchofficer@durham.ac.uk

Full details can be found here: https://www.modernlawreview.co.uk/about-mlr-scholarships/

Funding available to all Law Postgraduates

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships provide a flat grant of US$25,000 or its equivalent for one academic year of study in another country. These awards are intended to help defray costs associated with round-trip transportation, tuition and other fees, room and board, and some educational supplies. Applications are to be made through your local Rotary club. Use the Club Locator to find contact information for Rotary clubs.

Funding available to Taught Postgraduate Students only

The Ralph Whitell Waggett Bursary Fund

The Ralph Whitell Waggett Bursary Fund has been gratefully bequeathed and awards funding biennially from 2023 onwards. This fund will be open to applicants from Summer 2023 for students preparing to study on an LLM programme. Find out more here.

The British Chevening Scholarships

These awards enable overseas students to undertake postgraduate study in the UK. Further information about The British Chevening Scholarships is available here.

The Hatfield Lioness Scholarship

Thanks to alumni generosity, Hatfield College offers a fully funded PGT scholarship (fees, stipend, travel etc expenses) for a woman from a developing country, the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship.

Post-doctoral funding

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships

This scheme provides funding to cover the costs of a 36 month fellowship at a host institution of your choosing. The purpose of this award is to enable the award holder to pursue an independent research project, towards the completion of a significant piece of publishable research. For more information, including eligibility, please see full guidance on the British Academy website.

If interested in this scheme, please email law.researchofficer@durham.ac.uk.

ESRC NINE DTP Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme

Deadline: 10th March 2025, 4pm (UK Time)

This scheme is for students that have recently completed their PhD and wish to consolidate their research through developing publications, their networks, and their professional skills. It provides one year of funding (two year if done part-time).

To be eligible students must have had their viva (and either passed or passed with minor revisions) no later than 25^th March 2025, and they also may have had no more than 12 months of postdoctoral research experience.

Applicants must submit a full NINE DTP application (available on their webpages) by 4pm (UK time) on 10^th March 2025. This must be sent to Vicky Mortlock at law.researchofficer@durham.ac.uk

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships

Internal Closing date: 8th January 2024

The scheme is expected to open in January 2023 for early career researchers, with a research record but who have not yet held a full-time permanent academic post. The expectation is that fellows will undertake a significant piece of publishable work during their tenure, and that the fellowships should lead to a more permanent academic position. They are available for up to 3 years full time. For more information please see full guidance on the Leverhulme website.

For enquiries on these schemes contact law.researchofficer@durham.ac.uk.