Funding Eligibility for LISS DTP Studentships

Funding Eligibility for LISS DTP Studentships

LISS DTP studentships are now open to both Home and International students.  You must however be aware of the definitions of each category and their funding implications.

Nationality and residency requirements for both Home and International students can be found in EU and international eligibility for UKRI studentships from 2021 – UKRI. Please read this document to determine whether you will be classed as a Home or International student.

Contact the Admissions team at the institution to which you have applied if you are uncertain of your tuition fee status. LISS DTP is unable to advise on complex cases and will abide by your institution’s assessment of your status.

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Home students

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter
International Students

If you do not meet the above criteria you are classed as an International student, For further details please refer to EU and international eligibility for UKRI studentships from 2021 – UKRI

Following a UKRI announcement in 2020, from October 2021 International students (including EU students) are eligible for ESRC studentships. However, the total number of international studentships a DTP is able to offer has been capped by UKRI at 30% of the total number of studentships awarded each year, and so studentships for international students will be limited in number and competitive.

The ESRC will only fund the Home Fee, which means that the difference between the home and international fee must be found elsewhere, such as:

  • the applicant’s department,  
  • the applicant’s host institution,  
  • or another source such as self-funding.  

LISS DTP institutions will fund the difference between the home and international fee for a limited number of international students and at this stage we cannot guarantee that every international student offered a LISS DTP studentship will receive this funding as part of their studentship.

Academic Eligibility – For LISS DTP students

Due to the limited number of studentships available, successful applicants are likely to have:

  • a very good first degree (BA or BSc Honours or equivalent) at 1st class standard or upper 2nd with average of 65% or above,
  • for +3 awards, an appropriate Masters degree (at distinction or at least high merit level) is expected,
  • other qualifications relevant to the proposed area of study, such as professional or work-related expertise, will also be considered.
The following are NOT eligible:
  • Students who will have less than 50% of their study time (usually 3 years for a full-time PhD) remaining when they start their LISS-funded studentship.  In practice, this means that students in their first year of doctoral study can apply for funding for the second and third years.
  • Distance learning programmes .
  • Applicants who have already been awarded a PhD or equivalent degree.