PhD Funding Programme

Those who plan to study for a PhD can apply for the PhD Funding Programme to support their living costs, course fees, research costs and event attendance over three years.

How the funding works

The PhD Funding Programme consists of the AJ Clark Studentship and Sir David Jack Scholarship, which both share the same application process and award successful applicants the same funding amount. Applicants only need to submit a single application. The BPS will award successful applicants either the AJ Clark Studentship or Sir David Jack Scholarship.

What you will get

The PhD Funding Programme supports three-year PhDs by awarding:

• A yearly stipend to cover the applicant's living costs, worth up to:
  • £20,780* for those studying outside of London
  • £22,780* for those studying in London
• Course fees paid at the rate applicable to 'Home' students.
• Up to £10,000 per year for research costs.
• Up to £1,500 per year to support attendance at non-Society meetings.

*Stipend amounts shown are for the 2025/26 academic year. We match our stipend amounts to UKRI's studentship stipends, so these will be updated each academic year.

Eligibility

• The candidate must have a degree in pharmacology or a related discipline, and intends to carry out research in pharmacology and/or therapeutic innovation, leading to the degree of PhD in a recognised institute in the UK or Ireland.

• The primary supervisor is expected to be/become a BPS member.

• The award cannot ‘top-up’ funding for PhDs that have already started and/or are incompletely funded.

How to apply

The deadline to apply for the 2025 awards is 31 October 2025.

Please download and complete the application form and upload your document via the MyBPS member portal.

Award criteria

• Motivation for applying

• Academic record

• Quality of the project proposal

• Pharmacological and/or therapeutic relevance of the project

Where the funding comes from

Sir David Jack PhD Scholarship

Following a generous donation by the family of revered pharmacologist, Sir David Jack, from 2026 the Society will support up to four PhD students each year (and approximately 40 students over the next 10 years) to carry out research in pharmacology and/or therapeutic innovation.

AJ Clark Studentship

Awarded since 1987, the AJ Clark Studentship enables one student each year to carry out research in pharmacology, leading to the degree of PhD.