Faculty Scholarship – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) is offering 15 fully funded PhD scholarships to outstanding applicants for full-time doctoral study commencing on 19 September 2026.
This competitive funding opportunity supports high-calibre research across key disciplines within the Faculty and aims to attract talented candidates with strong academic backgrounds and clear research potential.
The scholarship is awarded for up to 36 months, subject to satisfactory academic progress and compliance with the PhD Scholarship Terms and Conditions.
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
The Faculty Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support designed to enable recipients to focus fully on their doctoral research. The scholarship covers the following components for up to 36 months based on satisfactory progression:
- Full tuition fees for the duration of the scholarship
- A monthly living stipend of RMB 4,500
- Coverage in accordance with all applicable PhD Scholarship Terms and Conditions
In addition to the core funding package, successful candidates may have opportunities to undertake teaching or research assistant roles at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) from the second year of their PhD programme, subject to completion of Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training and departmental requirements. These opportunities provide valuable professional development experience alongside doctoral research.
Faculty and Available Research Areas
The scholarships are available to applicants seeking to undertake doctoral research within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, which includes the following departments and schools:
- Economics
- Education and English
- International Communications
- International Studies
Prospective applicants are encouraged to explore the specific PhD research areas offered within each department and to consult faculty members’ profiles to identify potential supervisors whose expertise aligns with their proposed research topic. Early engagement with prospective supervisors is strongly recommended to ensure academic fit and research feasibility.
PhD Programme Structure and Award
PhD programmes at UNNC consist of three years of structured research, followed by a one-year thesis pending period for full-time candidates. Students are expected to submit their doctoral thesis within a maximum of four years from the date of initial registration. Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates are awarded a PhD degree from the University of Nottingham. The degree certificate makes no reference to the location of study. The University of Nottingham PhD degree is fully accredited by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the UK Quality Assurance Agency, ensuring international academic recognition and quality assurance.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the academic and language requirements set by the University and the Faculty. Eligibility requirements include the following:
- A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum overall grade of 65% (Merit level) or equivalent
- An Upper Second Class (2:1) Bachelor’s degree from a British university, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised international institution
- Fulfilment of the English language proficiency requirements applicable to the chosen subject area
Detailed information regarding academic qualifications and English language requirements is available on the University’s official Entry Requirements webpage.
Application Process
There is no separate scholarship application for the Faculty Scholarship. Candidates must apply directly to their chosen PhD programme and ensure that they quote the scholarship reference number (26FHSS) in the PhD application form. All applicants are required to submit a complete set of supporting documents as part of their PhD application. Guidance on the application process and a full list of required documents can be found on the University’s How to Apply webpage.
Key Dates and Additional Information
The closing date for applications is 31 March 2026 (China Standard Time, CST). Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline to allow sufficient time for academic review and administrative processing.
This scholarship represents a significant opportunity for motivated researchers to pursue high-quality doctoral training within an internationally recognised academic environment.
