EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award 2026
About this scholarship
The EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award funds PhD studentships at UK universities across engineering, physical sciences and related interdisciplinary areas. Funding and eligibility vary by university and project.
The EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) is a UK doctoral funding mechanism from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. Rather than being a single central scholarship application, it is typically allocated to participating UK universities, which then advertise individual PhD studentships in priority research areas across the EPSRC remit.
These awards support doctoral research in fields such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, physical sciences, robotics, AI, materials, energy, environmental systems, medical technologies, and other interdisciplinary topics. Based on the reference postings, studentships are available at multiple UK institutions including Lancaster University, the University of Lincoln, Brunel University of London, the Royal College of Art, King's College London, the University of Nottingham, the University of Leeds, and the University of Exeter.
Funding is usually fully funded for selected PhD candidates and commonly includes tuition fees at the applicable rate plus a tax-free maintenance stipend aligned with current UKRI/EPSRC rates. Some projects may also include research training support, and a few universities may permit a limited proportion of international applicants or advertise projects as open worldwide, so applicants should always check the specific project page carefully.
Eligibility, subject requirements, residency rules, and deadlines are set by the host university and sometimes by the individual project. Many listed projects require a strong first degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, and some are restricted to UK Home applicants, while others may accept both home and international candidates subject to funding rules. Application routes also vary: some universities require a formal online PhD application, while others ask applicants to contact a supervisor first or apply through a university vacancy or studentship portal.
If you are interested in an EPSRC DLA opportunity, the best approach is to search the participating university's doctoral funding pages, identify a suitable project, and follow that institution's instructions for eligibility, supporting documents, and submission deadlines.
Eligibility
Who can apply for this scholarship
Eligibility depends on the host university and project. Reference postings show that many EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award studentships require applicants to meet PhD entry standards and hold, or expect to obtain, at least a strong upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Some projects are open only to UK Home applicants, while others accept home and international applicants, sometimes with limits on funded international places.
Requirements
Documents typically needed to apply
Language requirements
English language requirements are usually set by the host university; international applicants may need to provide IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent evidence where applicable.
Where you can use this
Open positions accepting EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award.
