Pursuing a research degree at The University of Manchester is an exciting opportunity — but like any major academic commitment, it comes with financial considerations. In this post we break down what you need to know about tuition fees, living costs, and the many funding options available for postgraduate research students.

Tuition Fees for Research Programmes

1. Tuition fees vary depending on whether you are classed as a Home (UK) student or an Overseas/International student.
2. Exact fee amounts depend on the specific programme, subject area, and whether you are full-time or part-time. For example, a listing showed for a PhD in Computer Science (2025 entry): UK full-time students: various bands starting around £5,006 annually; International students in bands up to ~£60,800.
3. The University notes that for research programmes they do not charge separate ‘research support’ or “bench” fees — the tuition fee covers study, supervision, registration and standard resourcing.
4. As an international student, check whether your fee is fixed for the duration of your study — many international research fees are fixed once you begin.
5. Important: Always check the most recent fee schedule on the University’s official site and your offer letter for the specific amount.

What are Typical Living Costs?

1. Beyond tuition you will need to budget for living expenses: accommodation, food, transport, study materials, utilities etc.
2. The University provides guidance on living costs for full-time postgraduate research students, based on a 52-week academic year.
3. Since costs vary by individual lifestyle and circumstances, use the University’s estimates as a baseline and consider adding a buffer for contingencies (health, travel, extra research costs).

Funding and Financial Support Options

Thankfully, there is a wide variety of funding support available for postgraduate research students at Manchester:

Internal Funding & Scholarships

1. Manchester invests significantly each year in doctoral funding — internal scholarships, studentships and awards.
2. The University maintains a database of funding opportunities: for students to search for awards tailored to their discipline or nationality
3. Example: Fully-funded four-year studentships that cover tuition fees, an annual stipend and additional support costs (for example, for travel) have been offered.
4. Example: The “Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships” are wide-ranging awards across faculties for the University’s research programmes.
5. If you have a specific supervisor or research project in mind, discuss funding options with them early, as many awards require nomination or alignment with faculty research themes.

Loans and External Funding

1. UK students may be eligible for doctoral loans (for research programmes) to help cover tuition and living costs. For example, there is a loan available for postgraduate research programmes.
2. Alternative sources include trusts, charities, industry sponsorship, government awards and international scholarships. The University emphasises exploring funding beyond internal sources.

Supporting Specific Student Groups

1. There are special funding routes for students with disabilities, students from under-represented backgrounds, and for those undertaking international or partnership research.
2. Some awards combine a Master’s plus PhD (“1+3” or “1+4” models) especially in the humanities, providing full Schorlarships for the entire period.

Key Tips for Funding Success

1. Start your funding search early — some scholarships have early deadlines and require you to indicate you have an offer of admission or a supervisor.
2. Contact your proposed supervisor or department to ask about funding tied to specific research projects — many studentships are project-specific.
3. Check that you meet all eligibility criteria for each award (e.g., nationality, residency status, research level, funding requirement).
4. When budgeting your time, remember that even with funding it is wise to plan for extra costs (travel, conferences, equipment, fieldwork) and living cost increases.
5. If self-funding, consider whether part-time study or working alongside research is feasible (but balance with research demands).
6. Keep an eye on any inflation in fees, changes in visa/immigration terms (for international students) and changes in loan terms.

Summary

If you are planning to pursue a research degree at The University of Manchester, you will need to plan both for tuition and living costs — but you also benefit from a strong commitment by the University to support postgraduate researchers through scholarships, studentships and loan options. By being proactive and exploring all available funding streams, you can maximize your chances of securing financing and focus fully on your research.

References:

1. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees/
2. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding/
3. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding/opportunities/
4. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding/living-costs/
5. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/scholarships/