AberDoc Scholarship

Aberystwyth University is committed to equality of opportunity, and to working to ensure that our student cohort reflects the diverse community we serve. We have introduced a range of positive measures to assist in achieving these commitments; recognising in particular that UK domiciled Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students are currently underrepresented on our AberDoc Scholarship programme.

The University is introducing ring-fenced AberDoc Scholarship places for 2025 entry.  As part of the AberDoc 2025 Scholarship Competition, the University will guarantee (dependent on reaching a minimum threshold level) AberDoc places for 2 UK domiciled candidates from a Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority background.

The introduction of this measure follows a review of our recruitment data and forms part of the four-year Strategic Equality Plan developed by the University to achieve greater diversity and better equality outcomes.

Those awarded an AberDoc Scholarship will receive a grant for up to three years which will cover their tuition fees (up to the UK (Home) rate of £4,786 per annum*).  A maintenance allowance of approximately £19,237 per annum* and access to a travel and conference fund (max. £1000 per annum*) will also be provided. Scholarships commence in September 2025. 

EU and International students must cover the difference between UK tuition fees and the EU/International tuition fees from their scholarship. However, there will be 3 additional President's Scholarships, which fund this difference in tuition fees. These will be awarded to the three highest ranked EU or International candidates in the AberDoc competition. 

*Value of award is subject to confirmation for 2025-2026

A full PhD application (including research proposal) must be received by the Postgraduate Admissions Office by 10 January 2025. Applications should be made via the online Postgraduate Admissions Portal, and include two academic references, relevant academic certificates and transcripts, and a research proposal (1,000 to 1,500 words). We encourage all PhD applicants to contact the relevant academic department before constructing their research proposal.

Current AU PhD students who wish to be considered for an AberDoc Scholarship commencing in September 2025 must have completed an AberDoc Expression of Interest Form 2025 (for use by current AU PhD students only) and have submitted it to pg-admissions@aber.ac.uk by this deadline. Existing AU PhD students are not required to submit a new PhD application via the online Postgraduate Admissions Portal.

Departments will usually interview applicants before a decision is made on whether to offer a place to study for a PhD, and whether to nominate them for an AberDoc Scholarship. Each Department will submit a list of nominees to their respective Faculty for further assessment.  

Faculties will then forward their nominee shortlist to the AberDoc Selection Panel for further evaluation.  The AberDoc Selection Panel will then confirm the awards and the results will be announced in late April/early May 2025.

1. Eligibility: To be eligible to hold a scholarship, successful applicants must register as a postgraduate student for the degree of either PhD or PhDFA at Aberystwyth. Applicants should normally have obtained or expect to obtain at least upper second class honours or equivalent in their undergraduate degree.  
2. Residence: Scholarship holders studying full-time must pursue their research and be resident within reasonable travelling distance of Aberystwyth for at least 44 weeks of the year. Further details of university residence requirements which must be adhered to can be found at: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/academic-registry/handbook/regulations/student-rules-regs/. Where a full-time scholarship holder wishes to spend a significant period away from Aberystwyth (e.g. for extended fieldwork) the permission of the Head of the Graduate School must be obtained. Part-time scholarship holders are encouraged but not required to be resident in Aberystwyth.
3. Period of Award: Subject to satisfactory progress confirmed annually by relevant University Research Monitoring Committees, scholarships are normally tenable for a period of up to three years full-time or the part-time equivalent, beginning at the start of the session after the competition (i.e. September). Deferral of an award is possible only in exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the Head of the Graduate School. Where candidates have already begun research degrees before receiving an AberDoc award, the scholarship will cover the remainder of the registration period and not the full three years of full-time study or part-time equivalent. Continuation of awards in each new session is subject to satisfactory progress.
4. Level of Award: UK (Home) tuition fees will be paid and a maintenance award will be offered taking account of current UKRI scholarship rates.  However, the AberDoc awards will not necessarily be of the same value as UKRI awards.  There will be a common figure for all full-time students receiving AberDoc awards.  Studentship holders may apply for a limited amount of assistance towards meeting the cost of fieldwork, attendance at conferences, or other travel.  There is no provision for additional allowances for dependants.  Other research costs such as for postal surveys, consumables in experimental work etc. must be met by the student’s own department.
5. UKRI and Other Awards: All applicants for the AberDoc scholarships are also strongly encouraged to seek other sources of funding including UKRI awards (where applicable).  Academic departments and the Postgraduate Admissions Office will advise applicants on their options. Applicants who subsequently secure UKRI funding must notify the Postgraduate Admissions Office as soon as possible and if it is a full-scholarship, then relinquish the AberDoc award. Applicants within the ESRC remit who hold or are undertaking a Specialist Master’s degree need not apply for the 1+3 ESRC award which would require them to take a second Master’s (Research Training) degree.  These students would be required to undertake research training while registered for the PhD.
6. Successful Candidates for AberDoc Awards who are subsequently offered UKRI or other similar awards must surrender the AberDoc award.  In the event that a student surrenders an AberDoc award to take up UKRI or other awards of lesser value, the University will ensure that the student will not be disadvantaged.  Thus, where a student accepts a fees-only UKRI award, the University will pay maintenance at the AberDoc rate.  Except with the permission of the Head of the Graduate School, no other awards may be held concurrently with an AberDoc award.
7. Teaching and Other Paid Work: With the approval of their Head of Department, scholarship holders are permitted, if they so wish, to undertake teaching, demonstrating or other academic work. Scholarship holders must be paid separately for any such work at the relevant rate; the scholarship does not include any payment for employment. Any such work (including preparation and associated assessment) should not exceed six hours in any one week or not more than 180 hours per Academic Session (whichever is the greater) in accordance with UKRI guidelines. Scholarship holders who undertake teaching duties will be required to attend any training courses that are deemed appropriate by the Head of the Graduate School. Apart from such duties, scholarship holders may not undertake any other remunerated work without the permission of the Head of the Graduate School.
8. Temporary and Permanent Withdrawal: If a scholarship holder withdraws permanently from the University, all rights to his or her studentship are thereby forfeited. In addition, an award holder who withdraws from the University will be required to refund that proportion of the quarterly maintenance award which has already been received for the remainder of the quarter in which they have withdrawn. No further maintenance payments can be made once an individual has withdrawn.  Students who wish to withdraw temporarily from their studies may, with the permission of the Head of the Graduate School, have their awards suspended until they are able to resume their studies.
9. Changes of Circumstances: It is the responsibility of all students to inform the Postgraduate Admissions Office immediately of any change in their circumstances, e.g. temporary withdrawal or receipt of other funding, which affects their entitlement to hold a studentship. Failure to do so may lead to a loss of the award and recovery of monies paid.
10. A copy of these Terms and Conditions and the Selection Criteria used by the AberDoc Selection Panel in deciding which applicants should receive awards shall be sent to successful candidates by the Postgraduate Admissions Office. Successful candidates should also note their responsibilities for their work which are outlined in the University's Code of Practice for Research Postgraduates and Rules & Regulations.  No other terms or conditions shall apply.
11. AberDoc Award Holders may be asked to participate in questionnaires, market research, interviews and support for recruitment activities.
12. Aberystwyth University reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship or to amend the terms on which it is held. In exceptional circumstances, it may recover monies already paid.

The AberDoc Selection Panel review applications against the following criteria to make their recommendations:

• Evidence of the candidate’s potential as a research student
  Relevant undergraduate work and/or performance at Master’s degree level.
  Other evidence of success in research-type activity.
• The contribution that the proposed study would make to the Department’s research profile and research aims
  Extent of ‘fit’ with Departmental research interests and priorities, including the prospective supervisor, how the proposed research topic is related to staff and research group expertise, and how the project might contribution to interdisciplinary research.
• Candidate’s career development
  An identified element of contribution to the student’s career development and to the Department, backed up by appropriate training. 
• Quality of the research proposal
  Clarity of research aims and objectives.
  The proposal is grounded within the relevant academic discipline(s).
  Appropriate methodological approaches have been considered and resources are in place in the department to support the methodology.
  The proposed research has the potential to make an original contribution to scholarship in its field.
• Judgements on the candidate’s proposal and his/her potential as a researcher
   Reports of academic referees.
  Evidence of why the proposal was prioritised by the relevant Departmental committee.
  Evidence that the candidate is capable of completing the proposed thesis within the required deadline.

If internal applications (of existing AU PhD students) are put forward, there should be a clear indication of how their additional experience (their current PhD experience) is normalised towards new candidates.

Please note that the criteria for the AberDoc Scholarship Competition are subject to annual review.