Research degree fees and funding

On submission of the thesis for examination, the annual tuition fee will be pro-rated in accordance with any month/part month studied and you'll be transferred to ‘continuation fee status’. If the thesis is submitted at any point after the first of each month, you'll be charged the whole month fee. 

At this point, the continuation fee will be applied, which covers the cost of your viva examination and continued access to university services and facilities. This will be in addition to any pro-rata fee liability incurred.

Continuation fee status will apply until the end of your registration period e.g until you submit your final bound thesis and complete your course. 

For postgraduate research students starting in March of the academic year, invoices are generated during the first month following the start date and fees are pro-rated by month to bring them in-line with annual invoicing in October.

The student will be invoiced for the annual fee, divided by 12 and multiplied by 7. They'll then be invoiced again in October for the full annual fee for the new academic year.

Please see postgraduate tuition fees or the dedicated course page for your programme of study for more information on fees. You can also email fees@bathspa.ac.uk if you have any queries. 

If you're starting a doctoral degree, you could be eligible for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs. 

International students may be able to apply for a loan or funding from their home government. 

The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is a resource for current and prospective postgraduate students (any subject, any nationality) who are looking to fund PhD, Master’s and PGCE study in the UK through grants from charities, trusts and foundations. 

Each academic year, the Arts and Humanities Research Council South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership funds places for doctoral students across the arts and humanities. Funding consists of a full fee waiver, and a stipend paid at UKRI rates current for the respective year.

Students may choose a 'primary' institution and a 'secondary' institution for their supervision, with the 'primary' institution being their 'home'. They will have access to the resources of both institutions, and a dedicated suite of provision directly from the SWW DTP Hub itself - including events, training opportunities, placement opportunities and more.

Applications for funding open on Monday 25 November 2024 and close on Monday 20 January 2025. See the SWWDTP website for further information. Please check the SWWDTP website for eligibility. If you need additional assistance, you are welcome to contact the Graduate College at pgradmissions@bathspa.ac.uk. 

Each academic year, the Economic and Social Research Council South West Doctoral Training Partnership funds places for doctoral students across the social sciences. For Bath Spa studentships, our eligible subject areas are:

• Education
• Management and Business Studies
• Sociotechnical Futures and Digital Methods

The SWDTP supports doctoral students by developing not only their research skills, but by offering a wide range of training, placements, activities, and events as well. They work in a collaborative way across nine institutions and have SWDTP students that will also form part of your cohort.

The application for funding window is currently open and will close at 12 noon on Tuesday 14 January 2025. See the SWDTP website for further information and for eligibility. Students applying for ESRC funded studentships are encouraged to speak to their chosen supervisor at Bath Spa prior to application to discuss their research ideas with a suitable supervisor. Here's where you can find details of the Bath Spa PhD application process. 

Students are encouraged to look at ways of incorporating collaboration with external partners into their research proposal. Collaboration does not always have to be a financial arrangement and could take the form of a placement, voluntary work, data sharing or other payment in kind opportunities. Students considering overseas fieldwork, overseas institutional visits or difficult language training should also mention this in their application. 

How to apply and deadlines

Once you've identified a suitable supervisor, you should submit your application through the Bath Spa University admissions portal. The deadline for submitting both your funding application to the ESRC and your PhD application to Bath Spa is 14 January 2025.

If you need additional assistance, you are welcome to contact the Graduate College at pgradmissions@bathspa.ac.uk.