BBSRC Scholarships
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK's principal funder of basic and strategic biological research. The BBSRC funds the majority of its postgraduate scholarships through Doctoral Training Accounts (DTA). This is a quota system of large awards made directly to individual universities for us to administer, allowing us greater flexibility over the duration of the award and the level of stipend. The BBSRC does not make awards directly to students. The University is responsible for advertising and selecting students who meet the BBSRC eligibility criteria. These pages provide information on how prospective postgraduate students can apply.
Award details
There are two types of scholarship awards:
- A full scholarship award – this covers the cost of the UK/EU tuition fees and provides an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UK research rate, which for 2011-12 was £13,590.
- A fees-only scholarship award – this covers the cost of the UK/EU tuition fees only.
The type of scholarship awarded is based on an applicant's residency status. UK applicants and EU applicants who have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for the full scholarship award. EU applicants that have not been resident in the UK for 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for a fees-only award. International applicants are not normally eligible.
Awards for doctoral study are tenable for a maximum of three years full-time and five years part-time subject to satisfactory progress.
Eligibility
Eligibility is determined the BBSRC's eligibility criteria as set out in their "Guide to Student Eligibility". Applicants should review the BBSRC guidance in the first instance.
The general eligibility requirements are:
- You should have, or expect to achieve, a first or upper second class UK honours degree or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK in an appropriate area of science or technology.
- You should be applying to start your first year of study with the University for 2012-13 on a full-time or part-time programme of doctoral study, within the BBSRC's subject domain.
- Awards are open to UK and EU applicants. The type of studentship awarded is based on an applicant's residency status. International applicants are not normally eligible.
How to apply
Individual departments are responsible for directly recruiting to the BBSRC scholarships that they have available. Projects will be advertised on departmental websites and in the PhD Projects Directory.
Further information
Should you have any questions about BBSRC scholarships, please do not hesitate to contact either the relevant academic department or email pgr-scholarships@sheffield.ac.uk.
Information is also available on the BBSRC website.