Supervisors can apply for a PhD scholarship through Alzheimer Research UK with support for part time study and collaborative research.
This scheme is for a full PhD programme; it does not cover funding gaps for students who have already started their studies.
A stipend in line with UKRI rates, PhD tuition fees at the Home rate and research/travel costs up to £15,000 per annum, for up to four years. National or international secondments are supported and encouraged within the scheme.
Applications open – 15th of December 2025
Eligability
The lead applicant and point of contact must be based in a UK academic/research institution. However, the application can include researchers or institutions outside the UK.
PhD Scholarships can only be applied for by individual or joint supervisors, not students. However, the Lead Applicant can include a named student as part of the application form. We are open to considering applications for part-time PhD students. If you have any questions related to part-time working please contact the research team at research@alzheimersresearchuk.org.
The Lead Applicant is expected to have a contract (fixed term or tenure) which covers the proposed duration of the grant. Alzheimer’s Research UK can contribute to salaries of co-applicants that do not have tenure or fixed term contracts but not to Lead Applicant salaries.
If the Lead Applicant does not hold a tenure appointment, the application must include a co-applicant that does.
If the project requires ethical approval and/or Home Office licences, the award is dependent upon the requisite approvals being granted.
Alzheimer’s Research UK recognises it may not be possible to identify the student until after a funding decision has been made. However, the confirmation of an award is dependent on Alzheimer’s Research UK approval of the student who will undertake the project. This confirmation will require evidence that the student is of high calibre and strongly motivated.
Although it is anticipated that the PhD Scholarship will begin at the start of the next academic year, there is some flexibility with respect to start date.
See our Eligibility Guidelines for further information.
Review
ARUK is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities and complies with their guidelines for best practice in expert review.
Grants will be awarded on the basis of open competition with reviewers being asked to assess applications based on three key criteria:
- The excellence of the science, and the potential for impact in the field and people affected by dementia
- The skills and expertise of the applicants, and the suitability of the team and environment that surround them
- How well the proposal meets the scheme criteria, and whether the resources requested are justified
Applications will be reviewed by independent experts. Projects that involve human volunteers will also be reviewed by people with lived experience of dementia, either as patients, carers or former carers.
Applications are made via our grant application website.
Grant schemes only appear on this website when the round is open and we are accepting new applications.
Visit funding web page
(https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/grants/phd-scholarship/)
