Global PhDs
The University of St Andrews is pleased to offer tailored opportunities for collaborative PhDs through our Global PhD programme. Global PhDs provide the ability for doctoral students to undertake research at both St Andrews and a nominated partner institution and with two (or more) academic supervisors. These programmes, often known as 'co-tutelles', encourage wider research collaboration than for many standard PhDs and give an international focus whilst making the most of subject-matter expertise from a range of partners. They lead to a jointly awarded degree from the two institutions and involve at least 12 months of research at each university.
To discuss a potential co-tutelle degree, please contact the Global Office by emailing globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Typically a student wishing to undertake a Global PhD should expect to have to comply with relevant requirements which may include a need to:
- Apply to each institution following their standard requirements for PhD students;
- Meet any relevant entry requirements for each institution, which may include a prior qualification such as a two-year Masters degree;
- Ensure awareness of the expectations of a PhD student at each institution, including possible taught components;
- Satisfy any national immigration requirements, including associated costs, for each host country;
- Meet any relevant tuition or other fee requirements of the institutions unless supported by funding covering that tuition fee;
- Follow agreed requirements on examination process, which may necessitate a non-standard format to meet policy for each institution.
The University of St Andrews welcomes interest in developing new Global PhD programmes. For more information, please see our Global PhDs - information for partners (PDF) .
Guidance for new applicants and doctoral candidates for Global PhDs (PDF)
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A Global PhD is an arrangement whereby a student conducts their doctoral research under co-supervisors from two institutions, leading to a jointly awarded degree. Students studying under these agreements are usually awarded a joint degree via a single certificate which carries the insignia of both institutions.
The student is expected to engage with both institutions from start to finish, and to meet regularly with all parties, either in person or through phone or video calls.
A Global PhD agreement will not usually extend the duration of a standard PhD which at St Andrews is three years with the possibility of a final continuation year.
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Students must spend at least 12 months in total as a resident student in St Andrews in order for the University to recognise the degree.
Students will divide their time into study blocks in order to facilitate access to the resources, human and otherwise, that will maximise their research opportunities. Each study block should be at least six months in length where possible.
Students requiring a visa to study at St Andrews should consider the impact of immigration requirements and associated costs when determining their intended pattern of study.
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Before applying, students should contact their prospective supervisors at St Andrews and the partner institution to discuss the feasibility of a Global PhD agreement. Students must demonstrate a strong case for joint supervision on their application form.
A Global PhD arrangement can be initiated by either an academic at St Andrews or an academic at a partner institution who considers a co-tutelle with a named co-supervisor to be the optimal route for their prospective PhD student.
Students should apply online using the Postgraduate Research Application form, indicating that they intend to study for a co-tutelle.
The length of the application process will depend on whether St Andrews already has an existing agreement or links in place with the partner institution. If there is no formal agreement in place, both parties will have to carry out relevant due diligence checks to ensure that both institutions can provide the best outcome for the student. In most cases, this will require a formal agreement to be drawn up between St Andrews and the partner institution which may lengthen the application process. Some institutions have very lengthy internal approval processes that might delay the start of studies. It is therefore advisable for students to apply well in advance of the intended start date; you should begin the processes not less than six months prior to the intended start date of the degree.
At St Andrews, a Global PhD requires a proposal to be submitted by the supervisor in consultation with the co-supervisor and the student as well as an application form. Proposals and applications should both be submitted as early as possible in the process as an offer cannot be confirmed unless the formal agreement is in place.
For more information, please see our Global PhDs - information for candidates (PDF)
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Students undertaking a Global PhD are liable for St Andrews tuition fees at rates applicable to their fee status for the periods when they are studying at St Andrews. Tuition is payable monthly on a pro rata basis for those periods. Rates are defined by bands and depend on academic discipline, year of entry, and Home or Overseas status and can be found here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/money/fees/feestable/#d.en.66444
In certain circumstances, St Andrews offers reduced fee rates for Overseas students through a scholarship which is automatically applied to all eligible students.
The below details apply wherever the student is not already supported by existing commitments between institutions for tuition fees, or through internal or external scholarships which cover tuition fees.
This tuition fee scholarship reduces the Overseas fee liability to a Home fee liability in cases where the partner university’s fees are equal to or lower than a St Andrews Home fee for Global PhDs with established and strategic partners, and is applicable to the partner universities listed below:
University of Amsterdam
University of Bonn
Charles University (Prague)
University of Ghent
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
University of Oslo
University of Padua
Sapienza University of Rome
The tuition fee reduction may be applied on a case-by-case basis for other individual co-tutelles where the partner charges fees which are equal to or lower than the St Andrews fee and where suitable partnership arrangements are made. Requests for such fee reduction should be made to the Global Office at globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk for onward consideration and confirmation.
*this scheme supports Global PhD partners as listed below, as well as selected additional partner universities. Where new Global PhD programmes are created, they will be included in the scheme. In some cases, these arrangements are available to certain academic disciplines only. Please see the Global PhD partners lists below for relevant subject availability.
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Academic staff and students who have been involved in Global PhDs at St Andrews offer their views of the benefits of the programme:
Academic staff comments:
Prof. Riccardo Bavaj
"Co-tutelles offer fantastic opportunities at various levels: Students not only benefit from a wider range of resources and supervisory expertise, but they also immerse themselves in two potentially very different research environments. This provides an additional boost to intellectual creativity, skills development, and job prospects. For scholars and universities, co-tutelles are an excellent way of facilitating academic exchange and border-crossing – now more important than ever in a post-Brexit world."
Dr Justine Firnhaber-Baker
"My co-tutelle doctoral students have benefited not only from the best possible supervisory team for their projects but also from immersion in the different national and academic cultures of our two universities."
PhD students:
Aubrie, School of Biology
"As a University of St Andrews alumnus, I am aware of the University’s well-deserved reputation as a world-class institution, particularly in my field of interest. While a PhD with the University of St Andrews will set you up for a fantastic career, I also had the fantastic opportunity to benefit from collaborations with a lab specializing in my study species. Long-standing ties between researchers at St Andrews and my partner institution, La Laguna University, have been investigating the incredibly deep-diving family of elusive beaked whales. I know I am receiving the best possible education in both aspects of my project, while also building a network of colleagues across both Universities."
Larisa, School of Classics
"I decided to apply for a co-tutelle programme for its double nature. I could only see the benefits of working with two supervisors, two institutions, and two methods. That is exactly what I am gaining from my joint PhD St Andrews-Rome Sapienza: a combined academic path that allows me to keep my feet on my previous, Italian education while enriching my formation within the UK system. I am persuaded that this would not have been possible in any other programme mostly because the internationally recognised level of these two universities in the Classics area is hardly comparable to any other academic institution. I would not have been able to find elsewhere their resources, staff, academic activities."
Adrian, School of Psychology and Neuroscience
"I decided to undertake a co-tutelle because it provided the opportunity to work under the supervision of two experts in my research area. This meant expanding my learning opportunities, and research network and generally enriching the experience. Two different universities can offer more opportunities such as conferences, workshops, and courses as well as taking part in activities in two instead of one laboratory group. I benefited from two diverse and complementary PhD programs, the abroad experience and generally taking opportunities from two important universities."
Marcel, School of History
"The co-tutelle programme has been the perfect opportunity for me to study abroad. The School of History (in St Andrews) gives me a great further historical education with new research perspectives. It fits perfectly with my department in Bonn and complements the theoretical base of my work. Without the co-tutelle, I would never have met these broad perspectives of my subject. The opportunity to gain teaching experience in two different countries and languages upgrades every CV."
Elisabeth, School of Mathematics and Statistics
"St Andrews and Oslo have collaborated for many years and a joint PhD allows me to take advantage of the expertise and resources from both departments, which is invaluable in my research. Doing a co-tutelle is essentially double the experience of a normal PhD. I get to benefit from two world-leading universities, take part in two research environments, and experience two countries. At the end, I will end up with a unique degree that will be valuable both in business and academia."
Joe, School of Art History
"My two supervisors have been excellent, each offering distinctive and valuable advice in a very thoughtful and encouraging way. Their careful and coordinated support has given me the confidence to pursue research in a fulfilling way."
Global PhD partners
Students should be aware that not all institutions offer co-tutelle degrees. Students should also check to see if the scholarships and funding arrangements they have in place allow for a co-tutelle.
St Andrews has established co-tutelle agreements with a range of partners in the past and usually has a number of current arrangements underway. So long as both institutions and both supervisors are willing to enter into a co-tutelle partnership, you may apply for one with any relevant institution.
St Andrews also currently has agreements with the following partner institutions which students may apply to:
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The University of St Andrews and Ghent University have established an agreement to allow PhD candidates to undertake research leading to the award of a joint doctoral degree across the following Schools of Arts and Divinity:
- Art History
- Classics
- Divinity
- English
- Film Studies
- History
- International Relations
- Modern Languages
- Philosophy
- Social Anthropology.
Anyone pursuing a Global PhD with Ghent can expect the following:
- A maximum duration of three years, with a possible continuation period of 12 months;
- To spend at least 12 months' study at each institution;
- A final exam including an oral elements which will follow the regulations of both institutions with an examination committee consisting of members proposed by each partner;
- A single joint degree award including the relevant titles for each institution (defined by discipline);
- Graduation at either institution at the student's choice.
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The University of St Andrews and Macquarie University have established an agreement to allow PhD candidates to undertake research leading to the award of a joint doctoral degree in subjects across the Faculties of Arts, Divinity and Science.
Anyone pursuing a Global PhD with Macquarie can expect:
- A maximum duration of three years with the potential for a further continuation period of 12 months;
- A minimum of 12 months' study at each institution;
- One institution shall be designated the administering institution - this will determine the format and the location of the final examination which will include an oral component;
- A single, joint degree award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD);
- Graduation at either institution at the student's choice.
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The University of St Andrews and Sapienza University of Rome have established an agreement to allow PhD candidates to undertake research leading to the award of a joint doctoral degree in Classics.
Anyone pursuing a Global PhD with Sapienza can expect:
- A typical duration of three-and-a-half years with the potential for a continuation period making the overall programme a maximum of four years;
- A standard of 18 months' study at each institution;
- An examination following the procedure of the institution at which the student begins their degree, which will include a viva voce element and a committee made up of members nominated by each institution;
- A single, joint degree award. The doctoral degree will give the titles of the awards in each institution's format (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for St Andrews, and Dottore di Ricerca in Filologia e Storia del Mondo Antico for Sapienza);
- Graduation at either institution of the student's choice.
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The University of St Andrews and Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn have established an agreement to allow PhD candidates to undertake research leading to joint doctoral degrees in the faculties of:
- Arts and Divinity
- History
- Medicine
- Science.
Global PhDs are available in all academic disciplines within the faculties of Arts and Divinity, particularly for joint doctoral degrees in German and Comparative Literature and joint doctoral degrees in Mediaeval History or Modern History. Within the faculty of Science, Global PhDs are available with disciplines in Bonn's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, incorporating Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biology, Pharmacy and Molecular Biomedicine. Global PhDs are also available with the Faculty of Medicine.
Anyone pursuing a Global PhD programme with Bonn can expect the following elements:
- A maximum duration of three years with the potential for a further continuation period of 12 months;
- A minimum of 12 months' study at each institution;
- One institution shall be designated the lead institution - this will determine the format of the final examination which will include a viva voce element and an examination committee made up of examiners designated by each institution;
- A single, joint degree award. The doctoral degree may be used in the format awarded by either St Andrews or Bonn (Doctor or Philosophy (PhD), or Doktor der Philosophy (Dr. phil.));
- Graduation at either institution at the student's choice.
For further details on joint PhDs with Bonn see the links below:
St Andrews and Bonn Global PhD in Arts and Divinity
St Andrews and Bonn Global PhD in History
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The University of St Andrews has partnered with the University of Stirling to offer research postgraduate students the St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme in Philosophy (SASP). This programme offers MPhil and PhD degrees in Philosophy.
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The University of St Andrews has partnered with the University of Oslo to offer PhD candidates to undertake research leading to a joint doctoral degree in all disciplines across the Faculties of Arts, Science, Divinity, and Medicine at St Andrews.
Anyone pursuing a Global PhD with Oslo can expect:
- A maximum duration of three years with the potential for a further continuation period of 12 months;
- A minimum of 12 months' study at each institution;
- One institution shall be designated the lead institution - this will determine the format of the final examination which will include a viva voce element and an examination committee made up of examiners designated by each institution, followed by an oral disputation in public;
- A single, joint degree award. The doctoral degree may be used in the format awarded by either St Andrews or Bonn (Doctor or Philosophy (PhD), or Doktor der Philosophy (Dr. phil.));
- Graduation at either institution at the student's choice.
Within the overall scheme, there is also a programme for joint PhDs with Oslo in Philosophy.
For further details on the Philosophy scheme, see the link below.
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The University of St Andrews and the University of Amsterdam have established an agreement to allow excellent PhD candidates to undertake research leading to the award of a joint doctoral degree in the areas of Philosophy, Logic, Language and Computation.
Anyone pursuing a Global PhD with the ILLC at Amsterdam can expect:
- A maximum duration of four years;
- A minimum of 12 months' study at each institution;
- A maximum thesis length of 70,000 words (excluding bibliography, references, and appendices);
- Examination via a pre-defence at St Andrews which shall follow the policy for examination at St Andrews and shall include a viva voce element, followed by assessment via a Doctoral Committee at Amsterdam. The examination committees for each element must be composed of different members;
- A single award, providing the titles for degree of each institution (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for St Andrews, and Doctor for Amsterdam). Each institution shall provide its own certificate which will reference the collaborative nature of the degree and the other institution;
- Graduation at the University of Amsterdam.
Global St Andrews Doctoral scholarships
Global doctoral scholarships are supported by funding from St Leonard's Postgraduate College and co-funded through relationships with our partner universities.
These Global doctoral scholarships are for specific doctoral research projects (or broader themes in which a student may create their project) defined by co-supervisors working at St Andrews and a partner institution.
Overview
- Eight Global doctoral scholarships (tuition fees and stipend) are available for 2026-2027 student enrolment provided by St Leonard’s Postgraduate College for joint degree programmes with international partner institutions.
- Within these eight scholarships, four are available with Macquarie University. A further four are available with University of Bonn.
- Please see details of each stream within the call for specific parameters and timelines which will be published below as they become available.
- Scholarships are provided for new UK or international doctoral students starting their degree in the 2026-2027 academic year who meet the entry requirements of both institutions.
- Prospective supervisory teams are invited to apply for the call with identified projects which will later be advertised for PhD student recruitment.
- The scholarships fully cover tuition fees and provide a stipend at each university. For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarships will comprise a full tuition fee award and an
annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2025-2026, the stipend is £19,775 p.a., with an annual uplift published by the University each academic year. - It is expected that half the time will be spent at each of two specified institutions.
- The partner institution provides corresponding funding for the periods spent with them, with further details on each stream listed below.
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Overview
- The University of St Andrews and Macquarie University have been strategic partners in research and graduate research collaboration since 2012.
- The universities have supported 12 co-funded Global PhD projects to date.
- The universities established a supervisor-led Global PhD project proposal program to further deepen the cooperation and collaboration between their researchers and increase participation in the Global PhD programme.
- Up to four awards are available for 2026-2027.
- Those projects that are successful for an award will be advertised for the recruitment of a doctoral student for 3.5-year joint PhD scholarship positions.
- The funding is available to new UK, Australian, or international doctoral applicants starting their degree in September/October 2026 or in January/February 2027 who meet the entry requirements of both universities.
- The call is open to all schools at both universities.
- Priority themes for this funding round are sustainability and artificial intelligence.
Description
The call for doctoral candidate applications opens on Monday 2 June 2025.
The doctoral projects are intended to contribute to the development of world-leading research, education and impact supported by the University Strategy at St Andrews, and to the Macquarie University Strategic Research Framework. In particular, the scholarships are intended to help consolidate both Universities’ position as sector leaders in international engagement.
Scholarships will support research jointly supervised and delivered through a Global PhD degree programme (joint PhD).
For the 2026-2027 call, priority will be given to proposals that fall under the broad themes of sustainability or Artificial Intelligence.
Projects may be interdisciplinary and may approach the themes widely, with sustainability explored through lenses such as economics, social justice, climate impact, or community wellbeing, and Artificial Intelligence approached from angles including business, health, education, technological innovation, ethical implications, or broader societal impact.
Applications to other areas will also be considered but should align with at least one of the strategic research themes of St Andrews or Macquarie.
Supervisor-led project proposals
The call for supervisor-led project proposals is open to all schools at both universities.
The applications will be jointly prepared by supervisors from both universities and should be submitted by the supervisor at each respective university as follows:
At St Andrews, applications should be submitted to globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk.
At Macquarie, applications should be submitted to gr.globalprograms@mq.edu.au.
Applications should be submitted by Monday, 18 August 2025, 11.59 pm (N.B. this deadline refers to each time zone for submission to the respective institutions).
Announcement of successful project proposals: by 15 September 2025.
Applications may propose either a pre-defined research project in a specific area of research or two closely defined topics in which student-led projects would be recruited. This flexibility is intended to support schools who would not normally offer pre-defined doctoral projects while still ensuring that funding is directed toward research that supports strategic priorities.
Supervisors are encouraged to seek guidance from the St Andrews Global Office and Macquarie Graduate Research Academy on forming project themes that may be considered favourably.
At St Andrews, Heads of School or School Directors of Postgraduate Research may wish to establish a school-level selection process to prioritise applications to submit to the competition, but this is not a requirement of the scheme.
Applications should comprise:
- Project/topic outline (max. 600 words) with an indication of any innovative or distinctive features and written for a multi-disciplinary audience.
- Statement (max. 300 words) describing how:
- the relationship between the universities, including research synergies, research environments, and strategic links can benefit the project.
- the project will enhance existing links and strengthen research collaboration beyond the scope of the PhD project.
- Statement (max. 500 words) outlining the ways in which the partnership between Macquarie and St Andrews facilitates a high-quality research training environment for the student. The statement should explain what materials, resources, equipment, archive or lab, and training groups, etc., the student will benefit from accessing, and why the particular supervisorial context created by the collaborative project will be beneficial.
- Confirmation that the application has the support of the authorised member of staff at St Andrews and Macquarie, normally the Head of School or the School Director of Postgraduate Research (email is sufficient).
Selection criteria
Applications will be considered by a multi-disciplinary selection panel involving membership from both universities and chaired by the Assistant-Vice Principal (Provost) of St Andrews and the Pro Vice-Chancellor Graduate Research of Macquarie.
Supervisory teams who were successful in a previous round of this scheme may apply with a new project proposal. However, priority will be given to new applicants to expand existing partnerships.
In assessing applications, the selection panel will be guided by the following questions. Therefore, schools are encouraged to ensure that application documents clearly address these questions:
- Is the case for the project/topic well argued?
- How do the anticipated supervision arrangements contribute to the strength of the application?
- What progress is anticipated beyond current thinking?
- Is the project/topic innovative?
- What is the likely added value of the project/topic?
- Does the project/topic seem feasible? - i.e., is it suitable for doctoral-level research and can it be completed within the scholarship term, including feasibility of access to lab and research materials when undertaking research at two distant university locations.
- How well aligned is the project/topic to university strategies? - i.e., how would the scholarship contribute to developing capacity that strategically strengthens the school?
Student recruitment and eligibility
Call for expressions of interests from students opens: 13 October 2025.
Call for expressions of interests from students closes: 3 December 2025. The participating schools and the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie in co-ordination with the academic supervisors will be expected to complete the selection process.
The School at St Andrews will be required to provide the Provost with a brief report on the selection process and to provide details to the Global Office.
Please note that application to the scholarship is separate to formal application for admission, which must take place after a scholarship decision has been communicated.
The Global Office at St Andrews will work with the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie to arrange official notification of scholarship awards, invite scholarship awardees to formally apply for admission to both universities by mid-January 2026, and conclude contractual arrangements which must be in place prior to the start of the degree.
The student may, with the agreement of both universities, start their degree at the below entry points:
27 September (for St Andrews starts) / 1 October (for Macquarie starts) 2026.
27 January (for St Andrews starts) / 1 February (for Macquarie starts) 2027.
Scholarships cannot be deferred. Awards will be withdrawn if the student is unable to start their doctoral degree at these entry points as funding is specific to respective institutional budgetary periods.
Please note that the student must:
- Not already hold a doctoral degree or be matriculated for a doctoral degree.
- Matriculate for a joint doctoral degree to be awarded by St Andrews and Macquarie.
- Matriculate as a full-time student as part-time study is not available under this scheme.
- Apply to both institutions through normal application routes.
- Meet the entry requirements set by both St Andrews and Macquarie. Note: conditional offers will not be made for meeting English proficiency requirements at Macquarie.
- Not already hold a doctoral degree or be matriculated for a doctoral degree.
Funding
The scholarships comprise the equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for up to 3.5 years. Scholarship holders will be expected to have submitted their thesis for examination by the end of that period.
Projects should be planned so that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University.
Funding arrangements are made on the basis that:
- For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarships will comprise a full tuition fee award and an annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2025 to 2026, the stipend is £19,775 p.a., with an annual uplift published by the University each academic year.
- Macquarie will fund a living allowance scholarship per position at an annual rate of AUD38,500 (2025 rate, tax exempt), paid pro-rata while the student is in Australia. A tuition fee scholarship will be granted for the period of joint enrolment up to 42 months. Macquarie will also provide an airfare allowance for flights between Scotland and Australia up to a maximum of $4,000 AUD to be arranged by the Graduate Research Academy.
The school at the University of St Andrews or Macquarie University is not required to contribute to the costs of the scholarship.
Unless otherwise specified, the scholarships do not cover:
- Any continuation, extension, or resubmission period/fees.
- A research training grant or another equivalent award for research expenses.
- Support for travel, immigration, health insurance and related charges between the partner institutions. These costs are significant and typically due at the time of enrolment of the student, and they are the responsibility of the student.
Schools that normally provide doctoral students with a research training grant or equivalent award for research expenses, or any travel funding, must cover these costs or come to an agreement with the partner university should they wish to offer this type of support, but please note that institutional funding for such expenses is not normally available.
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Deadline for proposals: September 22, 2025, 11.59pm
We are delighted to announce a call for applications for St Andrews-Bonn Global doctoral scholarships for 2026-2027 entry in a range of subjects. The Global doctoral scholarships are supported by funding from St Leonard's Postgraduate College at St Andrews and the University of Bonn.
These Global PhDs are for specific doctoral research projects to be defined by co-supervisors working at St Andrews and Bonn.
Overview
- Up to 4 fully funded (fees and stipend) scholarships provided by St Leonard’s Postgraduate College and the University of Bonn for Global PhD degree programmes.
- Available for students of all nationalities starting their degree in the 2026-2027 academic year who meet the entry requirements of both institutions.
- Supervisor-led competition open to the Faculties of Arts, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Medicine at the University of Bonn and the Faculties of Arts, Science, and Medicine at St Andrews. Members of other Schools/faculties should contact the Global Office/International Office prior to application so that they can advise on eligibility.
Description
St Andrews-Bonn Global Doctoral scholarships are intended to contribute to the development of world-leading research, education and impact supported by the University Strategy at St Andrews, and the Internationalization Strategy of the University of Bonn. The scholarships are intended to help to increase collaborative research between the institutions and to aid their internationalisation agenda.
Scholarships will support research jointly supervised and delivered through a Global PhD degree programme. Applications for a project within an area of strategic importance to both institutions will be prioritised. Students are expected to be integrated into a Bonn International Graduate School or other structured PhD programme at the University of Bonn.
Scholarships will support research jointly supervised and delivered through a Global PhD degree programme.
Supervisor-led competition
Applications should be submitted by University of St Andrews staff on behalf of those involved from the University of Bonn and can be sent to globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk The applications will be jointly prepared by supervisors from both Universities. Applications may propose either a pre-defined research project in a specific area of research under a specified lead supervisor at each institution or two closely defined topics in which student-led projects would be recruited. This flexibility is intended to support schools/faculties which would not normally offer pre-defined doctoral projects while still ensuring that funding is directed toward research that supports strategic priorities.
At St Andrews, Heads of School or School Directors of Postgraduate Research may wish to establish a school-level selection process to prioritise applications to submit to the competition.
Applications should comprise:
- Project/topic outline (max. 600 words) with an indication of any innovative or distinctive features and written for a multi-disciplinary audience.
- Statement (max. 300 words) describing how:
- the relationship between the universities, including research synergies, research environments, and strategic links can benefit the project.
- the project will enhance existing links and strengthen research collaboration beyond the scope of the PhD project.
- Statement (max. 500 words) outlining the ways in which the partnership between Bonn and St Andrews facilitates a high-quality research training environment for the student. The statement should explain what materials, resources, equipment, archive or lab, and training groups, etc., the student will benefit from accessing, and why the particular supervisorial context created by the collaborative project will be beneficial.
- Confirmation that the application has the support of the authorised member of staff at the University of St Andrews and the University of Bonn, normally the Head of School or the School Director of Postgraduate Research (email is sufficient).
Selection criteria
Applications will be considered by a multi-disciplinary selection panel involving membership from both St Andrews and Bonn and chaired by the Provost of St Andrews and the Vice-Rector International of Bonn.
In assessing applications, the selection panel will be guided by the following questions. Therefore, schools are encouraged to ensure that application documents clearly address these questions:
- Is the case for the project/topic well argued?
- What progress is anticipated beyond current thinking?
- Is the project/topic innovative?
- What is the likely added value of the project/topic?
- Does the project/topic seem feasible? - i.e., is it suitable for doctoral-level research and can it be completed within the scholarship term?
- How do the anticipated supervision arrangements contribute to the strength of the application? The supervision concept put forward by the PIs should outline the planned integration of PhD candidates into their respective research environments. At Bonn, students are expected to be integrated into a Bonn International Graduate School or other structured PhD programme.
- How well aligned is the project/topic to University strategies? - i.e., how would the scholarship contribute to developing capacity that strategically strengthens the school? The selection panel would also particularly welcome bids that clearly address a research theme common to both Universities’ research priorities.
Applications to other areas will also be considered but should align to at least one of the strategic research themes of St Andrews or Bonn.
Student recruitment and eligibility
Announcement of awards: mid-November 2025.
Call for expressions of interests from students opens: December 2025. Only projects for recruitment of new students may be submitted - a student must not have been identified in advance of the application outcomes being announced.
Call for expressions of interests from students closes: end of February 2026. The school will be expected to complete its selection process, and to offer the scholarship to the selected applicant by the beginning of April 2026.
The School at St Andrews will be required to provide the Provost with a brief report on the selection process and to provide details to the Global Office.
Please note that application to the scholarship is separate to formal application for admission, which must take place after a scholarship decision has been communicated.
The Global Office at St Andrews will work with the International Office at Bonn to arrange official notification of scholarship awards, invite scholarship awardees to formally apply for admission to both universities, and conclude contractual arrangements which must be in place prior to the start of the degree.
The student may, with the agreement of both universities, start their degree at any of the valid entry points in the 2026-2027 academic year. For Bonn, students may begin the degree at any time. For St Andrews eligible dates are 27 September, 27 October, 27 January, or 27 May.
Scholarships cannot be deferred. Awards will be withdrawn if the student is unable to start their doctoral degree in the 2026-2027 academic year (latest entry date May 27, 2027).
Please note that the student must:
- Matriculate for a joint doctoral degree to be awarded by the University of St Andrews and the University of Bonn. Students are not eligible if they are matriculating for research Master’s degree (MPhil, MRes, etc.)
- Not already hold a doctoral degree or be matriculated for a doctoral degree.
- Matriculate as a full-time student as part-time study is not available under this scheme.
- Apply to each institution and meet the entry requirements (including any relevant language requirements) set by both the University of St Andrews and the University of Bonn.
Funding
The scholarships comprise the equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for the normal full-fee paying period up to 3.5 years. Scholarship holders will be expected to have submitted their thesis for examination by the end of that period.
Projects should be planned so that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn:
- For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarships will comprise a full tuition fee award and an annual stipend paid at a
rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2025 to 2026, the stipend is £19,775 p.a., with an annual uplift published by the University each academic year.
- For the period spent at the University of Bonn, the tax-free scholarships will comprise a monthly maintenance grant of €1,800 per month. Please refer to the Joint PhD Guide page for full details. The University of Bonn does not charge any tuition fees, but students must pay a so-called social contribution once per semester (currently €345 per semester). For students commencing at Bonn, Bonn will offer a relocation allowance of up to €1,500 for students relocating from abroad.
St Leonard's Postgraduate College will cover costs arising from that part of the scholarship term spent at the University of St Andrews. The University of Bonn will cover costs arising from that part of the scholarship term spent there. The school/faculty at the University of St Andrews or the University of Bonn is not required to contribute to the costs of the scholarship, but will be liable for normal costs such as those for examiner’s fees, etc.
N.B.: Unless otherwise specified, the scholarships do not cover:
- Any continuation, extension, or resubmission period/fees.
- A research training grant or another equivalent award for research expenses, bench fees, etc.
- Funding for fieldwork, or any other research trips including (but not limited to) conferences, visits to archives, labs, or third-party institutions.
- Support for travel, immigration, and related charges between the partner institutions.
Schools that normally provide doctoral students with a research training grant or equivalent award for research expenses, or any travel funding, must cover these costs or come to an agreement with the partner institution should they wish to offer this type of support, but please note that such an agreement will not normally be facilitated between the two universities.
Further enquiries
Further enquiries about the Global Doctoral Scholarships may be addressed to the Global Office at St Andrews via globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk or to the International Office at Bonn (tina.odenthal@uni-bonn.de)
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Prior supervisor-led projects which have been awarded funding within the Global doctoral scholarships - St Andrews and Bonn stream include the below:
Academic year of entry St Andrews supervisor Bonn supervisor Project title 2025-2026
Isobel Falconer
Dennis Lehmkuhl
Continuities and discontinuities in understanding the origin of mass
2025-2026
Andrew Cusack
Johannes Lehmann
Literary anthropology in German literature around 2000
2025-2026
Maarten Zwart
Michael Pankratz
Competition in the brain: the neural basis of behavioural decision-making
2025-2026
Euan Kay and Douglas Philp
Larissa von Krbek and Arne Luetzen
Programming autonomous chemical systems in time and space – towards materials with lifelike properties
2024-2025
Craig Smeaton and William Austin
Christian Maerz
Marine mass transport processes: poorly quantified shuttles of organic carbon to the deep ocean
2024-2025
Jonathan Keeling
Corinna Kollath
Quantum simulation with multimode cavity QED
2024-2025
Philip Walmsley and Robert Hammond
Frank A. Schildberg and Dieter C. Wirtz
Use of a Scattered Light Integrated Collector (SLIC) for point of care testing to detect bacteria in synovial fluid from native and prosthetic joint infections
2024-2025
Stefan Pulver
Michael Pankratz
Competition in the brain: the neural basis of behavioural decision-making
2023-2024
Sean Allan
Christian Moser
Re-imagining the public sphere on the German stage, 1760-1815
2023-2024
Maarten Zwart
Michael Pankratz
The descending control of behaviour
2023-2024
Silvia Paracchini
Andreas Forstner
Dissecting genetic factors for mental health disorders through data-driven approaches
2023-2024
Christopher Schulz
Detlef Muller-Mahn
Water politics in northern Kenya
2023-2024
James Rae
Christian Marz
A new proxy for ocean circulation and its impact on rapid climate change
2023-2024
Carlos Penedo
Katrin Paeschke
Untying the knot: genome-wide recognition and remodelling of G4 structures by the NER machinery-implications in human DNA repair and regulatory pathways
2022-2023
Louise Reid
Nadine Marquardt
Home futures: a study of healthcare anticipation in Germany and the UK
2022-2023
Bela Bode
Olav Schiemann
Developing electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy for studying biomolecular structures and dynamics under native conditions
2022-2023
Richard Streeter
Lothar Schrott
Hydrologic relevance and climate response of rock glaciers in mountain permafrost environments
2021-2022
Sean Allan
Christian Moser
Public opinion in post-war Germany and the Global Social Imaginary
2021-2022
Craig Johnston
Andreas Gansauer
Asymmetric catalysis
2021-2022
Claudia Cyganowski
Karl M. Menten
Accretion bursts in High-Mass star formation
Prior supervisor-led projects which have been awarded funding within the Global St Andrews and Macquarie Strategic Partner doctoral scholarships stream include the below:
Academic year of entry St Andrews supervisor Macquarie supervisor Project title 2025-2026
Antonis Vradis
Andrew Burridge
Migrant and Refugee Welcome: Achieving Social Sustainability through Local Migration Governance
2025-2026
Barbara Dritschel
Melissa Norberg
Exploring Drivers of Behaviour Change for Sustainability
2025-2026
Oscar Gaggiotti
Rachael Dudaniec
Landscape genomics of native and invasive bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) under pathogen impacts
2025-2026
Susan Healy
Simon Griffith
Building for a changing world
2025-2026
Joseph Millum
Mianna Lotz
Pro-natalist government policies and the ethics of procreation in the climate crisis
2025-2026
Andrew Blaikie
Bamini Gopinath
Enhancing Community-Based Sensory Health Screening - Integrating the Arclight Device into the Sound Bites Program
2024-2025
Gareth Miles / Illary Alodi
Julie Atkin / Ian Blair
Preclinical studies investigating novel targets for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/MND)
2023-2024
Andy Lynch
Nicki Packer
Integrating protein data into large international resources to address clinical challenges in prostate cancer
2023-2024
Amanda Seed
Andrew Barron
Minds at work: Comparing working memory capacity in diverse species
2023-2024
Anne-Marie Weijmans
Richard McDermid
The Nature of Dark Matter and its Role in Shaping Galaxies
2022-2023
Susan Healy
Andrew Barron
Evolution of cognition: the birds and the bees
2021-2022
Melissa Demian
Anna-Karina Hermkens
Gender at work in Bougainville: Anthropology of gender relations and sexual division of labour in a newly independent nation
2020-2021
Hamid Ohadi
Thomas Volz
Condensed matter physics
Further Enquiries
Further enquiries about the Global Doctoral Scholarships may be addressed to the Global Office at St Andrews via globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk or to the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie via gr.international@mq.edu.au.