Scholarships and funding
The University and Edinburgh Law School offer a range of scholarships for our research degrees. There are also a selection of external funding opportunities that you may be eligible to apply to. Scholarship and funding opportunities listed on this web page are for entry in the 2027-28 academic year.
If you are intending to apply for a scholarship offered by the Law School or University we advise applying to your programme (PhD or LLM by Research) at least two weeks before the scholarship closing date.
Scholarship opportunities will be added to this web page once they are confirmed.
The University of Edinburgh is a partner university of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS). The SGSSS awards a number of studentships across Scotland each year through the student-led 'Open' competition. These studentships can be offered as MSc plus PhD (1+3.5) or PhD (+3.5) awards depending on the experience of the applicant.
Eligibility
The SGSSS provides funding only for research with a social science perspective. Projects which are mainly about procedure, theory, philosophy or history of Law are unlikely to be eligible for this competition. Projects which are about the social, political or economic aspects or impact of Law, or which are socio-legal or criminological, are likely to be eligible.
The proposed first supervisor for any proposal must be a research active social scientist, with publications or research funding in an area that demonstrates alignment with a social science perspective.
If you are unsure whether your project meets these criteria, please discuss with your proposed first supervisor, or the SGSSS Lead, Dr Anna Souhami. You are strongly encouraged to read the SGSSS guidance to check your eligibility.
Candidate Eligibility
Candidates will normally hold a First Class Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject, e.g. BA or LLB.
For the PhD award, applicants should hold (or be currently studying for) a relevant Masters degree. Applicants who are not eligible for the PhD award can apply on a '1+3.5' basis which starts with a one-year MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice and is then followed by a three-year PhD. Please note that you will still need to have PhD supervision secured and your PhD project proposal will be assessed as part of the SGSSS marking criteria.
Awards are available to applicants with UK fee status and a limited number of awards are available for international applicants.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact our Unit of Assessment Lead, Dr Anna Souhami (anna.souhami@ed.ac.uk), to check eligibility for the competition before applying.
Value
The studentship covers the cost of UK or international tuition fees and provides a stipend at UKRI rates (approximately £21,805 per year).
University of Edinburgh Online Information Session – 7th October 2026, 10am BST
The Dean of Postgraduate Research is hosting a 1-hour online information session about the SGSSS Open PhD competition for prospective applicants. Please join this link for the start time of 10am:
Join online information session
How to apply
To be considered for this competition, applicants should:
Apply for admission through the University’s online application system by 17:00 (GMT) 19th November 2026. (Please note you do not need to have received an offer by this date, you must simply have submitted your application). All applicants must have the support of an academic supervisor before applying.
Find out more about applying for a PhD in the Law School
Applicants who need an MSc and are applying for 1+3.5 years of funding must apply by 19th November and can find out more about the MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice programme which is approved by the ESRC.Find out more about applying to the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice (ESRC track)
- Register on the SGSSS online application system to apply. Complete and upload the SGSSS Open Competition application form by 17:00 (GMT) 24th November 2026. Copies of transcripts, a CV and two references will also need to be uploaded by this date.
Queries about registering or logging into apply
Visit the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science Open Competition website
Applicants must meet both deadlines in order to be considered for this funding. Late applications will not be considered.
Selection process
The Open Competition includes three stages of review, with candidates updated after each stage until either you are awarded or your application is unsuccessful.
- University of Edinburgh Review: this is two-stage with a nomination needed from the Unit of Assessment lead and then selection by the University panel. Interested candidates will be shortlisted by the University.
- Challenge Led Pathway Review: Each of the six challenge pathways will consider applications shortlisted by universities.
- Global Review: An executive panel of University Deans and members of the SGSSS Directorate meet and make the final award decisions.
Award announcement date
The award decision will be communicated to applicants by early May 2027.
One or more scholarships are available for postgraduate research in Scots private law at the University of Edinburgh for a period of one year leading to the degree of LLM by Research (ie by a thesis of up to 30,000 words). The scholarships are offered by the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust, which was formed in 1996 for the advancement of legal education in Scotland. The Trustees wish to award a scholarship or scholarships for study beginning in September 2027.
Eligibility
The scholarships are open to anyone who, by the start of the LLM programme, holds an honours degree in law, or an ordinary degree in law plus an honours degree in a different discipline, and who is accepted by the University of Edinburgh for the degree of LLM by Research. Preference may be given to those who intend to progress to the PhD.
Value
The scholarship comprises fees at home students’ rate together with a full maintenance award (currently £21,805).
Choice of topic
Applicants are expected to choose their own topic. The emphasis, however, should be on legal doctrine rather than on, for example, legal theory or socio-legal issues. Historical or comparative perspectives are welcome. Members of staff at the Edinburgh Law School with appropriate research interests will be happy to give further guidance.
Progression to the PhD
The LLM can (but need not) be used as a gateway to further study for the degree of PhD. Indeed it is often possible to treat the LLM as the first year of study for a PhD by switching to the PhD degree during the year spent on the LLM. For students who make this switch, funding for the full three years of the PhD will often be made available by the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust.
Application process and closing date
Candidates must first apply for admission to the Law LLM by Research Programme.
Find out how to apply to the LLM by Research
Once you have applied for admission to the Programme, please complete the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust Scholarship Application Form and send it to phd.law@ed.ac.uk.
Download the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust Scholarship Application Form
Applications should normally be received by 3 May 2027. The Trustees reserve full discretion to offer, or not to offer, a scholarship.
Further information
Further information may be found on the website of the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust.
This scholarship is available for part-time postgraduate research in Scots private law at the University of Edinburgh for a period of two years, leading to the degree of LLM by Research (ie by a thesis of up to 30,000 words). The scholarship is offered by the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust, which was formed in 1996 for the advancement of legal education in Scotland. The Trustees wish to award a scholarship for study beginning in September 2027.
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to anyone who, by the start of the LLM programme, holds an honours degree in law, or an ordinary degree in law plus an honours degree in a different discipline, and who is accepted by the University of Edinburgh for the degree of LLM by Research.
Value
The scholarship comprises fees at the home students’ rate. In addition, a limited amount of assistance may be given by the Trust in respect of research expenses. Fees will be paid by the Trust directly to the University of Edinburgh.
Choice of topic
Applicants are expected to choose their own topic. The emphasis, however, should be on legal doctrine rather than on, for example, legal theory or socio-legal issues. Historical or comparative perspectives ate welcome. Members of staff at the Edinburgh Law School with appropriate research interests will be happy to give further guidance.
Progression to the PhD
The LLM can (but need not) be used as a gateway to further study for the degree of PhD. Indeed it is often possible to treat the part-time LLM as two years of study for a PhD by switching to the PhD degree during the years spent on the LLM. For students who make this switch, funding for the full six years of the part-time PhD will often be made available by the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust.
Application process and closing date
Candidates must first apply for admission to the Law LLM by Research Programme.
Find out how to apply to the LLM by Research
Once you have applied for admission to the Programme, please complete the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust Scholarship Application Form and send it to phd.law@ed.ac.uk.
Download the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust Scholarship Application Form
Applications should normally be received by 3 May 2027. The Trustees reserve full discretion to offer, or not to offer, a scholarship.
Further information
Further information may be found on the website of the Edinburgh Legal Education Trust.
The University of Edinburgh offers many scholarships for postgraduate study. You should consult the University Scholarship pages for further information on these and other sources of funding that may be available.
Find out more about the range of scholarships offered by the University of Edinburgh
There are a range of additional sources of financial support that you may be eligible to apply to.
Find out more about additional sources of funding for students
Contact us
If you have any questions about our scholarships please don't hesitate to contact us.