South Asian Studies PhD

We are deeply committed to our students at all levels and to investigating the social world of South Asia cross-culturally as well as within Scotland and the UK generally.

Our School hosts a large, vibrant, intellectually stimulating and international community of postgraduate students from the UK, Europe, the Nordic countries, North America, Asia and Africa. Our PhD researchers attached to the Centre work on a broad range of theoretical, methodological and substantive topics.

Undertaken full-time over three years, or part-time over six years, the PhD in South Asian Studies is a research degree in which you will explore in depth a piece of theoretical, and/or methodological, and/or substantive research on a topic of their choice.

PhD researchers in South Asian Studies are allocated a supervisor and a co-supervisor, who will advise on the entirety of the research process, from reading and assembling ideas, fieldwork, analysing empirical or theoretical materials, writing up chapters, completing the thesis, to the viva which rounds off the process. The PhD researchers take an active part in our fortnightly seminar series, and take leading role in organising various scholarly events including annual work-in-progress workshops, thematic workshops and annual lectures amongst others.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

The PhD programme combines work on an individual thesis project with systematic training in research skills offered by the School of Social and Political Science.

The Centre hosts a weekly research seminar as well as regular workshops and conferences.

The School of Social and Political Science provides Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognised research training courses for Social Science students across the University. Postgraduate research students can access core, intermediate and advanced research training courses tailored to the need of their projects.

The University’s Institute for Academic Development also provides a range of courses and events to assist with methodological training and career development.

• Institute for Academic Development

The University’s Main Library has many manuscripts in oriental languages originating from the countries of the Middle East and South Asia.

As a PhD student at the School of Social and Political Science, you will have full access to a number of dedicated facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building, such as desk areas for quiet and collaborative study.

You will also have access to rich library and archive resources across the University, including Divinity and Celtic and Scottish studies. The University’s Main Library is one of the largest academic libraries in the world with more than 2,300 study spaces. You will also have access to the National Library of Scotland (holding the papers of several Viceroys of India) and the Scottish National Record Office.

Proximity to the Scottish Parliament and other institutions of national government provides further research opportunities.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan

  • family support

• personal savings

• income from work

• employer sponsorship

• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• School of Social and Political Science Scholarships

• UK Research Council Awards

For specialised guidance on submitting a competitive scholarship application, please follow the requirements and recommendations and how to contact relevant academic staff as advised here:

• Important information and recommendations

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding