We welcome your application for research that has the potential to benefit communities, influence policy or address social challenges. The potential areas of research could be;
Health and wellbeing: Research that addresses public health challenges, mental health support, healthcare access, and innovations in ageing and older people’s care.
Environment and sustainability: Projects focused on climate action, sustainable development, environmental justice, and biodiversity conservation.
Social justice and inclusion: Exploring issues of race, migration, gender, LGBTQ+ rights, disability, poverty, and social welfare to promote equity and inclusion.
Education and youth: Research into inclusive education, improving access and attainment, youth empowerment, and curriculum design for social impact.
Policy, governance and law: Investigating human rights, democratic participation, legal reform, and the effectiveness of social and criminal justice systems.
Economy and employment: Studies on social enterprise, labour market disparities, local economic development, and strategies for building resilient communities.
Arts, culture and heritage: Creative research that uses arts and culture to drive social change, preserve identity, and support wellbeing and advocacy.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this scholarship you must have:
a 2.1 or first class bachelors degree, or a master's at merit or distinction level
Candidates must hold a conditional offer of admission to the University of Southampton commencing their studies in September 2026.
If you have been working before you apply to study for a PhD, you will need to meet the University's criteria and good practice guidelines for accreditation of prior experiential and/or certificated learning.
We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds who are committed to using research as a tool for positive change. If your work seeks to make a real-world difference, we want to hear from you.
How to apply
Before applying, you should read our guidance on How to apply for a research degree.
Deadline to apply for the social impact scholarship: Friday 27 March 2026.
How we award scholarships
This is a competitive process - not all applications will be successful. There are 3 stages to the shortlisting process:
Eligibility: we check your application to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
Applications: we review your research degree and funding applications, to gain a complete picture of your academic qualifications and your motivations for undertaking a PhD.
Faculty selection panel review: our dedicated selection panel reviews your application and allocates funding.
