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The University of Portsmouth and Edith Cowan University in Western Australia have established a Dual Award PhD Programme that brings together the research strengths of both institutions.
This programme allows you to pursue doctoral studies while benefiting from the expertise, facilities, and support services of two innovative universities. You’ll gain valuable international research experience and graduate with a truly global perspective.
What’s involved in a dual award PhD?
You’ll be jointly supervised and have access to the research expertise, infrastructure, and support services of both universities.
You’ll begin your studies in your ‘home’ institution, where your first supervisor will be based, but will spend a minimum of 12 months abroad in your ‘host’ institution, where your second supervisor will be based.
You’ll register for and, if successful, receive a PhD from both universities. You’ll need to pass the annual monitoring, review, and viva voce examination requirements of both institutions.
Dual Award PhD scholarships
Both the University of Portsmouth and Edith Cowan University plan to offer one PhD scholarship a year for five years, starting in 2026.
UoP Dual Award PhD scholarships cover:
- Student fees at the UK Home rate for 3.5 years;
- An annual stipend in line with UKRI rates for 3.5 years;
- A total research allowance of £4500 to cover the 3.5-year registration period;
- Placement expenses of up to £3000*, to contribute to the scholarship holder’s travel/visa/health insurance costs during their year abroad.
*Dependants’ costs aren’t covered.
You may also be eligible to apply for external support from the Turing Scheme to support your travel to Edith Cowan University.
Explore scholarship opportunities
Once available, scholarship opportunities will be advertised on the relevant university scholarship webpages.
Information for staff
At the University of Portsmouth, the scholarships will be allocated to each of the University’s Faculties in turn. In each scholarship round, staff from the designated faculty will be invited to develop PhD project proposals in identified areas of shared strategic significance.
In round one, Portsmouth projects will be invited from colleagues in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The successful applicant to the University of Portsmouth's first-round scholarship scheme will be expected to start their course in April 2026.
Edith Cowan University's scholarship is open to prospective PhD candidates from all disciplines, but prioritisation in the first round will be given to research conducted in the fields of Defence, Cyber Security and Criminology.
University of Portsmouth staff may be contacted by researchers from Edith Cowan University about serving as a supervisor on prospective projects.
Get in touch
For more information about doing a Dual Award PhD at the University of Portsmouth, please contact the Course Director:
Email charlotte.boyce@port.ac.uk
For enquiries about the Edith Cowan University programme:
