Postgraduate eligibility
All NERC studentships are allocated by NERC to university departments, not directly to students. As the departments have been allocated the studentships, individuals should apply directly to the department, not to NERC. A studentship is awarded by the department to an eligible individual.
Heads of Departments, prospective supervisors and potential students needing advice on eligibility should contact the Registrars Office in the first instance. Where there is doubt about an individual's eligibility for a NERC studentship the Registrar should contact the NERC Training Awards Team.
Qualifications
PhD
If you have or expect to receive a 2.1 degree or higher, you are a UK citizen and you have always lived in the UK you are eligible to apply. If you have a 2.2 degree, but have also obtained a masters qualification, you are also eligible.
Experience
If you do not have these qualifications but you have substantial relevant post-graduate experience you may be eligible. It will be the responsibility of the department holding the studentship to determine whether your relevant experience is sufficient.
UK and EU residents
If you have not always lived in the UK refer to the NERC Studentships Handbook, section B for more information.
If you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) member state you will generally be eligible for a fees-only award. Please refer to the full list of EU countries and further eligibility information in Section B of the Studentships Handbook. As of July 2005 non-UK EU nationals who have spent the previous three years in the UK undertaking education (undergraduate study or masters) now meet the residency requirements for full postgraduate studentship support. Previously residence for the purpose of full time education was excluded by the eligibility criteria.
If you have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, or Humanitarian Protection, or Discretionary Leave see the NERC Studentships Handbook, section titled "Indefinite Leave to Remain", Section B, for further details and definition of this term. If you do not you are probably not eligible for a NERC award.