Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentship in Cities
The Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentship in Cities supports outstanding doctoral students seeking to advance knowledge on how cities are governed, led, managed and transformed in the twenty-first century. Two Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships in Cities are available for September 2027 entry.
The studentship promotes a collaborative model of research that brings together universities and city governments to address some of the most pressing challenges facing cities today. Students are expected to produce original and significant research that contributes both to academic understanding and to the practice of urban governance.
Research may focus on topics including city government innovation, urban governance, urban leadership, as well as exploratory and open research on the critical uncertainties likely to shape cities over the coming decade.
In this context, city government innovation refers to the development and implementation of new policies, services, technologies, governance models and ways of working that improve public value and help city governments operate more effectively. Innovation may involve entirely new approaches or the adaptation of ideas that are novel within a particular city, geography or policy area. Urban leadership refers to the ways in which elected and appointed leaders guide, influence and coordinate the development and delivery of urban policy, public services and long-term city strategies.
Research may focus on cities globally; however, proposals that feature a clear connection to European cities, including the potential for empirical research on the continent, may be particularly competitive.
Successful applicants will be encouraged, and supported where possible, to work closely with city governments during their research. City governments may act as co-hosting organisations, providing opportunities for empirical research, policy engagement and knowledge exchange. Applicants are encouraged to identify which city governments would make the most suitable co-hosting partners for their proposed research and incorporate this in their application.
The studentship is a full-time, in-person doctoral opportunity based at LSE in London. Students are expected to participate fully in the academic and research activities of their programme and engage actively with both their academic department and the LSE Cities community. Successful applicants must be able to commence their studies on the designated programme start date and undertake their studies in person in London for the duration of the programme. Later start dates cannot be accommodated.
For September 2027 entry, Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships in Cities are available across select doctoral programmes in LSE's Departments of Government, Geography and Environment, Management, and Sociology. Students of all nationalities are eligible to apply.
Co-supervision by LSE Cities faculty is available and encouraged where appropriate. Where co-supervision is arranged, the primary supervisor must be based within the academic department administering the PhD.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to engage with potential supervisors before applying. Prospective applicants should identify academic staff whose expertise aligns with their proposed research and discuss their ideas with them at an early stage. When making contact, applicants typically provide a short research proposal and a CV.
Eligible Programmes
Department of Government
- MRes/PhD Political Science (with a focus on urban governance)
Department of Geography and Environment
Department of Management
- MPhil/PhD Management - Information Systems and Innovation (with a focus on urban management)
Department of Sociology
- MPhil/PhD Sociology (with a focus on cities)
Applicants can apply to a maximum of two LSE doctoral programmes, should your intended research be congruent with their foci, and will be required to rank their choices for consideration. More information on this can be found in the “Additional programme choices” section of this page.
Funding
The Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships in Cities provide:
- Full tuition fee funding;
- An annual maintenance stipend (at least £23,805 in 2026/27);
- Additional funding to support research-related activities.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit two applications:
- Apply for your chosen doctoral programme(s) via the Prospectus pages linked above
- Apply for the Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentship in Cities via the online application form.
Admission to an eligible PhD programme is the first stage of the selection process, and only applicants who satisfy the admissions requirements of the relevant department will be considered for the studentship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applicants must be applying to one of the eligible PhD programmes and meet the programme's entry requirements. The studentship is intended for candidates starting their doctoral studies.
Applicants who already hold a PhD, wish to transfer from another PhD programme, or are applying through a 1+3 pathway are not eligible.
Students of all nationalities are eligible for funding, although there is a cap on the number of studentships that can be awarded to students from one country.
No. This is a one-off funding opportunity. Two studentships are available, and there are currently no plans for a future application round.
These labels reflect the structure of the doctoral programme. Students initially register on an MPhil or MRes pathway and progress to full PhD status after meeting the required progression criteria.
Entry requirements vary by department. Applicants should consult the Prospectus page of their chosen PhD programme (linked above) for details of academic qualifications, research proposal requirements and any programme-specific criteria. General entry requirements can be found here.
The application and selection process comprises five stages:
- Develop your research proposal and identify the eligible PhD programme(s) that best fit your project.
- Contact potential supervisors. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposal with supervisors in their chosen department. Those interested in co-supervision may also contact LSE Cities faculty. The primary supervisor must be based in the department administering the PhD.
- Submit your applications. Applicants must apply separately to both the PhD programme(s) of choice and the Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentship in Cities. The PhD application is subject to LSE's standard application fee (£95). Fee-waiver support may be available for eligible applicants. References must be received by the funding deadline stipulated in the Prospectus page.
- Programme assessment. Applications are reviewed by the relevant academic department to determine whether applicants meet the admissions requirements and whether suitable supervision is available.
- Studentship assessment. Applicants who are successful at the programme stage will then be considered for the studentship.
Please note that admission to a PhD programme is the first hurdle in the process, and only applicants who satisfy the relevant department's admissions criteria can be considered for the studentship.
Further guidance on the application process and required supporting documents.
To be considered for this Studentship, applicants must apply by the PhD funding deadline of their chosen programme(s). References must be received by that same funding deadline. Applicants should apply for their PhD programme as early as possible, to ensure that your applicant ID number is generated in sufficient time to include it in your studentship application form.
Please review the information above and the FAQ section in full before contacting us. If your query is not addressed, please contact Alen Melero at n.melero-yerinkova@lse.ac.uk.