Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentship in Cities
The Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentship encourages a collaborative approach involving city governments as co-hosting institutions. Research students generate original and significant research in the field of city government innovation, urban governance and leadership, including exploratory and open research on the critical uncertainties challenging urban governance over the next decade.
Research is highly contemporary, informed by concerns of the twenty-first century European city and focuses on essential future agendas for European cities.
Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships in Cities provide fees, a stipend and additional support to engage with city administrations and academic urban governance networks.
For 2026 entry, we will be offering Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships in Cities to a number of programmes across LSE's departments: Government, Geography, Management and Sociology. Students of all nationalities are eligible for this funding. Co-supervision is available by LSE Cities faculty and encouraged where possible.
Eligibility
Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships will be available for the following programmes:
Department of Government
- MRes/PhD Political Science - LSE (with a focus on urban governance)
Department of Geography and the Environment
- MPhil/PhD Human Geography and Urban Studies - LSE
- MPhil/PhD Regional and Urban Planning Studies - LSE
Department of Management
- MPhil/PhD in Management - Information Systems and Innovation - LSE (with a focus on urban management)
Department of Sociology
- MPhil/PhD Sociology - LSE (with a focus on cities)
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.
Studentship amount
Bloomberg Philanthropies PhD Studentships cover full fees and an annual stipend of at least £22,780 (in 2025/26).
Additional funding is available to support related activities.