Fees 2026–27
What a DCUK doctorate actually costs.
No "contact us for pricing". No overseas tier. Every number on this page is the number a new researcher pays to enrol today.
Programme fees
Per-programme headline rates
Annual fee × expected duration. Most researchers complete within the standard window; see the FAQ for extension and pause policies.
| Programme | Annual | Monthly from | Expected total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Online PhD Most popular |
£6500
per year |
£545
per month |
£19500–£26000
3 yrs |
Details |
|
DBA — Doctor of Business Administration |
£8500
per year |
£710
per month |
£25500–£34000
3 yrs |
Details |
|
EdD — Doctor of Education |
£7500
per year |
£625
per month |
£22500–£30000
3 yrs |
Details |
|
MPhil / SCQF Research Masters |
£4800
per year |
£400
per month |
£9600
2 yrs |
Details |
|
Access to Doctorate Short course, one-off fee |
£950
per year |
£95
per month |
£950
1 yr |
Details |
|
Research Training Modular CPD, priced per cohort |
£1500
per year |
£150
per month |
£1500
1 yr |
Details |
|
Supervisor Development Modular CPD, priced per cohort |
£1200
per year |
£120
per month |
£1200
1 yr |
Details |
All prices in GBP. Fees for 2026–27. Locked at enrolment for the registered duration.
How we compare
Like-for-like with UK alternatives
Indicative annual fees for a part-time doctorate in UK management / business. Figures are drawn from institutional 2025–26 published rates and normalised to a three-year part-time equivalent. Overseas fees are typically 2–4× higher at traditional universities.
DCUK Online PhD
Part-time, online
per year
DCUK DBA
Part-time, online
per year
Typical Russell Group, home, part-time
Part-time, on-campus
per year
Typical Russell Group, home, full-time
Full-time, on-campus
per year
Typical Russell Group, overseas, full-time
Full-time, on-campus
per year
Typical post-92, home, part-time
Part-time, on-campus
per year
Typical independent online doctoral provider
Part-time, online
per year
No overseas tier
International researchers pay the same as UK researchers — typically 2–4× less than a traditional UK doctorate.
Fees locked at enrolment
The rate you start on is the rate you pay every year of your registered programme. No surprise increases mid-thesis.
Everything included
Supervision, training, Symposium, ethics, examiners, research environment. There are no separate module fees.
What's in the fee
Everything a doctoral researcher needs.
Two supervisors
A Director of Studies plus a second supervisor, both trained on DCUK's supervisor development programme.
Minimum 12 hrs supervision per year
Guaranteed one-to-one supervision. Most researchers use 15–20 hrs.
Research methods training
All methodology modules included. Take as many as you need.
Annual Symposium included
Full attendance and presentation slot reserved. Normally £95 for externals.
Research environment access
Journal access, software licences, and the DCUK researcher community.
Ethics review + viva examiners
Research Ethics Committee review and external examiner fees included.
Payment options
Pay in the way that suits your life.
01
Annual
Pay for the year upfront. 3% discount on the headline rate.
02
Quarterly
Four equal instalments. No interest, no fee.
03
Monthly
Twelve equal instalments. No interest, no fee.
04
Employer sponsored
We invoice your employer directly. Many DBA and EdD researchers are funded by their organisation.
FAQ
Questions we get asked about money.
Are these the fees an international researcher pays?
Yes. DCUK is online-only, so there is no overseas tier — the fees on this page are the fees, regardless of where you live. This is the biggest single saving versus a traditional UK doctorate, where overseas fees are typically 2–4× higher.
Will my fee go up during my programme?
Annual fees are fixed at the rate you enrol on, for the registered duration of your programme. If you extend beyond three years (four for DBA), the new year is charged at the prevailing rate.
What about scholarships or bursaries?
DCUK runs a small annual bursary programme for under-represented researchers. Bursaries are announced in July for the following October intake and typically cover 20–50% of tuition. Email admissions@doctoralcollege.org to be notified when applications open.
Can my employer pay?
Yes — and most DBA and EdD researchers are at least partly employer-funded. We can issue a proforma invoice to support your funding conversation, and invoice your employer directly once approved.
What happens if I need to pause?
Researchers can suspend for up to 12 months across the registered duration with no fee penalty. Fees are paused for the duration of the suspension and resumed at the original rate.
What if I withdraw?
Withdrawal within the first 28 days is refunded in full. Beyond that, fees are pro-rated to the month of withdrawal. Full terms are in the enrolment agreement.
Ready to start?
Submit a brief research proposal — we'll confirm the fee for your programme and start a conversation about funding if you need one.