Fully-funded PhD places
Specific projects
Specific fully-funded PhD projects can become available throughout the year. Current positions will be listed on our Funding for postgraduates page.
Flexible projects
There are also a number of PhD places directly funded by the Research Councils and other bodies, with considerable flexibility concerning the precise area of research.
These are our most flexible awards as the student and academic concerned can decide together the exact area of research. They are suitable for applicants who satisfy the Research Council funding eligibility requirements or have secured their own funding.
Note that only a few of these flexible projects will be funded in a given year, so it is a good idea to list several projects in order of preference when applying for these projects.
Project research areas
- 8th in the UK for world leading and internationally excellent research1
- 5th in the UK for Physical Science in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012
- Multimillion pound investment in ultra fast lasers, nano-fabrication, bio-imaging, clean-rooms and computing facilities
- Excellent research facilities include an astronomical observatory, a £1 million supercomputer and a helium liquefier
- Over 90 per cent submit their theses within the EPSRC deadline period, with most publishing several scientific papers during their period of study
- Collaborative biomedical research opportunities with Sport and Health Sciences and Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
1 Research Assessment Exercise 2008 based on percentage of research categorised as 4* and 3*
