MARS PhD programmes

MARS is offering full-time, fully funded, four-year PhD studentships for UK fees status students.

For October 2027 entry we have two studentships available:

• MARS studentship: Our offer includes an enhanced tax-free stipend, tuition fees and a research, training and support grant.
• MARS/G-Research studentship: In addition to the standard MARS offer, this studentship also includes £5k for equipment, £6k for compute and opportunities to attend G-Research scholar events.

Details about MARS supervisors and their PhD supervision interests can be found here.

For these studentships, we particularly welcome applications from women who remain underrepresented in the mathematical sciences.

Programme overview

MARS is offering four-year PhD programmes in Applied Mathematics and Mathematical AI.

The MARS PhD programmes will suit graduates from a mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science or engineering background who are looking to develop their research skills in applied mathematics, mathematical modelling, AI and computer programming.

How to apply

We are accepting applications from UK fees status students for October 2027 entry. The deadline is 17:00 (GMT) on 31^st January 2027.

Before applying, you must contact a prospective lead supervisor(s). You can find a list of MARS supervisors and their supervision interests here. If you are not sure which supervisor is best suited to your interests, please email our Director of Postgraduate Research, Murad Banaji (m.banaji@lancaster.ac.uk), and he will advise.

Once you have spoken with your prospective lead supervisor, send the following information to mars@lancaster.ac.uk:

• A current copy of your CV (no more than two sides of A4 in PDF format).
• A covering letter (no more than two sides of A4 in PDF format) which should outline:

- Details of the research area(s)/project you have agreed with your prospective lead supervisor.

- Your motivation for undertaking a PhD with MARS.

- If you would like to be considered for the MARS/G-Research studentship, please explain why you are interested in this position.

• Transcripts and certificates of the degree courses you have studied.
• Confirmation that you are a UK fees status student.
• Details of where you saw the opportunity.

Please provide all the requested information as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Before applying, please read our information on entry requirements and funding.

Entry requirements

As a minimum, applicants must have or expect to obtain a first class honours undergraduate degree or 2:1 undergraduate degree with a merit at master’s in a subject with substantial mathematical content (e.g. mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science or engineering).

These studentships are available to UK fees status students only.

To be classed as a UK student you must:

• Be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and
• Have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and
• Have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/ EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years.

If you do not meet the above criteria, you are not eligible to apply.

Funding

All MARS PhDs are fully funded. For October 2027 entry, funding for the four-year duration includes an enhanced tax-free stipend (£3k more per year than UKRI standard rates), fees and a research, training and support grant (RTSG).

In addition to the standard MARS offer, the MARS/G-Research studentship also includes £5k for equipment, £6k for compute and opportunities to attend G-Research scholar events.

The stipend is approximately £25,459 for 2027, with a ~3% increase in subsequent years.