Funding and Training

The Department offers a number of STFC studentships in experimental particle physics, cosmology and space physics which are awarded on a competitive basis. (Full awards are available to UK applicants only). If you wish to be considered, we encourage you to submit your application by the beginning of February. Please mention in your personal statement or in the funding section if you wish to be considered for STFC funding. If non-EU applicants hope for financial support, the opportunities are increased if applications are received by the end of the year.

The Department offers EPSRC studentships for prospective PhD students (available to UK applicants only). If you wish to be considered, we strongly encourage you to submit your application before June 1st. Please mention in your application that you wish to be considered for an EPSRC studentship in your personal statement or under the funding section. All eligible applicants holding offers before the closing date will be considered.

The Department competes annually for Faculty PhD Studentships announced around January. The studentships are open to all applicants (UK, EU and OS) and awarded on a basis of academic excellence and research potential. All applicants who have offers before the deadline will be considered for this funding. The funding may be given to an academic member of staff who will then advertise the position.

The Institute Of Physics has launched the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund to encourage greater diversity in physics by supporting students from currently under-represented groups in their physics PhD studies. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell donated her 2018 Breakthrough Prize to set up the Fund.

If you are interested in applying for a Bell Burnell Scholarship for PhD studies starting in October 2024, please check your eligibility on their webpage, and discuss your interest in this scholarship with your prospective supervisor.

The deadline for submitting Scholarship applications to the Department is Monday 11^th Dec 2023. Please apply using the online Applications system and include the following documents with your application, either as separate pages of your personal statement or individual files:

• 1 page CV focussing on skills and experiences relevant to your Physics career.
• Background and need for a BBGSF grant (300 words): highlight any barriers or challenges encountered previously or anticipated during the proposed research project.

• Personal statement (1000 words max): ): including (a) reasons for wanting to do a Doctorate; (b) how you meet the BBGSF eligibility criteria clearly stating which underrepresented group you identify as; (c) how you propose to gain benefit from a grant, if awarded (d) how you would be an ambassador for the scheme.

Please ensure you also clearly state the project and supervisor you are applying for.

The Department will review applications and notify applicants whether their application will be supported by 22^nd Dec 2023. Supervisors and the Director of Postgraduate Studies will support selected applicants in preparing their final application to be submitted to the IOP by 19^th Jan 2024.

Please contact Dr Sarah Badman (Director of Postgraduate Studies) with any queries about applications for the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund.”

Opportunities are also available in graphene research via the Nownano Doctoral Training Centre and in Space Weather via the Envision Doctoral Training Centre. Applications should be made directly via these training centres.