We welcome applications for PhD and MSc positions in both experimental and theoretical particle physics. You can find out more about the different research areas using the Research pages on this website. We typically take on 15-20 new PhD students each year.

Deadline for the first round of consideration: December 1st 2024, second round by 31st January 2025.  Applications submitted after these dates will be considered for future rounds should positions remain available.

We run a competitive selection process in two steps, first evaluating candidates based on CV and research/professional experience, followed by interviews with a gender mixed panel. The minimum requirement for application is a strong 2:1 class UK Masters honours degree or equivalent. Substantial professional or research experience is advantageous.

For informal enquiries please email the relevant PGR admission coordinators:

• Experimental particle physics: Dr Elena Gramellini (elena.gramellini@manchester.ac.uk) and Dr Michaela Queitsch-Maitland (michaela.queitsch-maitland@manchester.ac.uk)
• Theoretical particle physics: Dr Eleni Vryonidou (Eleni.Vryonidou@manchester.ac.uk)

Scholarships and funding opportunities

The main avenue of funding for PhD studentships in the group is through the UK national research council for particle physics, STFC, through which we have a limited number of studentships each year (including a limited number for international applicants). In addition there are several other opportunities for funding, including prestigious scholarships for both home and international applicants. Please note that we need several weeks to process your application, so please apply well in advance of the scheme deadlines.

• STFC PhD studentships in Experimental Particle Physics 
  These PhD studentship positions are available across all research areas in the group funded by STFC, the UK national research council for particle physics. These fully-funded PhD studentships would be 3.5 years in length, and begin in October 2025.
  The position is open to UK residents with a limited number of places for international applicants.
  Applications should be submitted by January 31st 2025 for full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be considered for as long as positions remain available.
• Presidential Doctoral Scholarships, Dean’s Scholarships (All nationalities)
  https://www.se.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/search-for-funding/presidents-doctoral-scholarship/
  https://www.se.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/search-for-funding/deans-doctoral-scholarship/
  These prestigious fully-funded PhD studentships are 3.5 years in length, and would begin in October 2025. To be competitive candidates should have an excellent academic record and a record of research publications. 
  These positions are open to nationals from any country (subject to visa conditions).
  Early applications are recommended for these scholarships, with the deadline for the first round of consideration being December 1st 2024: applications submitted after this date will be considered for future rounds should positions remain available.
• Postgraduate Research Teaching Associate (PGRTA) Scholarships
  https://www.se.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/
  These fully-funded PhD studentships would be 4 to 5 years in length, and begin in October 2025. These scholarships are suitable for applicants with special interests in teaching as a fixed fraction of your time will be dedicated to teaching. 
  Candidates should be a UK resident. Evidence/statement of your interest in teaching activities will be required.
• Diversity Scholarship
  https://www.se.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/search-for-funding/natural-sciences-diversity-scholarship
  These fully funded PhD scholarships are for students residing in the UK who are eligible for home fees and who identify as black-heritage. The scholarships are available for 3.5-years and would commence in October 2025. 
• Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship (All nationalities, underrepresented groups in physics)
  https://www.iop.org/about/support-grants/bell-burnell-fund
  The Experimental Particle Physics group at the University of Manchester is looking for students, eligible for the Bell Burnell Scholarship to fill positions in Experimental Particle Physics across all research areas in the group. These fully-funded PhD studentships would be 3.5 years in length, and begin in October 2025. Early applications are recommended for these scholarships, with the deadline for the first round of consideration being December 1st 2024. 
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships in Experimental Particle Physics (Commonwealth nationals)
  https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/fees-and-funding/masters-student-funding/database/display/?id=00000019
  This scheme is open to nationals from Commonwealth countries (subject to conditions outlined on the CSCUK website) and offers the opportunity to pursue PhD research in the UK. We invite expressions of interest from eligible candidates to apply through the Commonwealth Scholarships programme across all of our research areas. 
  Interested candidates should visit the Commonwealth Scholarships website to determine eligibility: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
  Candidates are advised to take note of the closing date for applications to CSCUK and are thus strongly encouraged to apply to Manchester well in advance of this date.
• China Scholarship Council Joint PhD Scholarship Scheme (Chinese nationals)
  https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/funding-fees/funding-opportunities/csc-scholarship
  This is a joint PhD Scholarship Scheme organised between the University of Manchester and the China Scholarship Council. These fully-funded PhD studentships can be in any of the research areas within the Manchester group, would be 3 years in length, and begin in October 2024. 
  Candidates must be from one of the top Chinese universities as defined by the CSC and should satisfy the selection criteria set by CSC: http://www.csc.edu.cn/chuguo. To be competitive candidates should have an excellent academic record and a record of research publications.
  Early applications are recommended for these scholarships, with the deadline for the first round of consideration being 1st December 2024. Applications submitted after this date will be considered for future rounds should positions remain available.

If you have other routes of funding e.g. national funding schemes or self-funding, please get in touch and we will discuss these opportunities with you.

For all scholarships, please get in touch with a potential supervisor to discuss your application. If you do not know any of the potential supervisors, please contact the admission coordinators. You will also have to submit an application through the application portal. This is the starting point for all applications.

How to apply

The starting point for all applications is the portal https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/programmes/list/05510/phd-particle-physics/.

The application form will ask for a “research proposal”. We do not require a detailed proposal, please use this to describe which topics and/or projects you’re interested in applying for (few sentences or stating the research field/ the experiment(s) of interest is sufficient; no preference for a particular experiment is also fine). You are also welcome to contact an academic to discuss potential projects before making your application.

The application form will ask for a “named supervisor”: if you do not have a preference, please put down the names of the admission coordinators.

You will see the full entry requirements and the documents needed. Please select PhD in physics, then select “particle physics” in the next step.

Disclaimer: usually it takes at least several days for the applications to be processed by the admissions office. Once you have applied please contact the admission coordinators, and send the ID of your application and you can send your documents for faster processing.

The details of the MSc programme can be found at https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/programmes/list/02353/msc-by-research-astronomy-and-astrophysics/.

Interviews

Our main interview period is in February (with in-person interview dates on the 5th, 10th and 21st) with offers being made in March. However our admissions process continues until September. All applicants will receive a notification of a positive or negative outcome (if you have not heard your application is still being considered but you are welcome to inquire).