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PhD Physics / Entry requirements

Year of entry: 2024

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Academic entry qualification overview

The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent).

Other combinations of qualifications and research or work experience may also be considered. Please contact the admissions team to check.

English language

All applicants will need to demonstrate competency in English language.

Applicants who do not already possess an acceptable English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test and attain a minimum IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6 in writing and listening, and 5.5. in all other sub-tests.

TOEFL iBT: At least 90 overall with no subtest below 20. We do not accept 'MyBestScore'.

Pearson Test of English (PTE): At least 70 overall with no subtest below 59. Further information on language requirements can be found on our website .

Pre-sessional English: We also accept successful completion of a pre-sessional English course run by the University Language Centre to meet our English language requirements.

English language test validity

Other international entry requirements.

Postgraduate study

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.

Entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent. In exceptional cases, the requirement for a first-class or strong upper-second class undergraduate degree with honours can be alternatively demonstrated by a graduate master’s degree or substantial directly-related professional or research experience.

The supervision allocation is the responsibility of the admissions coordinators. It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. 

For informal enquiries please email the admission coordinators: Evelina Gersabeck ([email protected]) and Darren Price ([email protected]) for experimental particle physics, and Eleni Vryonidou ([email protected]) for theoretical particle physics

Scholarships and funding opportunities

In addition to the baseline funding the group receives from STFC and other research grants, there are several other opportunities students can consider. Please note that these schemes have a deadline and we need several weeks to process your application. For STFC funding we have a soft deadline end of January, meaning all applications by this point will be considered and reviewed. Applications submitted thereafter will be reviewed (subject to available funding).

Outstanding students are encouraged to apply for the competitive PhD scholarships (such as the President’s Doctoral Scholar award , the Dean’s Doctoral Scholarship )

There are dedicated scholarships for applicants looking for an enhanced teaching component of their PhD programme: the Postgraduate Research Teaching Associate (PGRTA) Scholarships . The duration of the PhD programme is correspondingly extended.

Outstanding applicants from China are encouraged to apply for the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Postgraduate Scholarships .

Scholarships also exist from the underrepresented parts of the community. One such scholarship is the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship . There is also a Departmental scholarship .

If you have other routes of funding e.g. Commonwealth scholarship , 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 link . This is the starting point for all applications.

How to apply

For MSc by Research and PhD placements with the particle physics group, you can apply online .

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 welcome to contact an academic to discuss potential projects before making your application.

The application form will ask for a “named supervisor”: if you are not sure, 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 here .

Our main interview period is February/ March with the first offers being made before the end of 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).

Postgraduate research

Fully-funded PhDs still available for September 2024 start.

Explore postgraduate research at Manchester

Discover your tomorrow.

Ours is a diverse community, with talented researchers from different countries, cultures, backgrounds and beliefs, where everyone is welcome. That's why we've got flexible pathways to support you, whatever your background or career stage. Hear from current postgraduate researchers and discover more about PhD life at Manchester.

Check your eligibility

We're looking for postgraduate researchers that not only meet our entry requirements but also possess key attributes and characteristics which we think make an excellent Manchester researcher.

Before you start your journey, use our eligibility checker to discover whether you've got what it takes to become a postgraduate researcher in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester.

Application checklist

Use our application checklist to check you have everything you need to start your application to become a postgraduate researcher at Manchester.

Start your checklist

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If you’re not sure where to start, have a question about applying, funding or anything else, our friendly application team is here to help. Get in touch with them today.

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Department of Physics and Astronomy

Our research

The groundbreaking research consistently produced by the Department reflects the quality of our staff and facilities.

We have more than 150 academic and research staff - including two Nobel laureates, Sirs Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov.

Being a large Department, our research covers a very rich portfolio over most of the subfields of physics and astronomy, ranging from fundamental areas to interdisciplinary projects that reach beyond the academic subject.

Our facilities are among the best in the UK, and we're constantly investing in the latest technologies in our search for new discoveries.

We support Physics fellowships  to accelerate research careers, providing an invaluable pathway for aspiring researchers to delve deeper into their chosen field.

Explore our research activity below:

Centres and institutes

Our centre at Jodrell Bank, and close links with a range of key institutes are pivotal to the quality of our work.

Our research is split into distinct themes and includes work in nuclear, atomic, astro and theoretical physics.

We strive to make real societal impact with the research activity conducted across the Department.

Our outstanding facilities enable us to carry out the pioneering work for which we are known.

Start your PhD journey

Browse projects built on your research passion, find a supervisor that shares your vision and discover how your PhD could be fully funded.

Research for your business

Our Department's research expertise can be used to help your business.

Find out more

Project funding

Discover the funding available to you for your own postgraduate research programme.

We have 41 The University of Manchester Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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The University of Manchester Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

The next generation of irradiation and corrosion resistant steels for fusion reactor, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Antimicrobial graphene oxide wound dressings

Self-funded phd students only.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Advancing the Thermal Treatment of Radioactive Graphite Waste

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

The University of Manchester - Department of Physics and Astronomy

Funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

PhD Research Programme

PhD Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Using Natural Language Processing and molecular simulations to build polymer databases

Thermal hydraulics modelling of low-pressure, light water-cooled small modular reactors, theory and simulation of the ferro-electric nematic phase, simulation of tissue regeneration processes by lattice boltzmann method, rational design of photo/electrocatalysts towards green nitrogen fixation and ammonia production, funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Organic coatings microstructure: insights from molecular simulations

Optimising the delivery of light into electron paramagnetic resonance samples, numerical analyses of subglacial lakes dynamics by lattice boltzmann method, nanobody-conjugated graphene based electromechanical biosensors, modelling and analysis methods for satellite aerodynamics in very low earth orbit (vleo).

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Discover more about physics at Manchester

BSc Physics / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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A*A*A, including A* in both Physics and Mathematics.

A*AA, including Physics and Mathematics. The A* must be in Physics or Mathematics.

Applicants who have been in local authority care for more than three months or have refugee status may be eligible for an offer two grades below the standard requirements.

38 points overall with 7,7,6 at Higher Level, including 7 in both Physics and Mathematics.

We will accept Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.

Full entry requirements

Find out how this course aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals , including learning which relates to:

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure, goal 13: climate action, course overview.

• Join a physics Department ranked in the top 15 in the world, consistently, since 2011 (the Academic Ranking of World Universities).
• Develop at a Department ranked 1st in England for physics and astronomy (Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019), and associated with no fewer than 13 Nobel Prize winners.
• Enjoy lots of choice and flexibility in a broad undergraduate curriculum covering all areas of physics.
• Be part of a Department with a consistently high record of student satisfaction, averaging 93% over ten years of the National Student Survey.

The University holds undergraduate open days regularly, giving you the opportunity to find out more about our courses, the support we offer, and our facilities. Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is all about. Find out about our upcoming open days .

View the recent undergraduate virtual open week recorded sessions.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2024 will be £9,250 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £35,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages .

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At The University of Manchester, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.

Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.

To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our courses address.

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Contact details

Our internationally-renowned expertise across the School of Natural Sciences informs research led teaching with strong collaboration across disciplines, unlocking new and exciting fields and translating science into reality.  Our multidisciplinary learning and research activities advance the boundaries of science for the wider benefit of society, inspiring students to promote positive change through educating future leaders in the true fundamentals of science. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Courses in related subject areas

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You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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Chemistry and Physics

Program Opportunities

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry -  For students pursuing careers in industry, professional school (medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, etc.), or graduate school
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry Secondary Education  - For students pursuing a career teaching high school chemistry
• Minor in Chemistry -  For students wishing to enhance their major area of study with a deeper understanding of chemistry. (biology, environmental studies, psychology, and more)

Chemistry isn’t called “the central science” for nothing! In fact, because chemical concepts appear in many other fields, chemistry courses are required preparation for many careers, including laboratory work, research, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, medicine or dentistry. Manchester chemistry majors enjoy an outstanding placement rate for their post-graduate goals, including bachelor’s level jobs and professional schools.

Manchester chemistry faculty will guide you through a hands-on chemistry education that fuses with our outstanding liberal arts curriculum. We graduate students who are effective scientists, communicators and problem solvers, ready to build successful careers in a rapidly changing world.

Careers for a Chemistry Major

Pursuing a chemistry major at Manchester positions you for a variety of jobs in growing fields. For example, by 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6 percent growth in chemist/materials scientists (2020 median pay $80,680/year), 9 percent growth in food scientists (2020 median pay $68,830/year) and 1 percent growth in forensic science technicians (2020 median pay $60,590/year). Chemistry faculty work with you to build your skills and resume to make you strong candidates for these and other positions.

Other careers in chemistry include:

• University Chemistry Professor
• Environmental Scientist
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• Forensic Science Technicians
• High School Chemistry Teacher
• Materials Scientist
• Technical writer
• Science journalist

Program Success

Excellent graduate success rates: 

• 92 percent of Chemistry majors graduating in 2011-2020 immediately went on to post-graduate positions.
• 60 percent enrolled in PhD programs in chemistry or physics, pharmacy school, medical school, accelerated nursing programs or dental school
• 32 percent began bachelor’s-level jobs in laboratories or high school teaching
• JT Butler (2021) is teaching chemistry, physics, and integrated chemistry and physics at Rensselaer Central High School in Rensselaer, Indiana
• Jacob Dittmer (2020) is pursuing a PhD in chemistry at Florida A&M University
• Isabella Case (2020) is attending the Indiana University School of Dentistry
• Eric Beard (2018) is attending the Manchester University College of Pharmacy
• Alexis Figueroa (2018) is an MD/PhD student at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Sarah Kurtz (1979) won the 2007 Dan David Prize for her contributions to solar energy
• Paul Flory (1931) won the 1974 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Roy Plunkett (1932) invented Teflon® for the Dupont corporation

Why Manchester?

Manchester science faculty believe that you learn science best by doing science. Small class sizes ensure close interaction with your professors, who guide you to gain new knowledge and skills. They will also challenge you to put your classroom knowledge into practice through hands-on laboratory experiences conducted in lab spaces that are equipped for you to simulate common tasks you’ll encounter in your post-college paths. Most importantly, every chemistry major completes a summer or semester research experience where they complete a one-on-one research project with a chemistry or physics professor. This is an important step in your development as a chemistry major, helping you to build valuable skills for your resume and post-graduation plans.

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