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A Manchester PhD could change your tomorrow.
This is the place where the atom was split, graphene was discovered and AI was born. It could be your home too.
Whether you're interested in a CDT, an MPhil, a PhD, Eng D or MSc by Research, this page will take you through the process of becoming a Manchester postgraduate researcher, from finding your research passion, to knowing how it’ll be funded.
Right, let’s start your tomorrow.
Choose your own path
Join a global institution where you can choose between full or part time projects, develop transferable skills, accelerate your career and forge the future you want.
Innovate and create
Our postgraduate researchers work at the cutting-edge of research, making important breakthroughs, big and small, as we build a better future together.
A different place
Enjoy life in a multicultural city, that people who think differently are proud to call home, and feel you belong as part of our diverse research community.
World leading facilities
We’re home to some of the best facilities in the world, from the biggest electrical infrastructure test facility in UK academia, to the only in-land wave tank in the UK.
Discover your tomorrow
Get ready for a life changing experience like no other.
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.
Getting started
Is postgraduate research at Manchester for you?
At Manchester we actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds, and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.
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.
Join our newsletter
Sign-up to our newsletter and receive monthly updates and tips on applying for postgraduate research in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
- Find out about the latest featured and live projects
- Be the first to hear about newly launched funding opportunities and events
- Listen to advice and tips from currently postgraduate researchers and our support teams
- And much more
Choose your research area
What inspires you?
Your tomorrow should be built on your research passion. Start your PhD journey by finding the research project that best suits you.
Browse across our nine Departments and research areas, innovative Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), and international joint and dual awards. Alternatively, head straight to our project search to find all of our live advertised projects, or to our supervisor search to start by finding a suitable supervisor.
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Browse by department and research theme
Already know which area you want to research?
Learn more about the research themes and vast range of expertise in each of our nine Departments, and browse live projects for each area:
- Chemical Engineering - including catalysis and porous materials; process integration; and sustainable industrial systems.
- Chemistry - including biotechnology; inorganic, materials, organic, physical, and theoretical chemistry disciplines.
- Computer Science - including computer systems engineering; data engineering; and software systems engineering.
- Earth and Environmental Sciences - including atmospheric sciences; ecology and evolution; palaeontology; and planetary science.
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering - including specialist programme options in electrical and electronic engineering.
- Materials - including biomaterials; fashion management and marketing; metallurgy and corrosion; nanomaterials; and textiles and apparel.
- Mathematics - including applied maths; financial maths; mathematical logic; probability; pure mathematics; and statistics.
- Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering - including environmental engineering; management of projects, and nuclear engineering.
- Physics and Astronomy - including accelerator, nuclear and particle physics; astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology; condensed matter, atomic and biological physics; theoretical physics.
Browse all live projects
Want to search projects across the Faculty of Science and Engineering?
Simply head over to our project search to browse live projects from across the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and find a project you're passionate about.
Centres for Doctoral Training
Want to combine research with practical training and collaborate across research areas and institions?
Find out more about our Centres for Doctoral Training which offer fully funded PhDs in a range of research areas including advanced biomedical materials, graphene, integrated catalysis, and nuclear energy.
Dual and joint awards
Want to carry out some of your research in a different country?
Discover more about our dual and joint award partnerships with prestigious universities across the world, and opportunities to research in both Manchester and Australia, China, Japan, or India.
Apply now
Found a project you're passionate about and ready to apply? Get started with your application right here.
Find a supervisor
Where to start
Getting in touch with a potential supervisor for your project is a crucial part of your PhD journey.
They can:
- Tell you more about a project and the team you could work with.
- Nominate you for one of our funding scholarships.
- Sponsor your proposed research idea.
- Support you at every stage of your research journey.
Apply now
Found a supervisor and spoken to them about supporting you and your application for postgraduate research? Get started with your application right here.
Fund your research
Find the funding you need
There are lots of ways you can secure funding for your postgraduate research.
Depending on the project you're applying for and when you're applying, there are a range of options available to you:
- Funded projects - when browsing projects filter your search by 'Funding Status' and check the 'Funding' section to see whether the project itself is already funded.
- University, Faculty and Department funding - if the project you're interested in isn't funded, use our funding database below to browse scholarships and awards which you may be eligible to apply for, or speak to our admissions team or your supervisor about other potential sources of funding.
- Self-funded or government sponsored projects - if you're self-funded or government funded then we'll need to see proof of funds or a letter from your sponsor when you apply.
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Search our funding database
Additional funding support
Funded projects and scholarships aren’t the only ways you can fund your postgraduate research.
- Postgraduate loans – you might qualify for a non-means tested loan from the UK Government. Paid directly to you, these re-payable loans contribute towards the cost of your study.
- Funding for students with disabilities – talk to our Disability Support Office about the external sources of financial support that might be available.
- Work while you study – our schools and faculties offer additional opportunities to supplement your income, including tutoring and graduate teaching assistant roles.
Apply now
Thought about how you'd like to fund your postgraduate research and all set to apply? Get started with your application right here.
Meet our researchers
Hello Charlotte
"I really love just walking around Manchester; there’s something for everyone here."
Hear how Charlotte balances her research, teaching and life in a city she calls home.
Hello Toufic
"Life as a postgraduate researcher varies."
Toufic tells us about the ups and downs of his research and how he's taking advantage of the industry links at the University.
Hello Jie
"Manchester really stood out for me because there are so many world leading projects going on here."
Jie tells us about her research and the opportunities she's discovering.
Why Manchester?
Your Future Starts Here
A brilliant campus, at the heart of the UK's most liveable city.
What's next?
Visit our open day
Join us at our Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Research Open Day on Wednesday 15 November 2023 (12pm to 4.30pm) and you'll discover:
- Available projects
- Supervisors and research groups you could work with
- How to get funding
- World class research facilities
- What it’s like to research in Manchester from current postgraduate researchers
- Much more
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Progress your application
So, you've found a research area to focus on, and a supervisor to support you. You also know how you want to fund your project. But what's next?
1. Check the specific entry requirements and tuition fees for your programme in our course profile section.
2. Read our short guide to what you'll need to start your application.
3. Make sure you have all of your information to hand before you start the form. Use our application checklist to tick off everything you need.
Your application checklist
Apply now
Start your new tomorrow
Not long to go now...the final step is your application.
Before you apply, remember that your application is more likely to be successful if you have already made contact with potential supervisors, to find out if they are able to offer supervision in your area of interest.
Apply for an advertised project or CDT
You won’t need to submit a research proposal, you'll just need the relevant project title and supervisor(s).
Apply for your own research project
You’ll need to submit your research proposal and the name of the supervisor/s you have identified as part of your application.
Got a question? We're here to help!
Not sure where to start or got a question about applying, funding or something else?