Dual-award between The University of Manchester and the University of Tokyo

The University of Manchester (UoM) and the University of Tokyo have partnered to offer a dual-award PhD programme on projects across the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with applicants spending four years across Manchester and Tokyo.

Broaden your horizons, take advantage of the incredible opportunity to conduct your research in two countries and benefit from world-class academic supervision of two leading institutions.

Why undertake a dual-award?

• Embrace the challenge of living abroad in a brand new country.
• Form part of a talented cohort seeking to address challenges across science and engineering, and choose from a range of projects.
• Develop a global perspective and international fluency to benefit your future development, opening the door to exciting new job opportunities.
• Boost your intercultural skills and become part of a talented pool of prospective employees for UK academia and industry.

About the programme

The dual award PhD programme - launched in May 2023 - complements the wider agreement on academic cooperation between our two institutions.

Postgraduate researchers will be jointly selected and spend time in Manchester and Tokyo, benefiting from the expertise, facilities and infrastructure of two globally renowned institutions.

Students will be awarded a degree from both institutions, based on a single research experience managed cooperatively by both institutions.

Admission for the third cohort of students for The University of Manchester and University of Tokyo Dual-Award PhD programme is currently being rolled out.

Further information – including details on how to apply and a list of available projects - will be published soon.

Open call for project proposals

Project proposal overview

Project proposals are now being accepted for consideration as part of this dual-award. Applications will open for candidates to apply for approved projects at the leading institution during the week commencing 23 February 2026 and will close on 27 April 2026.

To submit your project for consideration, please check your project is eligible according to the below criteria, complete the project proposal form and email a copy to daigakuin.s@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp by 19 January 2026.

Project eligibility

In order to receive approval, a project must meet the following essential criteria:

• Have an agreed joint project supervisory team comprising at least a main supervisor and co-supervisor from University of Manchester (Faculty of Science and Engineering) and a main supervisor from University of Tokyo (Graduate School of Science).
• The main supervisors are both permanent members of academic staff of their respective institutions.
• Have an agreed project title and outline project plan with milestones and timelines showing the progression of the Ph.D. over the 4 years.
• The joint project supervisory team confirms that they have collective access to the resources, other than tuition fees and living allowances, to enable the proposed PhD project to be executed.
• Supervisory teams confirm their availability to discuss with, interview and rank candidates who apply to their project by the deadline stipulated in the guidelines document’s timeline.
• The UoM supervisors must have conducted the Export Control self-assessment for the project and are undertaking the necessary steps to put an Export Control licence (if applicable), and they must have conducted a compliance risk assessment for the project (e.g. ATAS clearance and export control clearance) and put mitigating measures in place.

The following desirable characteristics will also be used to rank these proposals:

• Demonstrated extent of previous collaboration between the University of Tokyo and University of Manchester supervisory teams.
• Demonstrated strength of joint project supervisory team.
• Demonstrated value added of the project arising from the collaboration between University of Tokyo and University of Manchester.
• Demonstrated (as evidenced by an appropriate letter of support or email) an extent of involvement of a suitable business, NGO or government agency partner.
• Potential of research to address strategic research priorities of Japan, UK or global challenges.

Available projects

Project proposals are currently being accepted for consideration.

A full list of available projects will be published here on week commencing 23 February 2026.

Funding

Up to four fully funded scholarships (all basic level tuition fees, standard living allowances for all four years of programme, including two years of allowances at UKRI equivalent stipends, a travel budget of £2,000, and RTSG budget of £3,000 while at UoM) are available for suitable candidates to commence on this 4-year programme in April 2027.

The University of Tokyo will cover the amount equivalent to stipends which is offered by The University of Manchester during their stay at the University of Tokyo.

Eligibility

1. Candidates may only apply for projects approved by the Joint Programme Board.
2. Fulfil both institutions entry requirements.
   1. University of Manchester:
      1. Hold (or expect to achieve) an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent to be checked with UoM admission team) 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 to be checked with the UoM admission team).
      2. 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 or equivalent. Project supervisor teams may recommend a candidate who has excellent English language skills but otherwise has no formal certification of such. Please note that a timely demonstrable minimum English language level is a requirement of the UK Home Office for the issue of student visas to the UK. For some projects an ATAS certificate may also be required by them.
   2. University of Tokyo:
      1. School of Science:
         1. Meet one of the eligibility requirements for the examination conducted by the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo which are indicated on the General Admission and Special Selection for International Applicants webpages.
         2. Pass the designated entrance examination.
      2. School of Engineering:
         1. Meet the eligibility requirements for the examination conducted by the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo which are indicated on the University of Tokyo website.
         2. Pass the entrance examination mentioned above.
      3. For further information about student eligibility for the Graduate School of Engineering, please email contact-engineering@t-adm.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
3. Demonstrate willingness to travel to two partner institutions to compete the programme.
4. Demonstrate to reflect the Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Researcher person specification.

How to apply

There are up to four fully funded studentships available for suitable candidates to start this 4-year programme in April 2027.

Candidates will need to meet all of the minimum entry requirements.

Applications will open for candidates to apply for approved projects at the University of Manchester during the week commencing week commencing 23 February 2026 and will close on 27 April 2026.

Further details of how to apply and available projects will be available soon.

Contact information

If you have any queries about the programme, the application process or your eligibility, please don't hesitate to get in touch:

• For Manchester, email the Doctoral Academy at Manchester
  
• For Tokyo, email daigakuin.s@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp