Joint-award between The University of Manchester and IISc Bangalore

The University of Manchester (UoM) and the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore have partnered to offer a joint-award PhD programme in a variety of projects across the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with applicants spending four years across Manchester and Bangalore.

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 joint-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 joint-award programme builds upon the strategic partnership that has been developed between The University of Manchester and IISc Bangalore.

Students enrolled on the newly launched programme can expect to benefit from the world-class academic supervision of two globally renowned universities as they spend two years based at each institution.

Competitive scholarship opportunities will be available for successful applicants to secure a varying degree of support including tuition fee sponsorship and top-up awards for living costs.

Admission for the fourth cohort of students for The University of Manchester and IISc Bangalore Joint-Award PhD programme is currently being rolled-out.

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

Open call for project proposals

Project proposals are now being accepted for consideration as part of the Joint-award between The University of Manchester and IISc Bangalore.

Applications will open for candidates to apply for approved projects at the leading institution on week commencing 26 January 2026 and will close on 6 April 2026.

To submit your project for consideration, please check your project is eligible according to the below criteria, then complete the project proposal form and return it via Microsoft Forms and email a copy to iro.admin@iisc.ac.in by 5 January 2026.

Project eligibility

In order to receive approval, a project must have:

• An agreed joint project supervisory team comprising at least a main supervisor and co-supervisor from The University of Manchester and a main supervisor from IISc Bangalore.
• Main supervisors who are both permanent members of academic staff of their respective institutions.
• Confirmation that the joint project supervisory team have agreed a project title and leading institution.
• An agreed outline project plan with milestones and timelines showing the progression of the PhD over the 4 years.
• Confirmation from the joint project supervisory team that they have collective access to the resources, other than tuition fees and living allowances, to enable the proposed PhD project to be executed.
• Confirmation from the supervisor team of their availability to discuss with, interview and rank according to the leading institution timeline.
• Supervisors have undertaken an appropriate Export Control self-assessment for the project in line with The University of Manchester requirements and 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 IISc Bangalore and The University of Manchester supervisory teams.
• Demonstrated strength of joint project supervisory team.
• Demonstrated value added of the project arising from the collaboration between IISc Bangalore and The 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 India, UK or global challenges.

Available projects

Project proposals are currently being accepted for consideration.

A full list of available projects will be published here during week commencing 26 January 2026.

Funding

Funding for this dual-award programme includes tuition fees, research training grant at the department entitlement whilst in Manchester, and standard living allowances at both institutions for all four years, including two years at UKRI minimum stipend rate (£20,780 for 25/26) while in Manchester. 

Funding eligibility 

Projects based at The University of Manchester (UoM):

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 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. 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.
3. Willingness to travel to the partner institution to undertake 2 years of study if such travel is permitted by UK and India governments.
4. Demonstrate to reflect the Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Researcher person specification.

How to apply

There are up to five fully funded studentships available for suitable candidates to start this four-year programme: 2 at IISc Bangalore in August 2026 and 3 at The University of Manchester in October 2026.

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

Applications will open for candidates to apply for approved projects at the leading institution on week commencing 26 January 2026 and will close on 30 March 2026. Further details of how to apply and available projects will be available soon.

Contact information

If you have any queries about the programme, please don't hesitate to get in touch:

• for The University of Manchester, email the Doctoral Academy
• for IISc Bangalore, email  the Bangalore International Relations Office.