Dual-award between The University of Manchester and Peking University

The University of Manchester and Peking University have partnered to offer a dual-award PhD programme, with successful applicants spending four years across Manchester and Beijing.

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

This dual-award postgraduate research programme builds on a growing strategic partnership between The University of Manchester and Peking University.

Postgraduate researchers will be jointly selected and will spend time in both Manchester and Beijing, benefitting from the combined expertise, research infrastructure and academic environments of two globally renowned institutions.

Students will receive high-quality academic supervision from experienced researchers at both universities and spend two years based at each institution as part of the four-year programme.

Admission for the second cohort of students for The University of Manchester and Peking University 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 during the week commencing 8 December 2025 and will close on 19 January 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 here by 21 November 2025.

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 the Faculty of Science and Engineering at University of Manchester and a main supervisor from the Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials or Department of Environmental Sciences at Peking University.
  • 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.
  • Project area within the broadly defined theme of Chemistry, Environmental Science and/or Material Science.
  • Supervisors have submitted the proposed project to the UoM regulatory control office for an Export Control Compliance Review in line with University of Manchester requirements.
  • Demonstration of an integrated PhD training programme, provided by complementary areas of interest between the Manchester and Peking supervisors.
  • 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.
  • Acceptance of the programme T&Cs:
    • Individual project agreement will be required between all supervisors and student (template to be provided).
    • Application for Individual Project Licence – Export Control required (support to be provided).
    • Supervisors to support the student in their submission of scholarship application to CLS (guidance to be provided).
    • Successful supervisors should familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the Collaboration Agreement between Manchester and Peking.

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

  • Consideration of the potential compliance risks related to the project (e.g. Export Control and ATAS clearance) and measures put in place to deal with the risks.
  • Demonstrated extent of previous collaboration between the Peking University and University of Manchester supervisory teams.
  • Demonstration of strength of the joint supervisory team and its members (please provide links to relevant personal or research pages).
  • Demonstration of value added of the project arising from the collaboration between Peking University and University of Manchester.

Available Projects

Project proposals are currently being accepted for consideration.

A full list of available projects will be published here on week commencing 8 December 2025.

Funding

Up to three fully funded scholarships are available to suitable candidates to commence on this 4-year programme in September 2026.

Full tuition fees at both institutions are covered as part of the studentship. Additional financial support includes:

  • an annual stipend at the UKRI minimum rate (approximately £20,780 for 2026/27) while in Manchester;
  • a stipend provided via the China Link Scholarship, which will provide a commensurate standard of living with UKRI stipend, while based at Peking University;
  • an annual Research Training Support Grant to contribute towards research project costs and consumables (up to £5,000 pa) during the time spent in Manchester;
  • Peking University owned accommodation guaranteed to successful CLS applicants;
  • the cost of a visa and one return flight between Manchester and Beijing.

Eligibility

  1. Candidates may only apply for projects approved by the Joint Programme Board.
  2. Entry via Manchester for the scheme is open to international students except for Chinese nationals (Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong).
  3. All Chinese nationals (Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong) should apply via Peking University.
  4. Fulfil The University of Manchester entry requirements
    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.
  5. Fulfil the Peking University entry requirements
    1. Hold a master’s-level certificate at merit or distinction (or international equivalent to be checked with UoM admission team).
  6. Demonstrate willingness to travel to two partner institutions to complete the programme.
  7. Fulfil the Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Researcher person specification.

How to apply

There are up to three fully funded studentships available for suitable candidates to start this 4-year programme in September 2026.

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 8 December 2025 and will close on 19 January 2026.

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

Contact

If you have any queries about the programme, please get in touch: