Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund
Championing future physicists from under-represented backgrounds
The Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund provides an exceptional opportunity for physics graduates from groups currently under-represented in the discipline.
Funded by the generosity and vision of Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the Institute of Physics, this studentship supports talented individuals pursuing doctoral research in physics, helping to build a more inclusive research community.
About the scholarship
The Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund is a doctoral scholarship fund provided by the Institute of Physics to encourage greater diversity in physics.
There are two award categories: a co-funding award for the doctoral programme with a fixed maximum of £36k per student; or a top-up award to support additional costs that are needed to complete a fully funded PhD. The top-up awards will have a maximum value of £10k.
You can find out more on the Institute of Physics website.
What you need to do
To be nominated for this external scholarship you must:
- Hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum of a 2i class UK Masters honours degree, or international equivalent, or a First Class Bachelor's degree with an additional Master's degree, or international equivalent. Applicants with a First Class Bachelor's degree, or international equivalent, with proven research experience may also be considered;
- Hold an offer of study at The University of Manchester for a postgraduate research programme;
- Fall within one of the following underrepresented groups: women; students of Black-Carribean, Black-African and other minority ethnic (BAME) heritage; students with disabilities, or who require additional funding to support inclusive learning; LGBT+ students; a student from disadvantaged background who may struggle to find the levels of funding needed to complete their studies. People with qualifying refugee status who meet the above criteria are also encouraged to apply.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates with a demonstrable commitment to encouraging greater inclusion in physics.
This scholarship works on a nomination basis, the lead supervisor will consider you for nomination and will support you through the process. It is important that you have had significant contact with the supervisory team during the application process and that they are aware that you wish to be considered for funding. Your application will then be considered by a departmental funding panel.
In order to be considered, you must hold an academic offer for a place on one of our PhD programmes. It is therefore essential that you apply for a place on the PhD programme of your choice as early as possible.
For further information or help with your application, please contact:
Institute of Physics - Bell Burnell Fund
Tel: +44 (0)20 7470 4800
Email: bellburnellfund@iop.org
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