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PhDs in Science and Engineering

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President’s Doctoral Scholarship

Imagine a future where you're fully-funded to research your passion, mentored by global leaders in their field. Where you follow in the footsteps of legendary researchers, at the place where the atom was split, graphene was discovered, and AI was born.

The President’s Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Award scheme, launched by Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell allows you to forge that future.

Benefits of the scholarships

Created to support the highest calibre who have the commitment and desire to work on challenging research projects in a world leading research environment, this scholarship helps to ensure there are no barriers to what you want to achieve.

  • Open to all nationalities and across all research disciplines
  • 3.5 year fully-funded studentship.
  • Tuition fees at home or international rate.
  • Annual maintenance stipend equivalent to UKRI minimum stipend.

Apply now for a life-changing experience like no other.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be considered for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Have submitted an application by the deadline for a PhD programme to start in September 2024;
  • Hold (or expect to achieve) a First Class UK honours degree (or international equivalent)
  • Ideally hold a master’s-level qualification at merit or distinction (or international equivalent).
  • Be able to demonstrate potential for academic research. This may include undergraduate projects, placements, internships, contributions to publications/articles, promoting research to a wider audience, prizes for previous work or setting up collaborations with other groups.
  • Be able to demonstrate involvement in broader activities e.g. outreach, volunteering, community engagement, engagement in EDIA and other extra-curricular activities.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. 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 also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).

All appointments are made on merit.

Application process

  • Choose your research project and find your supervisor.
  • This scholarship works on a nomination basis so it’s important you make sure you have had significant contact with your supervisory team during the application process and that they are aware that you wish to be considered for funding.
  • Complete your application prior to the advertised funding deadline (see key dates below).
  • Specify in the funding section of your application that you want to be considered for the ‘President’s Doctoral Scholarship’.
  • Your lead supervisor will then nominate candidates for consideration by the Faculty and, if nominated, you will then be invited to an interview.

Full details of how to apply for postgraduate research, where to find research projects and supervisors, and much more can be found on our postgraduate research page.

Application deadlines

Applications for this scholarship will be considered in two batches throughout the academic year, running until 31 March 2024.

  • If you apply for this scholarship before 31 January 2024 and you're nominated by your supervisor, you'll be interviewed in March and notified if you have been awarded a scholarship by 28 March 2024.
  • If you apply for this scholarship between 1 February 2024 and 31 March 2024 and you're nominated by your supervisor, you'll be interviewed in May and notified if you have been awarded a scholarship by 31 May 2024.