Life as a researcher

At The University of Manchester, we are committed to transforming your future by helping you discover your purpose. Supported by experts in your field, you will achieve breakthroughs on projects that are meaningful to you. We will give you opportunities to share ideas across disciplines, collaborate with leading minds, and explore in an ambitious environment.

Manchester is renowned for its trailblazing spirit, and living here offers a vibrant lifestyle and career prospects. Our inclusive 'Manchester culture' fosters a sense of belonging, making it a truly exceptional experience.

Meet our researchers

Hear from Charlotte

“My PhD is funded by the University, so I receive a monthly stipend. I’m also in the process of patenting some of my early results. It’s really exciting to look into this world I don’t have experience in. In my spare time I really love just walking around Manchester; there’s something for everyone here."

Hear from Toufic

“The research that we do here, doesn't really happen anywhere else. So it's quite unique. As a scientific researcher you develop a lot of skills that can be applied in different files, like data analysis, project management, scientific methodology. It’s really not as daunting as you might think. My advice? Don’t be afraid, just go for it.”

Hear from Jie

“At Manchester there's a lot of collaboration with industry and other universities which is great when you look for a job. I have attended two conferences this year and then later I will visit Cape Town for another conference. It’s not easy to be a postgraduate researcher; but there are a lot of opportunities. Enjoy it."

Welcome to our Doctoral Academy

As a postgraduate researcher at a world-leading institute, we ensure that you’re well supported during your time here. Our Doctoral Academy is dedicated to helping you develop new skills and make the most of our industry partnerships, so that you’ll gain the experience, reputation, profile and credibility you need to give your future an advantage.

Our goal is to create an open and supportive environment, with no limits on your achievements. We support your development in three key ways:

1. Helping you to become a research research leader in your area, by developing your ability to make breakthroughs - large and small - supported by an ewhxpert supervisory team.
2. Providing tailored education and training to meet your specific needs.
3. Guiding you to gain transferable skills for careers in academia, industry, policy, or beyond.

We believe in collaboration, so while you’re expected to take responsibility for your specific programme, we’ll create the environment that you’ll need to make an impact in the world.

Together, we’ll ensure that there are no barriers to what you want to achieve at Manchester.

For more information, please visit our Doctoral Academy page.

Advice from our researchers

Whether you’re not sure where to start with your application, or have questions about how to prepare for an upcoming project, it’s always useful to get a little advice.

Here are some of our current PhD researchers talking about their experience of the PhD life, and what they’ve learnt along the way.