Mathematics and physics research courses

Our School is home to around 100 PhD students, working on projects ranging from computational studies of dark matter to experimental studies of paints and from the analysis of the Navier-Stokes equations to modelling the circadian rhythms of sleep.

So, whether you are interested in pure or applied mathematics or theoretical or experimental physics, our friendly School is the right place for you to undertake your studies for a PhD.

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Studentships

High light yield perovskite scintillators for Nuclear Security gamma applications

Funding information:

UKRI standard stipend for 48 months - £20,780 for 2025/26 academic year.

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Nuclear Physics PhD

Funding information:

£24,805 per annum stipend.

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Dark vessel identification with satellite data

Funding information:

Fully funded studentship opportunities covering home university fees, additional research training, travel funds and UKRI standard rate (£21,805 for 2026/27 academic year) – please check your project of interest for full funding offer details.

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What we are researching

Astrophysics

Data science and dynamics

Dynamical systems and partial differential equations

Experimental nuclear physics

Fields, strings, and geometry

Mathematics of life and social sciences

Nonlinear waves and geometric fluid dynamics

Photonics and quantum sciences

Quantum foundations

Radiation and medical physics

Soft matter

Theoretical nuclear physics

Theory and computation

Project funding

Many of our research projects are funded by large-scale grants from the public and private sectors including:

Expert support

The Doctoral College supports the academic and professional development of postgraduate researchers to ensure our world-leading research continues to grow. There is also an extensive Researcher Development Programme run at university level.

A man and woman talking whilst sat at a desk

Doctoral College

Male PhD student looking to the distance and smiling

Researcher Development Programme

Frequently asked questions about doing a PhD

Employability

We help our students during their studies to understand their career options for after university.

Employer mentoring programme

We have a postgraduate research employer mentoring programme to help our PhD students find out about career options for doctorates in business and industry earlier in their PhD, and to better manage the transition from academic research to work outside of university.

Mentors come from a variety of different employer types, sectors and sizes, such as NPL, AWE, Oxford Instruments and SME, Fourth State Medicine.

Graduates celebrating by throwing hats into air

Graduate network

We are part of GRADnet, a collaborative graduate school of nine South East England physics departments.

Through GRADnet our PhD students benefit from courses on physics research techniques, and courses taught in conjunction with companies, on team-working and working in industry.

Careers after graduation

After graduation, our PhD and EngD students go on to careers in both the private and public sectors such as postdoctoral positions at British or overseas universities, academia, working in private sector companies making radiation detectors, photonics companies, oil companies etc, applying their skills in related areas such as data science, working in public sector companies such as Dstl and AWE.

What our students say

Rhiann Canavan

Physics PhD

One of the highlights of my PhD has been the eight-week placement I'm currently spending at Crossfield Fusion as part of the GRADnet programme.

Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn

Mathematics PhD

My supervisor is integral to the brilliant PhD experience I’m having. We have weekly meetings to touch base and make sure I’m on track and not veering too far astray.

Lester Buxton

Quantum Biology PhD

Working in an interdisciplinary field like quantum biology there is lots of opportunity for collaboration. Our centre has lots of interest and connections from academics from around the world.