Department of Physics

Available Studentships

The studentships below are some of the key funding available within the Department.

Dowthwaite MScR Scholarship 2025/25 entry

1 MScR studentship available for October 2025/26 entry.

Fully funded - 100% tuition home fees and annual living expenses of £18,622

Apply through the University’s applicant portal to the Physics MSc by Research programme.
State the area of interest. More information of the research sections can be found here.
You must indicate that you wish to be considered for Dowthawaite studentship (On the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, and write Dowthwaite).
You should be registered on a BSc Physics course or a Natural Sciences course .
Expecting to achieve a minimum of a 2:2 BSc in Physics (or relevant subject).
Open to all but studentship only covers home fees.
All other things being equal, preference will be given to students who were residents in postcode areas DH, DL, NE, SR, or TS at the time of their UCAS application.

Deadline for applications: TBC

Contact: For informal enquiries please contact physics.postgraduate@durham.ac.uk

Arthur Browne PhD Scholarship

The Arthur Browne PhD Studentships allow us to co-fund PhD studies with external partners (including industry). We were delighted to welcome our first two PhD scholars in autumn 2025. These first awards have been given to a student who will be working with Professors Tom Lancaster and Stewart Clark in collaboration with ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, a world-leading centre for research at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire; and to a student working with Professor Simon Cornish and OpenQuantum, a company based in Norfolk that builds quantum computers.

Applications for 2025 have now closed and will be open for 2026 entry later on in the year.

Please email physics.postgraduate@durham.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund

“An innovative fund instigated by leading physicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the Institute of Physics to encourage greater diversity in physics by assisting PhD physics students from under-represented groups”

The fund is administered and managed by the IOP - find out more on the IOP website.

Apply through the Durham University Applicant Portal You must indicate that you wish to be considered for the Bell Burnell Scholarship (On the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, and write Bell Burnell)

The departmental (internal) deadline for applications is 06 January 2025.

Successful candidates will be notified the week commencing 13^th January 2025 to apply to the IOP by the 15th January 2024 to allow for the Head of Department (HoD) sign-off by the 20th January 2025.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) studentships are available within our five research sections:

Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI), Astronomy (CEA/ICC), Condensed Matter Phyiscs (CMP), Elementary Particle Theory (IPPP), Quantum, Light and Matter (QLM)

There are also projects available within the following EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT)

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

STFC projects are available within Astronomy (CEA/ICC) and Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI)

For STFC-funded positions we strongly recommend submitting applications by Friday 6th January 2025 to allow us to shortlist candidates for the interview. Further details can be found on the research areas pages.

For STFC applications in Astronomy, please submit your application via the Applicant Portal.

Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC)

These important scholarships are available thanks to a partnership with the China Scholarships Council. The scholarships are open to applicants from Mainland China wishing to study for a PhD at Durham. Information about how to apply and eligibility can be found here

Applicant must:

Apply through Durham University Applicant Portal You must indicate that you wish to be considered for China Scholarship Council (On the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, write China Scholarship Council - Durham Joint Award)

Be citizens and permanent residents of the People's Republic of China at the time of application. Chinese students studying overseas may also be eligible for application subject to CSC policies
Hold either an unconditional offer for a full-time PhD programme at Durham, or a conditional
offer with the only condition being “receiving final degrees” (not language).
Satisfy entry required as outlined by the CSC at the time of application
Successful candidates are required to return home upon completion of their studies

Deadline for applications: 15th January 2025

Durham Doctoral Studentships (DDS)

Applications are closed for 2025 entry

Additional Funding Sources

For additional sources of funding, please also see the University's main postgraduate scholarships and bursaries page and Faculty of Science Funding Page. Overseas students could also contact the International Office about other funding possibilities. The British Council may have scholarships available – the possibilities vary from year to year and depend on your country of residence.

For applicants interested in self funding their degrees (which is usually expected for MSc by Research degrees), there are a number of available options to consider, including the Student Loan Company and Professional and Career Development Loans. Information about these can be found on the Postgraduate Student Loan page