Postgraduate Funding

The funding support available for postgraduate studies depends on several factors, including country of normal residence and chosen degree. Some of the principal sources of funding are explained below, and links to other information sources are provided at the bottom of this page. In addition PhD students may have the opportunity to help in teaching undergraduate examples classes, for which they are paid. (A PhD student may typically earn a supplementary income of about £1000 per annum from this source).

Project Related PhD Studentships

PhD Studentship: Transport processes in spatially disordered systems

Applications are invited for a 3.5 year studentship at the University of Manchester to be jointly supervised by Prof. Oliver Jensen (School of Mathematics) and Dr Tobias Galla (School of Physics and Astronomy).  The project will address transport processes in spatially disordered systems, with the aim of quantifying uncertainties in computational models of physiological processes operating in the heart and the lung.  The student will join a multidisciplinary team of researchers working on the EPSRC-funded project “Forecasting Personal Health in an Uncertain Environment.”  Candidates should have a strong background in either applied (or applicable) mathematics or theoretical physics with an interest in complex systems.  Candidates should also have an interest in modelling biomedical applications, although prior biological knowledge is not required.  The project will combine a variety of analytical and computational techniques. Good programming skills in C++, Fortran or a similar language are essential

Applicants should have a First Class (BSc) honours degree in Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, Theoretical Physics or a related scientific discipline, and ideally an associated Masters Qualification or a First Class Honours degree at MMath or MPhys level (four year undergraduate degree).

Available to Home/EU students only.

This is a 3.5 year PhD studentship providing a stipend of at least £13,726 per annum (tax free) with all tuition fees paid. Funding for travel to conferences and workshops is available.

Contact for further information:

Oliver.Jensen@manchester.ac.uk or Tobias.Galla@manchester.ac.uk

President's Doctoral Scholar Awards 2014

The University of Manchester has launched a further £2.5m investment in PhD training as part of of the President's Doctoral Scholar Awards (PDS Awards). These prestigious awards are open to all nationalities and research areas.

Within the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, PDS Award funding will be allocated to our most outstanding applicants seeking PhD training opportunities starting from September/October 2013. The Faculty aims to award at least 40 scholarships as part of the 2013 PhD recruitment round, which may include a number of collaborating schemes such as:

• 2013 Faculty PhD Studentships
• BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership Awards
• EPSRC Doctoral Training Awards
• Alumni 'Research Impact' Studentships

For further information please see the EPS Faculty Website.

School Scholarships

All of the scholarships described below are allocated on a competitive basis and students are advised to apply early, by mid-February where possible. All successful applicants will be notified by the end of June. You should indicate on your application which funding you would like to be considered for.

UK PhD Students

The arrangements for supporting postgraduate study are completely different from those for undergraduates. Typically, finance for grants comes from the Government, via the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) or via one of the other Research Councils. These grants are called studentships and are not means tested. Each research council studentship covers all course fees and provides a stipend for maintenance of £13,590 per annum (2012/13 figures). Studentships are initially awarded for three and a half years, subject to satisfactory progress.

The financing of EPSRC doctoral training studentships is now administered by the university Schools; details of studentships for study commencing in September 2013 will be finalised shortly. In order to be awarded such a studentship an applicant will typically need to have a first class honours degree or possibly a good upper second. However applicants are advised to apply early because the School has certain additional funds available which make it possible to make definite offers to strong candidates in some cases prior to July. It is not necessary to make a separate application for these studentships. All UK students who apply for admission to a PhD programme in the School will automatically be considered for such funding. [Note that applicants awarded EPSRC funds are required by EPSRC to satisfy certain formal UK/EU residence criteria.]

In addition to the above a few other special studentships are available, usually tied to a particular research project and these are advertised on this page when available. We also have a limited number of School Scholarships available to UK/EU students which cover all course fees and will provide a stipend for maintenance of £13,590 per annum as of October 2012. These scholarships are initially awarded for three and a half years (from September 2013), subject to satisfactory progress.

Students who are not offered EPSRC or School funding but who still wish to study here may choose to support themselves. Many students choose to do this and support may be available from a variety of sources, for example by taking out a career development loan. Note that a student who is self-supporting in the 1st year may be considered for EPSRC funding in future years.

EU PhD Students

Students who are normally resident in the EU but not in the UK are eligible for EPSRC studentships as above (both PhD and MSc), but the awards in such cases at present only cover the course fees, not maintenance stipends, except where such a student has been residing in the UK for the previous 3 years. Application can be made simply by indicating EPSRC as a potential source of funding on your application for admission to the programme. For exceptionally strong PhD applicants the School may additionally offer a modest maintenance stipend.

We also have a limited number of School Scholarships available to UK/EU students which cover all course fees and will provide a stipend for maintenance of £13,590 per annum as of October 2012. These scholarships are initially awarded for three and a half years, subject to satisfactory progress.

International PhD Students

We have a limited number of Overseas School Scholarship Awards. These awards normally constitute a contribution towards the tuition fees and are awarded competitively. These scholarships are initially awarded for three years, subject to satisfactory progress. Please indicate on your application form if you wish to be considered for this funding.

MSc Funding

There will be up to 10 scholarships spread across the five MSc programmes worth £1500 each for the top students in the 2013/14 academic year.

In addition, there is a loyalty bursary of £1000 for graduates from the University of Manchester. There will be a further 10% fee discount for University of Manchester graduates with a 1st Class Honours Degree.

Mexican students may be able to apply for funding via CONACyT. Please contact us for further information.

MSc Applied Mathematics Funding

We have numerous industrial bursaries to support students for up to £3000.

Other Sources of Funding

Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Studentships

President's Doctoral Scholar Awards 2013

Funding may also be available from sources external to the University, many of which are listed on the following page http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/

Details of the University's International funding can be found via the International Award Schemes page.