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Deadline: 5 May 2025
Wales
Closing date: 5 May 2025
Funding providers: IQE and Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University
Subject areas: Materials Science, Electronic Engineering, Physics
Project start date: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September)
Supervisors:
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering OR PhD in Materials Engineering
Mode of study: Full-time
Project description:
Silicon has traditionally dominated as the semiconductor for power electronics, but its inherent limitations such as narrow bandgap (and thus operating voltage) have led to an increasing focus on next-generation wider bandgap compound semiconductors with superior characteristics. Understanding and developing these wider bandgap semiconductors will be the focus of this PhD project with a particular focus on more efficient power electronics to facilitate societal progress toward Net Zero. Activities will include: i) the application of advanced characterisation to understand the structure-property relationships in newly-developed SiC and GaN devices and materials; and ii) the growth and characterisation of emergent semiconductors with ultra-wide gaps based upon gallium oxide (Ga2O3) and its alloys utilising Swansea University’s state-of-the-art new industrial-grade AIXTRON Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD) epitaxy reactor.
This exciting PhD project will be undertaken in close collaboration with (and is sponsored by) one of the world’s leading compound semiconductor epitaxy companies (IQE). It will be hosted by and use the full facilities of the new Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) – Swansea University’s flagship £55M facility for advanced semiconductor research and development. This is an outstanding opportunity for materials science, electrical / electronic engineering, chemistry or physics graduate to be part of the semiconductor for net-zero revolution.
This studentship will also be part of an exciting new Doctoral Training Initiative called UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills, or UK-SIFS for short. UK-SIFS will create a vibrant, multi-disciplinary cohort experience for all our students and provide highly practical training of substantial value to those interested in careers in the semiconductor and related sectors, such as optoelectronics and clean energy. You will also have a chance to work with a large range of industrial partners who will not only deliver training content but also co-supervise research and host secondments. We would particularly welcome appropriately qualified applicants with experience from other industry sectors looking to embark on a new career journey in semiconductors. If you want to undertake cutting edge research in world-class facilities closely linked to the rapidly expanding UK semiconductor sector, then UK-SIFS and this PhD project is your opportunity.
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/engineering-iqe-phd-materials-devices-2025-rs809.php
Scholarship open to UK and international fee eligible applicants
Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. See - Country-specific Information for EU and International Candidates.
English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.
ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer.
Funding
This scholarship includes an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26).
An additional research training support grant of up to £3,000 per year will also be available.
Tuition Fees
UK Fee Eligible Students: This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees for UK students.
International Students: This scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition fees if the applicant is also successful in being offered a SUIPRES Scholarship as outlined below.
To apply, please complete your application online here with the following information:
In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this case, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.
NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.
Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Saptarsi Ghosh via saptarsi.ghosh@swansea.ac.uk
*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co-funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
Scholarship open to UK and international fee eligible applicants
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