Postgraduate research in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton. Scholarships available

We are ranked in the top 5 physics and astronomy departments in the Russell Group for our research output. Our world-leading status has been confirmed in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

You will be supported by a supervisor who'll help you shape your research topic. You'll also join one of our research groups. Being a member of a research group means that interested people are always on hand to hear your ideas, discuss your results and offer help and encouragement.

You'll be able to attend postgraduate lecture courses, classes and research seminars to broaden your knowledge. There will also be opportunities to attend short courses or summer schools, such as Institute of Physics workshops and NATO Advanced Study Institutes. These bring together experts to give lectures and lead discussions.

We'll encourage you to travel for conferences and research collaborations at other large laboratories and world-class observatories, such as CERN and The European Southern Observatory in Chile. 

As a newly qualified PhD in Physics, you'll have many career options open to you. Our students head into non-scientific careers, or take up science-based appointments in the UK. Others go one to postdoctoral research, often in the United States, Europe or, increasingly, Japan.

Find a research project

Funding opportunities  

Your doctoral research at the University of Southampton will change your career – and potentially the world. We’ve made a range of financial support available to help you begin your PhD journey.

You may qualify for one of our postgraduate scholarships or fee waivers that cover your tuition fees and more:

• Black Futures scholarship is aimed at talented UK-domiciled Black and mixed-Black heritage students. Deadline for Black Futures Scholarship applications to be received is Friday 28 February 2025.

• Innovation and Social Impact scholarships for researchers looking to drive social impact through their work. 

• Horizon Europe fee waivers introducing a new programme to support the reassociation of the UK with the Horizon Europe programme, and the University strategy to grow the international diversity of its doctoral cohort. The University will apply a fee waiver - equivalent to the difference between overseas and UK fees - for eligible postgraduate research students commencing their doctoral studies in the 2024-25 academic year.

• Presidential Bursaries for overseas postgraduate researchers, cover the fee difference between UK and overseas fees. 

For more information and how to apply visit our website