University of Warwick – postgraduate research degrees, funded and self-funded opportunities available

Postgraduate research at Warwick is about asking questions that don’t have easy answers. Challenge what we think we know, explore new possibilities and create research that can make a difference.

You’ll become part of a research community where different disciplines, ideas and perspectives come together. Work with leading academics, develop your own research and connect your ideas to the challenges shaping society, industry and the world.

With 92% of our research assessed as world leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021, you’ll join a research-intensive university where curiosity and ambition are matched by a drive to make an impact.

Your research. Your questions. Your impact.

Your research journey is yours to shape. You’ll have the freedom to pursue original ideas, with expert supervision and a research environment designed to help you develop as an independent researcher.

You’ll have opportunities to:

• Pursue original research with support from internationally recognised experts
• Work across disciplines through Warwick’s six Interdisciplinary Research Spotlights; Behaviour; Business, Manufacturing & Innovation, Digital, Data Science & AI, Health, Society & Culture, and Sustainability.
• Connect with researchers from different faculties and fields
• Collaborate with academic partners, industry, policymakers and communities
• Develop advanced research, professional and transferable skills
•  Explore where your research could take you, in academia and beyond

Postgraduate research degree courses

With more than 70 postgraduate research degrees across disciplines including Business, Engineering, History of Art and Psychology, you’ll find opportunities to take your thinking further.

Whether you’re developing new knowledge, challenging established ideas or exploring a problem from a different angle, you’ll have the expertise, research community and resources to pursue ambitious work.

Explore our PGR courses

Our rankings

• 5th in the UK – Daily Mail University Guide 2027
• 7th in the UK – Guardian University Guide 2027, Complete University Guide 2027 and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 20
• 68th in the world – QS World University Rankings 2027
• 10 subjects in the global top 50 – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
• Gold across all categories – Teaching Excellence Framework 2023
• 4th most targeted UK university – The Graduate Market in 2026, High Fliers Report
  

Innovation learning

Warwick’s research culture encourages bold thinking and intellectual curiosity. Alongside independent research, you’ll benefit from training and development opportunities designed to enhance your methodological expertise, academic practice and professional impact. These may include research seminars, specialist workshops, collaborative projects and engagement with visiting researchers and practitioners.

Explore global perspectives

Warwick brings together staff and students from around the world, creating opportunities to encounter new ideas, perspectives and ways of thinking.

Our research communities connect across disciplines and borders, while partnerships with universities, industry, government, charities and communities help research move beyond academia and into the world.

You’ll be encouraged to challenge assumptions, broaden your perspective and consider what your research could change.

World-class facilities

Great research needs the right environment.

You’ll have access to specialist laboratories, archives, digital resources and dedicated research spaces across the University. You can also make use of postgraduate research spaces and environments designed for focused work, collaboration, networking and research development.

Campus life

Meet people from around the world, take a break in our green spaces or find something completely different to do.

Our campus brings together woodland and open spaces, the Sports and Wellness Hub, Warwick Arts Centre, places to eat and drink and a supermarket nearby. There are also plenty of opportunities to build a life beyond your research.

• 250+ student-run societies and 60+ sports clubs
• Nightclubs and bars, live music and theatre, cinemas and outdoor events
• Warwick Arts Centre and Sports and Wellness Hub
• Cafés and sandwich bars, a term-time food market, restaurants and a convenience store
• Live music, clubs, bars and theatres in the local area
• Employment opportunities on campus, including roles in cafés, bars and Warwick Arts Centre, or becoming a student ambassador

Discover our campus

Where could your research take you

We’ll help you fulfil your ambitions by giving you the skills and knowledge to propel your career further.

• £42,000 was the median salary for University of Warwick 2023/24 postgraduates whose main work was full-time and in the UK.
• 4^th most targeted UK University by the UK’s top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2025, High Fliers Report)

Our careers team offer personalised one-to-one guidance with qualified careers consultants, alongside sector-led workshops and employer events, we help you build the confidence, skills and connections demanded by today’s global job market. When you graduate, you’ll do so with the confidence, direction, and competitive edge to take the next step in your career.

(*Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey of 2021/22 graduates, carried out approximately 15 months after completion. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2024. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data).

Discover your career

Scholarships and funding

Investing in postgraduate research is a big decision.

There are different ways to fund your postgraduate degree, from University scholarships and department funding to government loans, research council funding, industry support and charitable foundations.

Funding may be available through:

• Postgraduate loans from the UK Government (Home students)
• University scholarships
• Fee awards
• Department bursaries and scholarships
• UKRI Centres for Doctoral Training
• Industry, charitable foundations and government funding

Find out more about funding your postgraduate degree

Meet us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply.

Come and see what makes Warwick different. Join us online or on campus to explore your course, meet our community and get a feel for postgraduate life.

Ask questions, explore your future surroundings and discover where your research could take you.

Explore our upcoming events