We have STFC as well as Queen Mary funding for PhD positions in the group, and are typically able to fully fund 2-3 new PhD students each year in this way. Studentships cover fees and living expenses for 3-4 years, depending on the funding source. CSC studentships to fund Chinese students who satisfy eligibility criteria may also be available. You can find here information on PhD funding. We sometimes take suitably qualified students who are self-funded. Our students have an excellent record of obtaining postdoctoral positions world-wide or moving into professional positions of choice in industry.
Below you will find information on how to apply for a PhD in our group. Before applying, we ask you to check that you satisfy the English language requirements specified below. If you do not meet these requirements, your application will not be considered.
Diversity: The IOP's Bell Burnell Fund aims to increase diversity in physics in view of gender, ethnicity and other sources of social disadvantage. If you want to apply to CTP via this route, please contact Congkao Wen (c.wen@qmul.ac.uk) before the application season, e.g. in November. The School, of which CTP is one of the centres, will normally support the application of one candidate. The internal decision on which candidate to support will occur in December or early January. It is unlikely that we will be able to support an international student in this way, unless there is an additional source of funding.
S&E Doctoral Research Studentships for Underrepresented Groups 2025/26: The Queen Mary Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Doctoral College is inviting applications for Doctoral Research Studentships from UK candidates from underrepresented groups in research in the UK.
Up to 6 PhD studentships will be awarded on the basis of the excellence of the applicant. Awards are tenable for up to 3.5 years, and cover tuition fees and a maintenance stipend at the UKRI London rate (c.£21,237 p.a. full-time, £10,619 part-time; 2025/26 rates tbc).
You must be a UK permanent resident from an underrepresented group in research, with the priority for this round given to those from Black origin, and eligible to pay home student fees. Further details can be found here: S&E Doctoral Research Studentships for Underrepresented Groups 2025/26 [PDF 374KB]. Expected start date: 01 September 2025. Deadline for applying is 29th January 2025.
Applicants should use the online application system here selecting the option "Semester 1 start" in the "Apply Online" box. Full details on the online application procedure, with a list of the documents required in order to apply, can be found in that link. Note: There is no requirement to make contact with a supervisor prior to applying, or to provide a fully detailed project proposal. If you happen to have a particular interest in the research area of group member(s), you should indicate this on the form. Discussions of specific projects/supervisors normally take place at the interview stage (shortlist).
Deadline for applications: 31 January 2025. We normally interview selected students shortly after the deadline, and make offers before the end of March.
Important note for applicants and referees: You will be asked to provide contact details of your referees. Please have them ready when submitting the online application. Please make sure that your recommendation letters are sent in good time and reach us *by the deadline*, as we review the applications and shortlist candidates for interviews very shortly after the deadline.
Dates of interviews: February/March 2025 TBD
General information about postgraduate study at Queen Mary can be found here. For more details or questions on the application procedure please contact our Research Officer, Robert Miles. We occasionally have funding for late applications - please enquire.
All applicants are required to have one of the following formal language qualifications requirements:
More information on English requirements can be found here. General information for international students is available on the Queen Mary International Students website.