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Department of Physics

Fees and Funding

The two main components of the costs for a research degree are the University fees and the maintenance required for your living expenses. Postgraduate Admissions has a useful page summarising these. The awards below include a "stipend" - which is a tax-free salary - which covers living costs and is administered through the department, this is usually paid at standard research council rates. The standard length of funding is 3.5 years.

If you have an independent source of funding (e.g. government scholarship, self/family, or current employer) then you may want to look at the university's fees page (for overseas we are Postgraduate Research Band 2). If you do have independent funding please make this clear on your application as finding funding is often the most difficult part of the application process.

If you require funding from the university, this could be available from several different sources the most common of which are listed below. Please read the information below, but also look at the information on scholarships on the Doctoral College website and check the available projects with funding.

Research Council Studentships

The UK Research Councils, especially EPSRC and STFC, provide funding for PhD training and research to UK students, EU students may also eligible for the award if they meet the below conditions. Studies for an MSc by Research cannot normally be funded by the research councils, however you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Masters Loan

To be eligible for a full award (fees and stipend), candidates must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Be a UK National or have settled status, have pre-settled status, have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
  • Meet the residency requirements:
    • living in the EEA or Switzerland on 31 December 2020, and have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the last 3 years before starting a course in the UK
    • Have lived continuously in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course
    • The course starts before 1 January 2028
  • Children of UK Nationals are eligible (without having to be a UK National themselves), provided both they and their parent(s) meet the residency requirements.
  • Irish Nationals living in the UK or Ireland are eligible for a full award under the Common Travel Area agreement
  • EU, EEA or Swiss citizens can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. If successful, applicants will get either settled or pre-settled status.

For EPRSC, notes on eligibility can be found here , STFC details can be found here. These studentships pay a standard stipend to cover maintenance as well as paying the university fees and providing some travel expenses for conferences or experiments. The stipends are usually paid at the prevailing UKRI rate (these studentships are assigned through the department).

University and Departmental Scholarships

CSC (China Scholarship Council)

The University will cover the full payment of overseas tuition fees for the duration of the CSC funding period and a stipend enhancement;

  • China Scholarships Council will provide a maintenance stipend and return international airfare between the UK and China for successful applicants.
  • Successful candidates will be required to return to China after completing their PhD.

Chancellors International Scholarship

  • The full payment of tuition fees
  • A maintenance stipend paid at the prevailing UKRI rate for 3.5 years
    • If you are already in your first year of study when you apply then the length of funding will be reduced accordingly.

Further information can be found on the Doctoral College pages and also Scholarships at the University of Warwick.

PATHWAY PhD Studentships

The PATHWAY PhD scheme is aimed at prospective students self-identifying as being of black heritage who would like to pursue a PhD at Warwick. The scheme covers both UK and international tuition fees.

  • The awards will cover the full payment of UK/international fees and maintenance stipend paid at the prevailing UKRI rate for 3.5 years.
  • Eligible candidates should contact their prospective department and express interest for being nominated for this award

Further information on available scholarships can be found on the Doctoral College pages and also Scholarships at the University of Warwick.

The Bell Burnell scholarship

The Bell Burnell Graduate scholarship fund was set up to support full or part-time graduates who wish to study towards a doctorate in physics and are from groups that are currently under-represented in physics. See "How to apply page for the internal deadline".

Centres for Doctoral Training

The Physics department is also associated with various CDTs at Warwick which have funding available for PhD studentships.

Centre for Doctoral Training in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems

Diamond Science and Technology

Analytical Science

Complexity Science

Joint PhD Scholarships

There are several schemes that allow a PhD student to pursue funded studies at Warwick and a partner institute.

Warwick - EIT Collaborative PhD Mobility ProgrammeLink opens in a new window

  • A funded 2+2 year PhD between Warwick and the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo.
  • Need to apply both at Warwick and at EIT. Details hereLink opens in a new window.
  • During the two years at Warwick the student will receive tuition fees for two years and a UKRI rate maintenance stipend for two years.

Warwick - A*STAR Research Attachment Programme (ARAP)Link opens in a new window

  • A funded 2+2 year PhD between Warwick and Singapore's A*STAR research institutes.
  • Students apply to the scheme first, then select their project after securing the funding scheme.
  • Covers tuition fees, UKRI rate maintenance stipend, one-off moving costs to relocate to Singapore, return airfare to Singapore, and medical insurance while based in Singapore.

Warwick - Monash Alliance Joint PhD ScholarshipLink opens in a new window

  • Three year PhD, with minimum of one year at Warwick and one year at Monash, Australia.
  • UK (home) students apply to Warwick, Australian (home) students apply to Monash, international students apply at the University where the wish to start. You will also need a Joint Supervision Statement from your proposed supervisors at both institutes.
  • You must apply to the dedicated Alliance Joint PhD Physics course.
  • The scholarship covers all the fees, and grants a maintenance stipend and a travel allowance.

Alumni Discount Scheme

The 10% tuition fee discount is available to Warwick graduates who are accepted onto a Postgraduate Masters course, further information can be found here

Postgraduate Master's Loan

A Postgraduate Master’s Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master’s course. Please see Government Support - Student Funding Support - University of Warwick