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Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
We have 1,265 Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
PhDs in Physics are doctoral research degrees that allow students to deeply explore a particular aspect of the physical sciences.
Specifics vary drastically between programmes, but may involve research into the complexities of quantum mechanics, the properties of materials, and the fundamental forces of nature.
Entry requirements typically include an undergraduate degree in an appropriate subject such as Physics, Mathematics or Engineering. A relevant Masters degree may also be required depending on the programme.
Why study a PhD in Physics?
Develop Skills and Knowledge
A PhD in Physics allows you to not only develop your own knowledge of Physics, but also to make a unique, original contribution to the subject as a whole. By doing so, you will hone a variety of transferable skills, such as:
- Research and Analytical Skills: Ability to design, conduct, and analyse complex research projects.
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Expertise in evaluating physical theories and practices to address challenges.
- Communication and Presentation Skills: Proficiency in effectively conveying ideas and findings to diverse audiences.
Further Career Development
If you're hoping for a career in academia, a PhD is typically required. Other research-based careers may likewise require a PhD, and even when they don't, employers will value the research skills and knowledge developed during your degree. For more information, please visit our PhD employability guide.
After completing your PhD in Physics, a potential career option might be employment as an Academic Researcher. According to UK salary data from Glassdoor, an Academic Researcher earns an average of £33,747 per year, dependent on factors such as experience, employer and employment location.
Improve Employability
Completing a PhD may also improve your employability. According to the UK government's LEO Graduate and Postgraduate Outcomes survey, 78% of Physics PhD students were in further education or employment three years after graduation.
What do prospective Physics PhD students think about study?
We host the Pulse postgraduate survey to understand the motivations, concerns and expectations of students just like you. For prospective Physics PhD students in 2023:
- 74% were either positive or very positive about employment after graduation.
- 83% preferred on campus learning, 5% preferred online/distance learning, and 12% preferred a blended approach.
- 10% were interested in part-time study.
- In order of popularity, the top three study motivations were:
- Subject interest
- Career progress
- Challenge
If you'd like to make your voice heard, why not complete our survey? Your feedback will help us ensure our site is as helpful as possible for students like you!
Note: This guidance was produced with the assistance of AI. However, all data is derived from reliable, authoratitive sources, and all content has been reviewed by humans.
Structural Health Monitoring Sensors for Extreme Environments
About the project. The University of Cincinnati has been developing a suite of ultrasonic sensors for structural health monitoring in extreme, typically high temperature (550°C+) environments. Read more
Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Renewable Chemicals and Fuels
Achievement of Net Zero in chemicals and fuels industries is crucial for mitigation of climate change effect and it is dependent on development and implementation of efficient technologies for CO. Read more
Precision flavour physics observables from Lattice QCD
In this PhD project you will make first principle theory predictions highly relevant for particle physics experiments at supercolliders such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Read more
Mechanistic modelling of hydrogen-material interactions
Oxford’s Mechanics of Materials Lab is seeking a PhD (DPhil) student to develop a new generation of mechanistic models to understand the fatigue crack initiation behaviour of metals in hydrogen environments. Read more
Multimodal biophotonic technologies: Powering a revolution in diabetes research Ref: 5086
Supervisors. Ben Sherlock. Lecturer in Translational Biophotonics. Ben Gardner. Lecturer Translational Biophotonics (E&R). Francesca Palombo. Read more
Development of a miniaturised Plug-and-Play Plasma Instrumentation for Small Satellites - “PLASMACube”
Supervisory Team. Dr. Taiwo Raphael Tejumola. Project description. Small satellites, particularly CubeSats, play an increasingly vital role in space missions, from Earth observation to deep space exploration, offering diverse stakeholders a broad spectrum of missions and application possibilities. Read more
PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering
The Molecular Systems Engineering group (MSE) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, has a fully-funded PhD studentship available for an October 2025 start. Read more
PhD in Atomic physics and plasma spectroscopy of astrophysically important elements - Laboratory Astrophysics
PhD Project. Atomic physics and plasma spectroscopy of astrophysically important elements. Full-time studentship (starting October 2025) within the Space, Plasma & Climate Community, Physics Department, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus. Read more
Virtual acoustics system for car interior
Are you passionate about 3D-audio, acoustics, and signal processing? This collaborative project with automotive audio leader ASK Industries offers a unique opportunity to develop innovative spatial audio measurement and reproduction techniques, as well as design and implement a multi-channel loudspeaker system capable of reproducing the acoustics of a car interior. Read more
Terahertz frequency devices for future communication systems
Research Group:
School of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
High data throughput wireless communication systems are central to our lives and livelihoods. Data traffic is increasing exponentially, with the fastest-growing part of this increase being on wireless channels, as mobile users increasingly make use of online services. Read more
PhD Studentship in “Constraining the cosmological model with next generation large-scale structure surveys”
We are on the brink of a revolution in our understanding of the Universe with the unfolding of two large galaxy surveys, the Rubin Telescope's legacy survey of space and time (LSST), and ESA's Euclid Mission. Read more
Large Language Models for Explainable and Scalable Radio Galaxy Classification
Large Language Models for Explainable and Scalable Radio Galaxy Classification. Anticipated start date. September 2025. Note: Subject to funding via The Liverpool Centre for Doctoral Training for Innovation in Data Intensive Science (LIV.INNO). Read more
Improved Contamination Monitoring via Sensor Fusion and Machine Learning for Nuclear Threat Reduction (NTR)
Improved Contamination Monitoring via Sensor Fusion and Machine Learning for Nuclear Threat Reduction (NTR). Supervisors. Dr Charles Kind, Dr Loren Picco. Read more
(UoM - IIT KGP) Tailoring Functional Mucoadhesive Polymer Gel in Oral Cancer Therapy; A Milder Approach
Despite significant advances in cancer therapeutics, improving the prognosis of late-stage oral cancer remains challenging. Read more
Precise predictions for lepton scattering experiments
Particle physics experiments involving leptons are among the most precise experiments in all of science. They can be used to stress-test the Standard Model of Particle Physics at many different energy scales if the underlying processes are sufficiently well understood. Read more