School of Physics and Astronomy STFC Fully Funded PhD at University of Leicester 2026

The School of Physics and Astronomy offer PhD projects funded by The Sciences and Technology Facilities Research Council (STFC) for September 2026 entry.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 18, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Leicester
• City to studyLeicester
• School to studyUniversity of Leicester
• Course to studyAstronomy , Physics , Physics and Astronomy
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

The projects listed are in competition for STFC funding. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding.

The STFC studentship provides:

• A full UK fee waiver for 3.5 years*
• An annual tax free stipend for 3.5 years (currently £20,780 for 2025/26. Stipend for 2026/27 to be confirmed)
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
• Conference fees and UK fieldwork fund

*Full overseas fee waivers will be available for small number of international students; otherwise, international applicants must show that they can cover the fee difference between UK/International costs. For 2025/26 this is currently £18,864 per year of study. This may increase for 2026/27.

Requirements

• Available to both UK and International applicants unless specified.
• International applicants
  • International students refer to the funding section. If you require a student visa in order to be able to study in the UK. There are costs associated with the visa application process, which must be met by the student; approximately £2500 for the visa and healthcare surcharge. Please ensure you have the means to meet these costs before you apply to the programme.
  • *EU applicants who hold EU settled or EU pre-settled status please provide PGR Admissions with a share code (the one that starts with S) so we can verify your fee status email to [email protected].

• Applicants are required to hold/or expect to obtain a UK Bachelor Degree 2:1 or better in a relevant subject or overseas equivalent.

• The University of Leicester English language requirements apply.

Application Documents

With your application, please include:

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts of study already completed and if possible transcript to date of study currently being undertaken
• Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable
• In the reference section please enter the email contact details of your two academic referees in the boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available. (Referees should not be proposed PhD supervisors).
• Upload a Personal statement to include
  • your broad area of interest (Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Physics, Instrumentation, etc.) having reviewed our research group pages; and
  • explain your interest in the project/s you are interested in applying for
  • include your experience and why we should consider you. 
• In the Research Proposal Section select 'no' to uploading a proposal and state 'no proposal required in the text box'. Supervisors section on the same page - please list, in ranked order, the names of supervisors and the projects you wish to be considered for (up to 3).

 

Application Deadline

January 18, 2026

How To Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to University of Leicester on le.ac.uk to apply

• To apply please use the online Apply Button and select September 2026.
• In the funding section: from the drop down menu select Studentship and then select STFC.  Funding percentage field = 100%.
• You do not need to include a research proposal.

For more details, visit University of Leicester Scholarship webpage