Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

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Scholarship value

These scholarships include a doctoral stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, £18,622 2023/24 rate) for 3.5 years, tuition fees at the home rate and access to further research support funding.

Deadline

The deadline for this scholarship has passed.

Criteria

Successful candidates will demonstrate academic excellence and outstanding research potential.

Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, and ideally a Master’s degree or equivalent.

The studentships are open to Home and Overseas (including EU) students. The number of international studentships awarded per cohort is capped by UKRI at 30%. To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the RCUK residency criteria.

UK residential conditions:

  • Be a UK National (meeting UKRI residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirement) or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

The University of Kent requires all non-native speakers of English to read a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. For more information on English language requirements, please visit this page.

Further details

We invite applications for two fully-funded PhD studentships in Astronomy and Planetary Science at the Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science (CAPS), University of Kent, starting in September 2022. The group consists of 8 academics and 20 postgraduate students with research interests covering Solar System and Space Science, the Interstellar Medium, Star Formation, Galactic Structure, Astrochemistry and Astrobiology. Our group offers a vibrant and social environment for PhD students and postdocs with strong links to other areas of physics, chemistry, bioscience and computing. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and endeavour to promote these within our group and beyond.

Projects Offered

More details for all of these projects can be found by clicking on the links below.

How to apply

Applications are made through the University’s main admissions site. When applying, students should follow the University of Kent’s online application process. As part of the process, students should include the following:

  • explain reasons for study/outline research proposal
  • provide details/evidence of qualifications
  • provide two academic references
  • provide other personal information and supporting documentation.

We encourage candidates to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss opportunities before applying. If you are unsure who would the best match for your interests, please direct general inquiries to the Head of Group, Dr James Urquhart.

The University of Kent is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion and we endeavour to recruit students from all walks of life. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status.

Enquiries should be directed to the Division of Natural Sciences Postgraduate Admissions team: studypgnats@kent.ac.uk.