Physics | Aberystwyth University

Course summary

Physics at Aberystwyth has an established reputation in leading-edge research and has fully-funded PhD studentships (such as EPSRC, STFC and AberDoc) available in all research areas. Our Department has a robotic telescope, state-of-the-art laboratories, supercomputing and 3D visualisation facilities for research projects, and makes extensive use of national and international research facilities. Lists of typical Materials Physics and Solar System Physics PhD projects are available.

Why undertake a PhD with the Department of Physics at Aberystwyth University?

Physics and Astronomy have been taught at Aberystwyth since the university was established in 1872. We aim to undertake internationally competitive, collaborative research in Space Physics, Materials Physics and Quantum Physics in a friendly and supportive environment.

We have a dedicated Physical Sciences library on campus that houses excellent research material for the study of mathematics, physics and computer science, including the Scott Blair Collection, a comprehensive and important resource for the study of rheology.

Aberystwyth University has a proud tradition of research excellence, as demonstrated in the most recent Research Excellence Framework assessment (REF 2014), which placed the university in the top 50 institutions for research power and intensity.

We specialise in many exciting areas including planetary exploration and the very latest low dimensional materials. Available research groups can be seen below:

Solar System Physics group, studies the chain of events leading from the Sun, through the solar wind, to the atmospheres and surfaces of the planets.

Materials Research, advanced experimental techniques are applied in parallel with mathematical and computational modelling to elucidate the critical relationships that determine properties such as fluid flow, fracture, melting, conductivity and light emission in materials such as liquids, foams, glass, ceramics, semiconductors, nanoparticles and thin films. The Department of Physics at Aberystwyth University is part of the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Diamond Science and Technology.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

Physics, Institute of

Entry requirements

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Fees and funding

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Course options

Sponsorship information

The Department frequently has available UK/EU studentships (e.g., from EPSRC, STFC), and an informal inquiry to the institute will determine what is available at any particular time. The University also runs the AberDoc Scholarship competition.

The Department also offers 3 bursaries a year for Non-EU Postgraduates to cover the difference between overseas fees and UK/EU fees. For more information please contact the department at phys@aber.ac.uk

Information about other funding sources, fees, and living costs for UK, EU and non-EU students is also available.