Physics, Ph.D

    Physics, Ph.D

    Duration3 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 34,131 / year(s)
    Next IntakeOctober 1, 2026
    Physics, Ph.D

    About

    Start dates: PhD/MPhil - 1st October, 1st January, 1st April & 1st July. You will undertake a physics research project over two years (MPhil) or three years (PhD), supported by our globally esteemed researchers. The project will be shaped by your participation in research activities such as seminars, workshops, laboratory activity and fieldwork, as well as your involvement in one of our established research groups. Swansea is a research-led University and physics makes a significant contribution, meaning you will benefit from the considerable experience and skills of our expert staff. We have three main research groups. The Atomic, Molecular and Quantum Physics Group (AMQP) is supported by grants from EPSRC, the EU, The Royal Society, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and various industrial and government sources. The areas of research are:
  • Analytical laser spectroscopy,
  • Ultrafast Dynamics, Imaging and Microscopy, Optomechanics
  • Antihydrogen, positronium and positrons
  • Cold atom physics
  • Nano-scale physics and the life sciences
  • The Applied Physics and Materials (APM) Group is supported by grants from the European Union, Welsh Government, National Science Foundation, Australian Research Council, Welsh European Funding Office, and EPSRC. The areas of research include:
  • Biophotonics: Nano- and micro-structured materials, biomimetics, analyte sensing and light-tissue interaction
  • Nanomedicine
  • Sustainable Advanced Materials: next-generation semiconductors, bioelectronic materials and devices, optoelectronics including photodetection, solar energy conversion, advanced electro-optics and transport physics of disordered solids
  • The Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory (PPCT) Group is one of the five largest particle physics groups in the UK. It is supported mainly by STFC, but also has grants from EPSRC, the EU, the Royal Society and the Leverhulme Trust. The areas of research include:
  • Amplitudes in gauge and supergravity theories
  • Hot and Dense matter, High-performance computing
  • Gauge/string duality, Higher spin holography, Integrability, Large-N gauge theories, supersymmetry and duality
  • Holography and lattice theories in physics beyond the Standard Model
  • Quantum fields in curved spacetime and theoretical cosmology
  • Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    We invite applications from well-qualified candidates whose research interest focusses around the fields of, Atomic, Molecular and Quantum Physics (AMQP), Applied Physics and Materials (APM) and Particle Physics Theory (PPT).

    Qualifications

    MPhil: Applicants for MPhil must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See - Country-specific Information for European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.

    PhD: Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See - Country-specific Information for European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.

    English Language
    IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

    As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

    As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

    Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Requirement

    Non UK/EU applicants are required to obtain ATAS clearance for this programme of study. Successful applicants are sent ATAS application details by the University PGR Admissions team. Further details on the ATAS scheme can be found at on the government Academic Technology Approval Scheme webpage.

    Reference Requirement

    As standard, two references are required before we can progress applications to the College/School research programme Admissions Tutor for consideration.

    Applications received without two references attached are placed on hold, pending receipt of the outstanding reference(s). Please note that any protracted delay in receiving the outstanding reference(s) may result in the need to defer your application to a later potential start point/entry month, than what you initially listed as your preferred start option.

    You may wish to consider contacting your referee(s) to assist in the process of obtaining the outstanding reference(s) or alternatively, hold submission of application until references are sourced. Please note that it is not the responsibility of the University Admissions Office to obtain missing reference(s) after our initial email is sent to your nominated referee(s), requesting a reference(s) on your behalf.

    The reference can take the form of a letter on official headed paper, or via the University’s standard reference form. Click this link to download the university reference form.

    Alternatively, referees can email a reference from their employment email account, please note that references received via private email accounts, (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) cannot be accepted.

    References can be submitted to [email protected].

    English Program Requirements

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    34,131 / year(s)
    Physics, Ph.D
    Swansea University
    Swansea University
    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, Swansea

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