PhD Research in High Energy Physics

This document describes postgraduate study leading to the degree of PhD with the Southampton High Energy Physics Group (SHEP) in the School of Physics and Astronomyat the University of Southampton. (Disclaimer)

• Research Interests 
• Research Training
• NExT PhD school

• How to apply: centrally through the University. There is a section for `Topic or Field of Research' propose and you should indicate here your preferred research area (High Energy Physics/Theory, School of Physics & Astronomy). When your completed application form is submitted, it will be forwarded to the relevant Admissions Tutor.
• Reading List

We find financial support for two to three research students per year from STFC, a similar amount of SEPnet Studentships is normally available through the PhD Grand Challengesscheme plus we can offer at least one Faculty funded bursary per year in the form of a Mayflower Scholarship, which incorporates some teaching duties.

Recently, the University has launched a multidisciplinary institute: the SHEP group and the Astronomy (Astro) group in the School of Physics and Astronomy together with the General Relativity (GR) group in the School of Mathematics have forged closer links and come together to create the Southampton Theory, Astronomy and Gravitation (STAG) Institute. The latter pursues a number of initiatives and these include joint studentships, up to three of them (SHEP/Astro, SHEP/GR and Astro/GR) each year, whose features include four-year funding, joint supervision across the two groups involved plus training and research on topics at the overlap borders between their respective research interests.

SHEP is often member of European networks of various type in the context of the European Framework Programmes, some of this offering PhD positions. Currently we are part of the"Elusives" network, which is a European ITN project within Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (H2020) and focuses on Neutrino and Dark Matter phenomenology and their connections. For PhD positions on this network applicants must apply via this webpage where more information can be found, including information on current vacancies.

Possibilities of 4-year PhD Studentships within the Next Generation Computational Modelling Doctoral Training Centre (NGCM DTC), co-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and industry, comprising a one-year taught component leading to 3 years of PhD research on a particle physics project, also exist.

SHEP is also involved in the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) Data Intensive Science Centre in SEPnet (DISCnet), providing a platform upon which to train a new generation of data intensive scientists in a variety of disciplines. The CDT offers 4-year PhD Studentships, financed either by STFC directly or departmental funds.

For potential PhD students with a mind into Web Science (possibly including exploitation and development of the World Wide Web in relation to physical sciences), we could consider a project based bid to the Web Science Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) held byElectronics and Computer Science (ECS).

We always encourage those with other (even partial) means of support to apply to us. In fact, other than the possibility of raising School matching funds on an ad-hoc basis (like, e.g., £2,000 Hercock Bursaries) , we also have formally the chance to access (on a competitive basis) part-funded Post-Graduate Research (PGR) Studentships offered by the University through the `PGR Scholarship Fund' (open to any nationality) to enable self-supported students with partial financial means to carry out PhD studies with us (we have to apply on behalf of a potential student). Additional similar routes exist through our ownFaculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering (FPSE) in the form of the Deans Scholarships for international students and the FPSE PGR Scholarships for all nationalities (see the table below for links). Finally, see here for general information about PG applications and Studentship Awards in our School. Please notice that all such Scholarships should not be applied for directly, as a member of staff should do it on behalf of actual or potential applicants.

Furthermore, notice that the University is offering bursaries covering (part of) the tuition fees to support China Scholarship Council (CSC) sponsored PhD candidates as well asCONACYT supported PhD students from Mexico. Applicants falling into this category and wishing to be considered for an award should come forward before February of the year in which their studies begin. Finally, open to all external sources for part funding also exist, like for example the The Grundy Educational Trust, with which we had successes over the years.

In all generality, we are always keen to sponsor international students, either through subject-specific School/University or external funding: see here for non-subject specific information and the table and links at the bottom of this page for funding usable towards a PhD degree in physics.

Once a student is enrolled with a PhD with us, he/she will automatically receive a Research & Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £1,200/year for the entire duration of the PhD, which is meant to enable the student to attend summer schools, workshops, conferences, symposia, etc. as well as well as to pursue research collaborations outside of SHEP.

Normally, only candidates with first class honours are accepted. We do not offer places to students until we have met them at an interview and given them the opportunity to interact with our group. Unfortunately, we cannot pay expenses for visits to the School. However, nowadays we regularly carry out interviews through the internet (e.g., using institutional video conferencing facilities, Visimeet, Vidyo, Skype, etc.).

Once enrolled with SHEP, you will undergo subject-specific training within the NExT PhD School and also be able to access the multi-disciplinary activities offered by GRADnet (the SEPnet Graduate Network).

The academic contact for high energy physics applications is Prof S Moretti,stefano@phys.soton.ac.uk.

You may also consult some specific funding information from UK sources in the following table:

The University webpages illustrating P/G funding opportunities by subject area can be found here. Below is instead a list of some International organisations offering funding for postgraduate study. The University is not involved in the selection and award of these scholarships and applications should be made directly to the funding body following the instructions on their website.
 

Finally, the following sites can be used to search for further funding opportunities:

Iefa.org |  Scholarship-search.org.uk |  Prospects.ac.uk |  Family-action.org.uk | Postgraduatestudentships.co.uk |  British Council | Turn2us