The University of Manchester builds on research excellence legacy with launch of Bicentenary Studentships and Fellowships

The University of Manchester has been at the forefront of research-driven learning, development and innovation for the last 200 years. In celebration of this remarkable milestone, the university is launching a prestigious initiative in its anniversary year – the Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships. 

There is no better investment than in quality research and professional development. That is why the university intends to provide more than 200 additional postgraduate research studentships and three-year early-career fellowships across its three faculties in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years. 

Alongside its initial investment in the programme, the university has launched a £10 million matched funding scheme to catalyse philanthropic support and deliver a total of £28 million in new studentships and fellowships. It is inviting people and organisations who share its commitment to world-class research to join it in supporting the research leaders of the future. 

Duncan Ivison, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester, explained: “Manchester is a city like no other – a place where history and innovation meet, where diversity fuels creativity and where our university stands as a beacon of discovery and opportunity. As we mark our 200th year, this landmark programme demonstrates our commitment to shaping a future that reflects the dynamic spirit of this incredible city and the importance of philanthropy in delivering this ambition.” 

The University of Manchester’s reputation for research excellence is lauded globally, with 93 per cent of activity assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent under the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. Successful applicants who join as bicentenary postgraduate researchers and research fellows will help to build on its status as one of the UK’s top research universities.

Postgraduate researchers are the lifeblood of the research community in Manchester, driving forward ambitions for building knowledge and solving real-world issues in the creative and supportive environment the university has fostered. 

The stimulating postgraduate research environment at Manchester is recognised and enhanced by external investment, with the doctoral training programmes and Centre for Doctoral Training studentships receiving approximately £100 million from UKRI and other major charities.

The fellows who are accepted onto the programme will be empowered with the skills to become leaders at the forefront of their fields, advancing as a result of the extensive development programmes and facilities designed to enhance their experience and career progression.

Colette Fagan, vice-president for research at the University of Manchester, commented: “The Bicentenary Studentships and Fellowships represent a significant investment in the future of research at the University of Manchester. We’ve been committed to supporting researchers from all backgrounds since 1824 and will continue to do so for the next 200 years. This is about celebrating our rich history as well as ensuring that our legacy of innovation and excellence continues. 

“Our bicentenary postgraduate researchers and research fellows will join a thriving and diverse postgraduate research and fellowship community and be immersed in a stimulating, ambitious and collaborative research environment across our three faculties. They will have access to our portfolio of the highest quality training and support at every career stage, enabling them to develop and thrive in their chosen field.” 

A member of the prestigious Russell Group of UK universities, the University of Manchester is a world-leading institution. A university rooted in its values, it ranked first in Europe and second in the world for social and environmental impact in the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. It’s the only university that has consistently ranked in the top 10 every year since the Impact Rankings began. The University of Manchester is proud to count 26 Nobel Prize winners among its staff, students and alumni.

For those wishing to apply for the fellowships, the university welcomes proposals that foster interdisciplinary research and will aid the university in addressing major global challenges. Themes include digital and artificial intelligence (AI), including robotics; the environment and climate change; health inequality; and the creative industries. Applications are also being accepted on an open theme. PhD candidates will be able to apply to pre-defined projects set by academic staff within the same themes, more details of which are available on the university’s website. 

Of the studentships and fellowships available, the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health is offering 70 studentships and three fellowships, 90 studentships are available in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and the Faculty of Humanities is offering 12 PhD studentships and 27 fellowships. The studentships cover tuition fees, an annual stipend – which matches the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rate – for four years, and a research training support grant covering project costs.

Whether it’s addressing the world’s most pressing health challenges, advancing solutions to the climate crisis, innovative research within the creative industries, or progressing physics research in the very place where the atom was split, AI was born and graphene was isolated, the university will provide the tools and support researchers need to get to where they want to be.

Find out more about the Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships.