University Doctoral School

About the project

• Empowering future research leaders. Creating global impact. We believe that research is transformative - for individuals, for societies, and for the world. The Doctoral School brings together everything you need to succeed in your research journey. We work across all subject areas to offer exceptional supervision; tailored researcher development; wellbeing support and community engagement; global opportunities and sector placements; and career preparation for life after the PhD.

The Doctoral School by numbers

My own research journey began at Birmingham, and now as Director of the Doctoral School, I’m proud to support the next generation of researchers - helping them thrive, connect, and change the world through their research.

• 3,334 Postgraduate research students
• 114 Countries represented
• 4,003 Academic research experts

The Birmingham Doctoral Programme

The Birmingham Doctoral Programme is a transformative experience for all researchers at Birmingham, whatever your subject area. We offer world-class supervision, a tailored development framework, and real-world engagement opportunities that prepare you to flourish, whatever your future holds.

As a researcher at Birmingham, you will have access to:

• 1. Research expertise You'll have the chance to work alongside leading academics, engage with policymakers and industry leaders, and contribute to public discourse, ensuring your work makes a tangible difference.

1. Research expertise

• 2. A world-class research environment Enjoy a world-class research environment with advanced labs, specialised centres, and collaborative spaces—all in the heart of the UK's second city, on a truly unique campus.

2. A world-class research environment

• 3. Research skills and development support We are committed to helping you grow as a confident, capable, and impactful researcher — equipped with the skills and resilience to lead in academia, industry, and beyond.

3. Research skills and development support

• 4. A supportive research community At Birmingham, no two research journeys are the same. Our researchers are a vibrant and diverse community — each following a pathway shaped by their passions, ideas, and ambitions.

4. A supportive research community

• 5. Dedicated careers support for researchers From one-to-one career guidance and CV advice to networking events and employer presentations, you'll benefit from dedicated careers support tailored specifically for postgraduate researchers.

Research that matters

• Top 100 World University (QS 2026)
• 12th in the UK for Research Power (REF 2021)
• 10 alumni and staff have been recognised with Nobel prizes
• How to apply If you’d like to study a research degree with us, there are generally two routes you can take. You can apply for an 'advertised PhD' or you can 'propose your own research'. An ‘advertised PhD’ simply means that it’s part of an established research project at the University. It’s also usually funded by us, or another funding body. Alternatively, you can propose your own research. First, you’ll need to submit a proposal for your research. This includes identifying the supervisor you’d like to work with. To pay for your research, there’s a range of funding available from scholarships, charities, loans and self-finance. • Start your research journey

Research areas