Compare 45 Physics PhD Programs in the UK

Grad School Navigator tracks 45 Physics PhD programs in the UK across 22 universities. Most programs take about 48 months, while published annual tuition ranges from $27,776 to $52,869. Start with the ranked programs below, then use Explorer to compare the details that matter to your shortlist.

Top Programs

Sorted by Grad School Navigator University Rank. Each row also shows QS, Times Higher Education, U.S. News, or Academic Ranking of World Universities positions when available.

  1. 1
    Application deadline
    Jan 8
    Annual tuition
    $40,294
    Program duration
    48 months
  2. 2

    University of Cambridge

    PhD in Physics

    Application deadline
    Oct 1 +1
    Annual tuition
    $52,869
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time
  3. 3

    Imperial College London

    PhD in Astrophysics

    Application deadline
    Feb 5 +1
    Program duration
    42 months
  4. 4

    University College London

    Physics and Astronomy PhD

    Application deadline
    Rolling
    Annual tuition
    $31,040
    Program duration
    60 months
  5. 5

    University of Edinburgh

    Astrophysics PhD

    Application deadline
    Jan 5
    Annual tuition
    $42,368
    Program duration
    36 months
  6. 6
    Application deadline
    Oct 1 +3
    Annual tuition
    $44,416
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time
  7. 7

    University of Manchester

    PhD Theoretical Physics

    Annual tuition
    $38,272
    Program duration
    48 months
  8. 8
    Application deadline
    Feb 25
    Annual tuition
    $34,176
    Program duration
    48 months
  9. 9

    University of Warwick

    PhD in Physics

    Application deadline
    Aug 2
    Annual tuition
    $39,987
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time
  10. 10
    Application deadline
    Jan 31
    Annual tuition
    $42,509
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time

Use detailed filters for tuition, deadlines, duration, admission requirements, and rankings in Programs Explorer. Compare programs and create your application shortlist.

Compare all 45 programs in Explorer

Complete Program List45 programs

The complete list of Physics PhD Programs, ranked by their global university rank first.

First programs in this cohort
RankUniversityProgramDuration
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Astrophysics48 months
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics48 months
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Condensed Matter Physics48 months
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Particle Physics48 months
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Primary Care Health Sciences3–4 years full-time
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Theoretical Physics48 months
#7University of CambridgeEPSRC CDT MRes + PhD in Future Propulsion and Power48 months
#7University of CambridgePhD in Physics3–4 years full-time
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Astrophysics42 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Condensed Matter Theory48 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Experimental Solid State Physics48 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in High Energy Physics48 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Photonics48 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Plasma Physics48 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Quantum Optics & Laser Science48 months
#15Imperial College LondonPhD in Theoretical Physics48 months
#37University College LondonPhysics and Astronomy PhD60 months
#37University College LondonSpace and Climate Physics PhD3–4 years full-time
#50University of EdinburghAstrophysics PhD36 months
#50University of EdinburghMathematical Physics PhD4 years full-time
#50University of EdinburghNuclear Physics PhD36 months
#50University of EdinburghParticle Physics PhD36 months
#50University of EdinburghPhD in Physics36 months
#63King's College LondonPhD in Physics3–4 years full-time
#63King's College LondonPhysics Research MPhil, option of joint PhD with HKU3–4 years full-time
#67University of ManchesterPhD Theoretical Physics48 months
#94University of BristolQuantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)48 months
#97University of WarwickPhD in Physics3–4 years full-time
#108University of GlasgowPhysics & Astronomy PhD|EngD|MPhil|MSc (Research)3–4 years full-time
#120Queen Mary University of LondonPhD in String|Field Theory48 months
#129University of SouthamptonPhD in Physics84 months
#132University of BirminghamPhysics and Astronomy PhD3.5 years full-time
#133University of ExeterPhD Physics48 months
#136University of LiverpoolPhysics PhD3 years full-time
#139University of LeedsPhysics and Astronomy3 years full-time
#139University of LeedsSchool of Physics and Astronomy - 4-year PhD48 months
#140Durham UniversityPhD in Particles, Strings and Cosmology3 years full-time
#140Durham UniversityPhysics PhD48 months
#164University of YorkPhysics PhD3 years full-time
#164University of YorkPlasma Science & Fusion Energy PhD36 months
#192Newcastle UniversityPhysics PhD3 years full-time
#201–250Cardiff UniversityPhysics and Astronomy PhD48 months
#201–250Lancaster UniversityNanoscience: PhD48 months
#201–250Lancaster UniversityPhysics: PhD84 months
#251–300Loughborough UniversityPhysics PhD3 years full-time

More Program Intelligence

Programs Explorer brings full program records, comparison tools, and proprietary intelligence into one workspace. Compare these 45 Physics PhD programs in the UK and build your shortlist with evidence from 900,000+ real application shortlists.

  • Full Program RecordsRequirements, deadlines, costs, funding, curriculum, faculty, careers, and official links
  • Case IntelligenceDifficulty, outcomes, admitted and rejected profiles, and program statistics
  • Decision IntelligenceDecision timing, interviews, waitlists, funding, and community reports
  • Shortlist IntelligenceCo-applications, similar programs, and also-considered universities
Explore all 45 programs in Programs Explorer