University of Leicester

Join our extensive and passionate research community at the University of Leicester – UK University of the year 2025 (Daily Mail). Whether you are looking for supervisor or for a funded PhD opportunity, we will support your every step, from application to graduation.

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Our research degrees are supervised by staff who change the world through innovative and life-changing research. Leicester research breaks new ground and makes an impact globally, covering many different areas, with real-life applications.

More about PhD supervision

Research subjects

We deliver powerful research degrees across the following subjects:

• Life Sciences
• Sciences and engineering
• Social sciences, arts and humanities

More about our research subjects 

Funding

We have exciting funding opportunities available to UK/EU and International students (check each funding page for the closing date).

See full details of funded projects

World-leading

Our staff and students collaborate to create, share and apply knowledge to change the world. We are a world-leading, diverse and inclusive university based in one of the UK’s most multicultural cities. At Leicester, our students are Citizens of Change, unconfined by academic boundaries.

More about our Doctoral College

Research community

Whether you choose to conduct your research full time on campus, or part time via distance learning, you will be given the space and support in which to be creative and develop both personally and professionally. This will be supported by access to a wide variety of opportunities for training and development

More about the support you will receive

Distinguished history

Celebrated for ground-breaking discoveries such as genetic fingerprinting and the discovery of King Richard III, Leicester is also a world leader in space science - contributing more instruments to active space missions than any other UK university.

The University ranks among the UK’s top 30 for research quality according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF21) analysis by Times Higher Education, placing you at the forefront of innovation.

Meet our research students

Meet a few of our many PhD students who explain why they chose Leicester 

See student profiles

Contact details:

Tel: +44 (0)11 6252 5281

Research degree page

Explore why we are UK Top 30 for our research