PhD Studentships

As a major UK science facility, Diamond offers exciting prospects for PhD students across a wide variety of scientific and technical areas. 

The majority of Diamond joint-funded students involve collaboration with UK universities and are fully funded studentships that Diamond support by a 50% contribution towards university fees, student stipend and certain travel, subsistence and accommodation costs combined with a 50% contribution from the university. 

Students are given the opportunity to undertake a research project and submit a thesis for examination in accordance with the University’s regulations governing their PhD programme and the research is intended to lead to academic publications and to further the student’s career.  Studentship projects are extremely varied, but are all similar in the sense that they are pushing the boundaries of what is possible on Diamond’s beamlines.

Benefits of Diamond's jointly funded studentships

• Worldclass facilities: Access to Diamond's facilities and beamtime (if applicable and subject to peer review) throughout our studentships
• Enhanced stipend: Joint Diamond funded studentships attract an enhanced stipend rate for students of around £2,000 per annum above the UKRI minimum rate
• Conference allowance: Studentships include funding provided by all partners to attend conferences
• Travel/accomodation allowance: Studentships include funding to support travel & accomodation to/from Diamond and your university
• Student support: Diamond has a dedicated Student Engagement team to support students throughout their studentship. Students also have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) via Diamond as well as free corporate access to Headspace

Currently Diamond has around 110 active PhD students in collaboration with universities, taking on 15-20 per year.

Available projects at Diamond

The call for 2023 proposals has now closed. The call for 2024 proposals will open mid-July 2023.

Diamond collaborates with Research Organisations to co-supervise and part-fund a cohort of PhD Studentships each year. While not a degree awarding institution, Diamond is committed to ensuring that Diamond’s Students receive the best training and support available through its Doctoral Studentship Programme.  

Studentship proposals can be from within any area of Diamond and must evidence scientific or technical excellence and the value of the project to the development of Diamond. This may include technical, software or sample environment development. 

2023 PhD call information