How to apply

The Centre invites applications from applicants with a background in any relevant discipline. Typically, applicants will be expected to hold a masters degree in a relevant subject area, or equivalent experience. Applicants would also need to be able to demonstrate a strong motivation for doing a PhD at the LCN. To undertake a PhD within the LCN, applicants will be registered at one of the three partner institutions.

To apply for a PhD within the LCN it is first essential that you identify a potential supervisor and discuss with them your chosen area of research. You should review the Our People and Research pages, where you will find details of the research undertaken within the LCN and contact details for supervisors. Email is the preferred method of contacting a supervisor, and we suggest that you include, as a minimum, the following details in your initial email:

• Proposed area of research and your experience/background in the chosen research area
• How your chosen supervisor’s experience or knowledge is relevant
• A copy of your CV

Once you have agreement in principle from a supervisor that they would be happy to supervise you, please make a formal application to the relevant institution:

• Apply for a PhD at UCL via their Admissions Webpage 
• Apply for a PhD at Imperial College London via their Admission Webpage 
• Apply for a PhD at Kings College via their Admissions Webpage

PhD Opportunities

Below are all the available EPSRC projects hosted at UCL in the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) department. The applications for these fully funded studentships are managed by the UCL Doctoral School.

The deadline for applications is 8 January 2027 at noon (UK time). UCL will be closed during the Christmas period and there will be no email support available. We strongly encourage applicants to submit their applications and references by 16 December 2026.

For more information and how to apply for these studentships see: UCL EPSRC Landscape Award (UELA) studentships | UCL EPSRC Doctoral Training – UCL – University College London:

2531cs1102 – Guillaume Charras – Understanding the physical forces shaping early embryos

2531cs1103 – Andrew Green – Locally Optimised Variational Quantum Evolution

2531cs1104 – Frank Kruger – Fractionalisation in Quantum Spin Liquids

2531cs1105 – Hidekazu Kurebayashi – Nonequilibrium spintronics for future AI hardware

2531cs1106 – Benjamin Miller – Quantum sensors for biological detection and imaging

2531cc1107 – John Morton – Developing spin qubit quantum processors based on industrial Si MOS technology

2531cs1108 – Carla Perez-Martinez – When next-generation ion beams meet materials

2531cs1109 – Robin Perry – Crystal Growth and Neutron Scattering of Functional Battery Materials

2531cs1110 – Steven Schofield – Atomic-Precision Acceptor Qubits in Silicon

2531cs1111 – Paul Warburton – Quantum amplification using superconducting nanowires