PhD research can be undertaken with our research communities. You can visit PhD recruitment pages using the links below or read more about research in the Department of Physics.

Opportunities across our research communities

PhD opportunities across the Department of Physics can be found using the following links:

The Light Community

Research subjects include:

  • Quantum information
  • Quantum optics
  • Metamaterials
  • Biophotonics
  • Laser and attosecond physics

Visit the Light website.

The Matter Community

Research subjects include:

  • Materials for renewable energy, imaging, sensing and computation
  • Quantum sensors and simulators
  • Collective phenomena
  • Nanophysics
  • Attosecond physics
  • Ultracold atoms and molecules
  • Dark matter and fundamental symmetries

Visit the Matter website.

Physics of Particles

Visit the Physics of Particles website.

Physics of the Universe

Visit the Physics of the Universe website.

Astrophysics

Topics include:

  • Stars
  • Exoplanets
  • Accretion discs
  • Galaxies
  • Quasars
  • Cosmology
  • Astrostatistics

Visit the Astrophysics website.

Theoretical Physics

Topics include:

  • String theory
  • M-theory
  • Classical and quantum gravity
  • Foundations of quantum theory
  • Quantum field theory
  • Cosmology
  • Particle physics

Visit the Theoretical Physics website.

Space, Plasma and Climate Community

Visit the Space, Plasma and Climate website.

Space

Topics include:

  • Space plasmas
  • Energy flow in the solar system
  • Space weather

Visit the Space and Atmospheric Physics website.

Climate

Topics include:

  • The carbon cycle
  • Atmosphere-ocean interactions
  • Climate dynamics
  • Aerosols
  • Cyclones
  • Earth's radiation budget

Plasma

Topics include:

  • Laser-plasma interactions
  • Plasma spectroscopy
  • Charged particle acceleration
  • Controlled thermonuclear fusion

Visit the Plasma Physics website.

PhD admissions process

You can also read more about the postgraduate doctoral admissions process on the Imperial prospectus website, including advice on how to find and contact a supervisor.

In the Research Details section of your application, you are asked for your proposed research community. Please write in one of [Light, Matter, Particles, Space, Climate and Plasma and Universe - Astrophysics, Universe Theory]

Why Imperial?

Find out more about Imperial College London's reputation and league table rankings for postgraduate study.

Open days

Find out how to visit the department and our research communities on one of our open days.