Sussex Neuroscience 4-Year Programme PhD

Sussex Neuroscience 4-Year Programme PhD (2027)

What you get

Up to 3 funded places will be awarded for September 2027 entry, for a period of four years, on a full-time basis.

This funding covers payment of all tuition fees (UK or international), and pays you a maintenance allowance at the standard UKRI rate (currently £21,805 per annum for 2026-27).

Type of award

PhD

PhD project

Sussex Neuroscience

The Sussex Neuroscience 4-year PhD Programme is now inviting applications for September 2027 entry.

Sussex Neuroscience is a thriving community of over 60 research groups based on a single campus. Research strengths cover all major areas and technical approaches in contemporary neuroscience. Some of our largest interdisciplinary themes are:

Sensory neuroscience

Neural circuits of behaviour

Learning and memory

Computational neuroscience and AI

Translational and clinical neuroscience

The Programme

The Programme capitalises on the opportunities our research community has to offer, enabling you to broaden your experience and training to become fully integrated into the research network before choosing your PhD project.

Year 1

-        You complete three laboratory rotations, with the chance to explore the approaches and techniques employed by different neuroscience disciplines

-        You have access to further training and knowledge through a selection of taught courses chosen to fit your background and interests

Years 2-4

By the end of the first year, you will be in an excellent position to make an informed choice of PhD project, which you will complete over the remaining three years. There are over 40 research faculty offering projects. Our students can also take part in further training and events both internally and externally, apply to gain paid teaching experience, and volunteer at public engagement events.

 Environment

Our campus is home to both the University of Sussex and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and is set in beautiful countryside at the edge of the South Downs National Park, 10 minutes away from the vibrant seaside city of Brighton. Our community is committed to student support and opportunity, and researchers at all stages enjoy a truly integrated, interdisciplinary environment across the different neuroscience groups on campus.

Eligibility

This studentship is available to UK and Overseas applicants.

Eligible candidates will normally have an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related field.

The University of Sussex believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Number of scholarships available

Up to 3

Deadline

How to apply

To be considered for this studentship, you must submit an application for the relevant full-time PhD programme commencing in September 2027. Please refer to our step-by-step application guide before starting your application.

Please note that you will not be able to apply directly for the studentship through the application portal. Instead, you must apply for the PhD associated with the studentship.

Please ensure you application includes each of the following:

• A research proposal. If you need help with writing your research proposal, you can find information on our website.
• Your CV.
• Degree certificates and transcripts.
• 2 references, including a minimum of 1 from any institution studied at within the last 5 years.
• If your first language is not English you will need to demonstrate that you meet the University’s English language requirements. Our website provides detailed information on the English language tests we accept, as well as the countries that are exempt from the English language requirements.

Please clearly state that you are applying for the Sussex Neuroscience 4-Year Programme PhD under the supervision of your chosen supervisor.In the title of your research proposal, please include the name of the studentship for which you are applying.

Before submitting your application, please ensure that you:

• Apply for the correct PhD project.
• Nominate the appropriate supervisor(s), where required.

Failure to do so may result in delays to the processing of your application.

Completing Your Application

When you reach the Finance Information section of the application form, you will be able to indicate which studentship you wish to be considered for.

Academic Interests Section

Please use this section to identify the supervisor(s) you would like to work with. Some studentships allow applicants to select their preferred supervisor, while others have a designated supervisor already assigned.

Finance Information Section

Please complete the following fields as outlined below:

Please select one of the following options

• Select: "I have applied / will apply for funding"

Title of the award(s) that you have applied for / will be applying for

• Enter only the studentship name exactly as it appears in the advertisement: Sussex Neuroscience 4-Year Programme PhD

When will you receive a decision on your funding application?

• Enter the month following the studentship interview period. Further details can be found in the Timetable section of the advertisement.

What amount will the award be?

• Copy the funding amount directly from the "What you get" section of the advertisement.

Referees

To submit your application, you must provide details of two academic referees.

Please note that your referees do not need to submit their references before the application deadline. You can still submit your application while references are pending.

Contact us

• For eligibility questions, research proposal discussions, and other academic enquiries, please contact the relevant supervisor.
• For general admissions enquiries or assistance with your application, please contact fosem-pgr@sussex.ac.uk.
• For technical issues with the admissions portal, please contact phd.applicants@sussex.ac.uk.

Timetable

Application Deadline: 11th January 2027

Interview: TBD

Start Date: September 2027