Astronomy and Space Physics Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Energy Nuclear and Plasma Physics Particle Physics Photonics Physics & Life Sciences Graduate School Knowledge Transfer

SUPA | Physics Scotland


SUPA is a pooling of physics research and post-graduate education in 8 Scottish universities: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot Watt, St Andrews, Strathclyde and West of Scotland.

SUPA, supported by the Scottish Funding Council, is focussed on seven research themes: Astronomy & Space Physics, Condensed Matter & Materials Physics, Energy, Nuclear & Plasma Physics, Particle Physics, Photonics, Physics & Life Sciences.

 

Graduate School

The Graduate School offers world-class postgraduate education and training to doctoral students registered in SUPA departments. 570 students currently take classes under the curriculum, with around 120 students joining the programme each year.

Each year the Graduate School runs a SUPA Prize PhD Studentship competition, which sees hundreds of applications from many countries. Click here to visit the SUPA Prize Studentship competition page.  The SUPA member departments also run taught MSc courses.

PhD Students are expected to take 40 hours of physics studies and 20 hours of generic skills training, at a minimum, during the first two years of their study. Click here for further course information and here for the current timetable.

The Graduate School also provides funding to support events and visits by distinguished visitors.

Knowledge Transfer

SUPA KT’s mission is to increase commercial engagement between SUPA and industry. This will generate revenue for SUPA and will allow commercial exploitation of research to the benefit of the economy of Scotland and beyond.

We have a number of case studies where SUPA research has benefitted our industrial partners.

SUPA has four mechanisms to help companies work with SUPA researchers:

  • INSPIRE, providing studentships, staff exchanges and networking events, where physics and life sciences meet, funded by Scottish Funding Council Horizon Fund
  • PEER, providing support for joint proposals by Scottish SMEs and SUPA to the European Framework programme, funded by Scottish Funding Council
  • SUPA Start, providing consultancy to Scottish SMEs, funded by SEEKIT and ERDF
  • Innovation Partnership Schemes, providing commercial exploitation for STFC-funded research, funded by the Science & Technology Funding Council

SUPA KT has also examined the current needs and future opportunity for commercial engagement in three Market Sector reviews in Defence and Security, the Life Sciences and Medical Imaging.

News & Events

Follow SUPA on Twitter / Facebook

  • 14/05/2012 The Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture 2013 - Call for Proposals, more @ http://t.co/UBFVJdeP
  • 09/05/2012 INSPIRE Annual Meeting 13th June at Heriot-Watt University. More @ http://t.co/wzv7vuXS
  • 03/05/2012 Poster on Quantum Entanglement Wins IOP Prize at SUPA AGM 2012, more @ http://t.co/bHrj2HTu
  • 01/05/2012 SUPA Lecture - Peaceful Productivity for Creative Types, more @ http://t.co/Jwns9GXq
  • 01/05/2012 Congratulations! The winners of the SUPA Poster Competition. more @ http://t.co/L2awLpbs