The EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership enables the University of Cambridge to develop future leaders by funding doctoral training across a wide range of Engineering and Physical Science research areas. The research in which doctoral students are involved includes discovery-led projects in new and innovative areas, as well as that which addresses strategically important established themes.
The research funded is within groups that are recognised as delivering internationally excellent and world leading outputs. In order to deliver impact, there is also significant focus on creating links with industrial partners, including CASE studentships, through which students have the opportunity to develop significant links with a company.
The main opportunity delivered by the DTP is in providing funding to enable students to undertake doctoral research projects. The fund allows for the equivalent of approximately 60 fully funded studentships per year, across a range of fields. In order to maximise the number of studentships that can be awarded, Departments are encouraged to leverage other funding opportunities, e.g. Industry, Cambridge Trusts, Colleges. Studentships are awarded in: Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (2 Departments), Chemical Engineering, Earth Sciences, Computer Science and Materials Science. A small number of studentships may also be funded in other Departments that have research portfolios which overlap with the EPSRC themes and who have successfully obtained EPSRC funding in recent years.
These studentships are fully-funded (fees and maintenance) for UK students, provide fees for EU students from outside the UK, and a small number can be used to fund students from outside the EU under the International Doctoral Scholarship Scheme.
In addition to the skills gained during the PhD research, our students also undertake a Researcher Development programme, with courses and activities tailored to their needs and selected from a wide range of provision. This enables those completing their doctoral programmes to develop the broad skill set which will make them well-placed to develop into future leaders across a range of careers in the academic, industrial and public sectors.
The DTP also funds Doctoral Prizes, allowing students at the end of their doctoral studies to progress to research associate posts for a 12-15 month period, wherein they can ensure that high quality PhD work is published, apply technologies they have developed or complete projects which are distinct from their PhD work entirely.
Vacation internships are also provided from the DTP each year, enabling undergraduate students to gain a first experience of research and to assess whether they wish to later progress to doctoral training.
Host Departments can be found on: https://www.epsrc.group.cam.ac.uk/DTP
Applications
Competition for admission to the University of Cambridge graduate programme is intense. Candidates must meet the University's minimum requirements for graduate studies and apply via the online Graduate Application portal https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/how-do-i-apply
The option to be considered for an EPSRC-funded studentship is included in the application form and applicants are signposted to additional information about eligibility for UKRI funding at:
https://epsrc.ukri.org/skills/students/help/eligibility/
Applications from eligible students can be considered by host Departments until 30 June each year but application by early December is encouraged for the best chance of securing a position. Students from groups currently underrepresented in Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Science subjects, i.e. women and BAME applicants, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Mechanisms for allocating studentships vary across Departments but with the common theme that the most excellent applicants will be supported (see Q3 for further information).
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