Every year, the University of Cambridge recruits around 80 new PhD students to work on engineering and physical science projects funded by this training partnership. This matters because the UK needs a steady pipeline of skilled researchers to drive innovation in fields that underpin modern life—from energy systems and computing to advanced materials and manufacturing. Without sustained investment in doctoral training, the country risks losing its competitive edge in technology and engineering. The partnership covers full fees and living costs for UK students, with additional support for EU and international scholars. Students work in world-leading research groups, often alongside industrial partners through CASE studentships that build direct links with companies. Beyond their PhD research, they complete a tailored Researcher Development programme to prepare for careers in academia, industry, or the public sector. The programme also funds around ten Doctoral Prizes each year, allowing recent PhD graduates to stay in research as assistants or associates, and about fifteen vacation bursaries for undergraduates to try research before committing to a doctorate. The aim is to develop future leaders across a broad range of technical careers—not just in labs, but in the systems and infrastructure that keep society running.
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The EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) enables the University of Cambridge to develop future leaders by funding doctoral training across a wide range of Technology, 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 established strategic themes. The main opportunity delivered by the DTP is in providing funding to enable students to undertake doctoral research projects. Approximately 80 such students are recruited each year, across a range of fields. In recent years, the approximate number of projects available in each area has been 30 in Engineering, 15 in Physics, 10 in Chemistry, 10 in Mathematics, 5 in Chemical Engineering, 5 in Computing and 5 in Materials Science. A small number of studentships are also funded in areas of Physical Science relating to Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences and Architecture. 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 Scholar Scheme. PhD projects funded through the DTP are typically hosted in research groups which are recognised as delivering internationally excellent and world leading outputs. There is also significant focus on links with industrial partners, in order to deliver impact, including CASE studentships via which students have the opportunity to develop significant links with a company. In addition to the skills gained during the PhD research, students also undertake a Researcher Development programme, with courses and activities tailored to their needs and selected from a wide range of provision. This equips 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 around ten Doctoral Prizes each year, allowing students at the end of their doctoral studies to progress to research assistant or research associate posts, enabling them to move high quality work to publication or to transfer technologies. An additional opportunity is the funding of around fifteen vacation bursaries each year, enabling the best undergraduate students to gain a first experience of research in order to assess whether they wish to progress to doctoral training after their undergraduate degree. Further information about the Cambridge EPSRC DTP is available at: http://www.cam.ac.uk/doctoral-training Applications from eligible students can be considered by host Departments throughout the year, but students wishing to begin projects in October are encouraged to apply by early December the previous year. Students from groups currently underrepresented in Engineering and Physical Science subjects are particularly encouraged to apply.
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