UCL is training 60 to 80 new doctoral researchers each year across mathematics, physics, engineering, and the built environment, alongside shorter fellowships and summer bursaries for undergraduates. This matters because the UK needs a steady pipeline of skilled researchers to keep its science and technology sectors competitive. The abstract notes that over 50% of UCL’s student population now studies at postgraduate level, and the university’s doctoral training partnership (DTP) is designed to recruit the best candidates and give them world-class supervision, transferable skills training, and exposure to industry collaboration. Without such structured programmes, the gap between academic training and real-world application would widen, and fewer graduates would move into roles that drive innovation. If the DTP succeeds, it will produce research leaders who can tackle complex problems—from conceptual mathematics to environmental engineering to the design of the built environment. The impact is not immediate or consumer-facing; it is about building the human capital that underpins future breakthroughs in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and digital systems. The programme also allocates over 10% of awards to industry-linked CASE conversions and supports international scholars, ensuring the research community remains globally connected.
View original technical description
Research students are the backbone of UCL's research community, and an investment into the future research leaders in both academia and industry, with over 50% of UCL's current student population studying at postgraduate level. Within the Faculties of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment there were 1,980 students in the 2016/17 academic year studying on research degrees. Our doctoral community is strengthened through the 17 EPSRC-funded Centres for Doctoral Training that UCL hosts, or is in partnership with, which complements our Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) allocation. Our overarching strategy for our DTP is to fairly, and transparently recruit the best candidates, to provide them with world class supervision, support, and training opportunities, to support their career development, opportunities to generate impact from their work, and create a challenging and stimulating environment which fully exposes them to the world of research and collaboration opportunities. The range and diversity of subject areas addressed by our DTP provision is unique in spanning from the conceptual theories of mathematics, physics and astronomy, to complex strands of mechanical, digital and environmental engineering, to the analysis and design of the actual built environment that surrounds us. The spectrum covered by, and the interconnections between, these subject areas help to produce doctoral research that is of demonstrable social and economic benefit not only to Britain, but also globally. We use our DTP flexibly to support: a) 4 year, fully-funded studentships to offer outstanding candidates comprehensive training and research opportunities b) Collaboration with industry through the DTP CASE Conversion studentships c) 2 year postdoctoral fellowships, through the Doctoral Prize to enable excellent graduates to develop their own independence d) Talented and promising undergraduate students to undertake summer research projects through the Vacation Bursaries scheme e) The retention of excellent international students under the International Doctoral Scholar flexibility quota Through the DTP we aim to offer 60-80 studentships per year, along with 9-10 Doctoral Prize Fellowships and up to 40 Vacation Bursaries. We allocate over 10% of awards as Case Conversion to reflect our commitment to collaboration and our close relationship with industry. In line with the 10% quota we offer c.16 International Doctoral Scholar awards annually. DTP awards are distributed across the breadth of the STEM subject areas and are advertised each year by departments, with various deadlines which span the academic year. All our doctoral students are members of the UCL Doctoral School, which provides high quality training and resources. The Doctoral Skills programme provides the students with a comprehensive range of transferable skills training, including research ethics, public engagement, outreach, and impact, in addition to opportunities to attend masters level modules, CPD training and external courses. Our focus on interdisciplinary research enables studentships to be shared between departments or faculties and contributes to the forging of strong collaborative relationships both internally and externally. Our Research portfolio is broadly shaped around the UCL Grand Challenges, the Government's Eight Great Technologies, and the priorities of the Research Councils. The Institutional level Doctoral Training Strategy Committee has overall responsibility for all the doctoral training undertaken as UCL. The DTP is overseen by the Doctoral Training Governance Board, with the Doctoral Training Manager having day-to-day oversight. Faculties and Departments allocate awards in line with their strategic priorities and areas for growth. This process is both bottom-up and top-down which ensures comprehensive coverage and flexibility.
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know