The University of Southampton is training over 3,000 postgraduate research students, the majority within EPSRC remit, using roughly £5 million per year in doctoral training partnership funding. This matters because the UK needs a steady pipeline of skilled researchers to sustain its position in engineering and physical sciences. Southampton currently ranks in the top six UK universities for EPSRC-funded research income, with 97% of its REF 2014 research judged world-leading or internationally excellent. The training programme covers most EPSRC themes, from fundamental science to industrially relevant work, and actively encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. If successful, this training model produces future leaders who can drive innovation across sectors—from manufacturing and energy to computing and healthcare. The university’s Doctoral College provides structured support, transparent admissions, and diversity training to attract the best students regardless of background. Over 40% of Southampton’s research portfolio involves significant collaboration with companies, from SMEs to blue-chip corporates, meaning many students gain partial external funding and real-world impact experience. This multiplies the number of studentships while enhancing training quality.
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The University of Southampton ranks consistently in the top 6 UK Universities for EPSRC-funded peer-reviewed research income, currently in receipt of almost £200m & is one of EPSRCs Framework Partners. In REF 2014, 97% of our research was judged as world leading or internationally excellent. 90% of our research impact was rated world leading & we rank in the top 3 universities worldwide for the quality of spinouts. We are training over 3,000 postgraduate research students, the majority within the EPSRC remit. Covering the vast majority of the EPSRC themes, our research spans the spectrum of activity from fundamental science to industrially relevant research. As well as undertaking core research in individual disciplines, we actively encourage interdisciplinary collaboration amongst strategic research groups, and with our research institutes these provide PGR opportunities for cross-cutting, leading-edge research environments. The training and supporting of PGRs to develop future leaders is vital to our mission. They form an integral part of our research community making important joint contributions and adding intellectual vitality. To embed this philosophy at all levels, the University has established a Doctoral College http://www.southampton.ac.uk/doctoral-college (DC) to provide: an inspiring research environment & support the development of independent researcher leaders a vibrant environment to help PGRs to connect & collaborate with researchers from other disciplines & exploit their potential impact a route to oversee & enhance the support, training & monitoring of PGRs at group, faculty & University level policy, training & advice to supervisors to guide PGRs to achieve their full potential To attract the very best students regardless of background, we run a transparent admissions process with a common application form, selection against a person specification, and all selectors receive diversity training. All Faculty Graduate Schools provide an extensive range of courses that broaden & deepen the technical skills of our Doctoral Researchers (e.g. http://www.gradschool.fpse.soton.ac.uk/training&courses#AU). Every student has an initial (& then annual) academic needs analysis that identifies any subject specific gaps & involves an assessment of their personal, professional & research skills. All PGRs must complete an ethics course. Monitoring & logging of all PGR progression & training activity is through a web-based PGR Tracker system. Each year EPSRC awards four-year DTP funding to the University of about £5m. The PVC Research & Enterprise is responsible for internal allocation, advised by a panel of 4 senior academics from Engineering, ICT, Physical Sciences & Mathematical Sciences, chaired by the Director of the DC. Once provisional DTP funding allocation is received from EPSRC the panel distributes it strategically to support the research mission of the University, EPSRC strategy & cross council initiatives, taking into account the EPSRC themes where the DTP has been earned. The panel provides a strong steer on DTP use (e.g., support of new initiatives, new staff, particular interdisciplinary areas etc). Detailed allocation of funding to projects occurs at Faculty level who report back on their implementation of strategy. Up to ten Doctoral Prizes are awarded, based on a written case, presentation & interview with the DTP panel. Competition is fierce with almost 4 applications for each place. CASE conversion is a strategic priority and well over 10% of the DTP is reserved and distributed through a University wide competition. Some 40% of our research portfolio involves a significant collaboration with companies that range from SMEs to blue chip corporates. As a result, many PGRs also receive partial external funding, enabling us to substantially multiply the number of DTP studentships, whilst enhancing the training experience & the opportunities for impact
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