The University of Nottingham

More than 1,200 PhD students will have their studies funded thanks to record levels of funding success at The University of Nottingham.

Over the last year, the University has had unprecedented success in securing awards totalling £162m to support a growth in doctoral studentships.

The funding is a significant investment in postgraduate education, enabling 1,295 students to train, thanks to the creation of seven new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) and the extension of five existing Centres.

Talent of the future

Five of the 12 CDTs will be led by Nottingham, and all 12 will train the brightest young postgraduates to tackle pressing global challenges and keep the UK at the cutting edge of scientific research. Around 45 per cent (577) of the studentships will be based at Nottingham.

£72m of the new investment is from Research Councils, with a further £56m from other Higher Education Institutes and £34m from a range of industries. Over 175 industry partners are also involved across the centres, with support ranging from sponsorship of studentships, guest lecturing and training, placement and internships, staff and support time and access to facilities and equipment.

Professor Saul Tendler, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University, said: “This huge success delivers an outstanding range of world-class postgraduate doctoral training opportunities that will further contribute to our strong portfolio of research.

“The University has developed significant expertise in leading and partnering such initiatives, and by working collaboratively with partner institutions we are able to provide world-class training facilities for the scientists of the future.”

Previous success

The University has historically been very successful in securing Research Council funding to support the training of the next generation of researchers through its portfolio of DTCs. Nottingham already leads a social science ESRC Doctoral Training Centre awarded in 2011; an investment of over £10m over six cohorts will see the Centre host nearly two hundred students.

In 2012, in collaboration with Rothamsted Research, the University was awarded £6m from the BBSRC to host a DTP providing world-class training programme in Biotechnology and Biological Sciences supporting over a hundred students.

The International Doctoral Innovation Centre (IDIC) was established at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China campus in 2012, this venture focuses on energy technologies and digital economy and represents a £17m investment by The University of Nottingham, Ningbo Bureau of Education, Ningbo Bureau of Science and Technology, EPSRC and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.