EPSRC to deliver £184m in doctoral funding over two years

(Credit: Kaiwikimom via CC)

Forty-one UK universities will share in the money that will support doctoral training over a four-year period, with funds allocated to students entering training in the academic years beginning October 2018 and October 2019.

According to the EPSRC, it supports 9,000 post-doctoral students each year either via DTPs, Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTS) and Industrial Case studentships. After completing PhDs around 39 per cent of doctoral students go on to be employed in business or public services, 39 per cent go on to work in academia and 22 per cent training or work in other sectors.

“This year we are allocating £184 million to universities via Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs),” said EPSRC’s chief executive, Professor Philip Nelson.

“These will cover a two-year period, giving institutions certainty and time to plan their DTP programmes, and support excellent doctoral students. The DTPs have produced some outstanding examples of new thinking and helped further the careers of a new generation of researchers who will be the leaders of the future.”

The announcement was made by Business Secretary Greg Clark during a visit to YASA Motors in Oxford where he opened a production facility.  YASA Motors is a spin-out from the University of Oxford, which has received an allocation of £13.6 million to use for its DTPs.

“Doctoral Training Partnerships have an excellent record of providing universities with funding that supports doctoral students as they undertake ground-breaking research,” said Clark. “This research and expertise underpins the creation of innovative companies like YASA Motors.”

“Through our commitment to increasing research and development funding by a further £2.3 billion to 2021/22, we are ensuring that the next generation of engineers and scientists will continue to thrive under our modern and ambitious Industrial Strategy.”

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