The application process for a CDT studentship can be highly variable, depending on the funding Research Council, the university you study at and the CDT itself. As a result, you should find and follow the application guidelines for the specific CDT studentship you apply for.
In any case, a prospective postgraduate student will not apply for a CDT studentship to the UK Research Council directly. Instead, you will apply either directly to the CDT or to the ‘host’ university you will be based at.
CDT studentships are awarded annually, although the deadline for applications can differ depending on the CDT studentship. Studentships are allocated in open competition for a pre-set number of awards.
For some CDT programmes, you will need to be accepted for PhD study at a university first and apply for funding afterwards. In other cases, you may apply for both a PhD position and CDT funding in parallel – this could be pre-funded or require you to coordinate the PhD and funding applications yourself.
Likewise, the CDT studentship may be a pre-set PhD project or your own project proposal – both will require different application processes.
Again, depending on the PhD discipline, the studentship and the university, different application materials may need to be supplied. This can include, but is not limited to:
You may also need to contact a potential PhD supervisor if you have not already been accepted onto a PhD programme.
All CDT studentships provide generous funding and training. As result, they are very competitive. Studentships are only awarded to the best applicant with strong applications. Generally, applicants need to show academic achievement in a relevant field, excellent skills and ability, and an aptitude or potential to succeed in doctoral research. Remember to check specific eligibility requirements for your desired CDT studentship.
Find out more about applying for a Research Council studentship.