EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Collaborative Computational Modelling at the Interface

Collaborative Computational Modelling at the Interface (CCMI) is an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) collaboration between University College London (UCL) and Imperial College London, offering a fully funded 4-year PhD programme, commencing September 2025.

We offer a bespoke cohort training programme including dedicated block workshops, software weeks, summer schools, and more. We will support 70-80 students, over five cohorts. We provide research opportunities across computational mathematics, scientific algorithms, high-performance computing, research software engineering, data sciences, and applications. We have external partners ranging from innovative SMEs to world-leading HPC labs.

Applications now open for the 2025/2026 cohort!

Please visit our online portal to submit an application to the CCMI CDT. The deadline for applications is January 15th 2025, 17:00 (GMT)

CCMI CDT rests on three pillars:

1. A four-year research thesis on the interface of computational sciences, research software engineering and data sciences, resulting in a PhD degree from UCL or Imperial. A list of projects offered for 2025 can be found on our website.
2. Collaborative interface working groups (CIWGs) - cohort based, weeklong working groups, delivering the core topical training programme that every student completes. CIWGs include an introduction to research topics, research and software landscape overviews, exploration of current research challenges, and a discovery phase for future trends and open challenges. In contrast to traditional lectures, CIWGs centre around learning how to be an effective researcher and will contain significant student led components.
3. A software journey, designed to offer every student superb training to become a world class research software engineer. Students will collaborate on a diverse range of open-source software projects. Students will learn how to focus ideas, develop minimum viable products, pitch ideas to stakeholders, and collaborate as teams. This will be supported by a dedicated termly software week with software sprints, progress talks and external seminars delivered by partners.

How to apply

Initially, submit a written application to our online submission system. If shortlisted, this is followed by a formal interview (interview questions provided in advance). If you are successful at the interview, we will ask for your preferred research projects and match you with a suitable project before an offer is made.

Our full application process is on our website.

Minimum entry requirements

UK Master's degree with Merit or a minimum upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant work experience may be considered.

Relevant disciplines are broadly STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Related disciplines at the interface of STEM may be considered. During the application stage, we will assess suitability of your technical background.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1.

UKRI-funded studentships are open to UK (home) and international students. The number of places available to international applicants is limited. For international applicants, any offers are conditional on fees being waived at the host university for the project.

If you have additional queries, not addressed on our website, please email arc.ccmi-cdt@ucl.ac.uk.