NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership

Applications for PhDs starting Autumn 2022 are now open!

We are now accepting applications for PhD projects commencing Autumn 2022 covering the full breadth of Earth, Environmental, Geographic and Life Sciences. Subject to the availability of funding, up to 24 fully funded studentships are available comprising:

• An index-linked stipend for 3.5 years at the standard UKRI rate, currently £15,609 p.a. for 2021/22;
• University tuition fees paid at the standard UKRI rate, currently £4,500 p.a;
• A research budget of £11,000 for lab, field,research and conference expenses;
• An individual training budget of £3,250 for specialist training courses, summer schools, workshops and travel and accommodation.

Some projects are co-developed with industrial, commercial and charity end-users of research and provide additional benefits.

Our comprehensive PhD Researcher Training Programme

The GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) consists of the GW4 Alliance of the world-class research-intensive Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter and Cardiff University plus five unique and prestigious Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Drawing upon the resources of these institutions and our government, business, charity and research partners, we provide a comprehensive and effective training programme for our PhD researchers which includes:

• In house training in transferable skills e.g. statistics, programming, presenting, communicating;
• Advanced training in specialised research skills required for specific projects (using your individual training budget);
• Training in academic writing and publishing, creative thinking and research networking;
• Resilience and wellbeing;
• Multi-disciplinary training events and conferences aimed at developing scientific networking and collaboration;
• Public engagement and outreach to the next generation of scientists
• A full careers development programme, including the opportunity to undertake paid internships of up to 3 months in science policy making, science consultancy, conservation, technology, business, exploration and research both in the UK and overseas.

Our comprehensive and effective training and careers development programme is designed to prepare our PhD researchers to take on future leadership roles in science, technology, business and policy making.

Academic requirements and eligibility

We welcome applications from students in relevant natural and applied science disciplines e.g. the Earth, Environmental, Geographic and Life Sciences, physics, engineering, mathematics, statistics and computer programming. Please email the project supervisor (see project description) of the projects you are interested in if you have any questions about academic requirements.

Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a first- or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. Applicants with a lower second-class degree will be considered if they also have a master’s degree or relevant professional experience.

Application for full studentships are open to UK and Irish national residents (‘Home’ students). A limited number of full studentships are also available to international students, including EU (excluding Irish nationals), EEA, Swiss and other non-UK nationals.

Rules for qualifying as a ‘Home’ student are complex and we can only check your eligibility during shortlisting for interview.

How to apply

Please follow instructions at the end of each individual project description. If you require any assistance, please use the contact us form on our website

Application deadline: 2359 hours GMT Monday 10 January 2022. Interviews are expected to take place between 23 February and 9 March 2022.