FAQs

A: We embed our innovative training programme into your doctoral research scholarship, preparing you for a career in the offshore wind industry.

All students take a six-month intensive training programme and then benefit from our Continued Professional Development (CPD) provision throughout their scholarship.

For more information, visit our Training pages.

A: Over five intakes of students, from 2024-2028, we will recruit a diverse range of students, including some international applicants.

A: A Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) is group of research organisations (universities and industry partners) combining research and expertise to support and train doctoral students. CDT programmes provide funded studentships providing financial support for doctoral tuition fees and a doctoral stipend for the full course of study.

A: We enrolled the first students into our EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience in September 2024 (recruitment is complete for 2024 entry).

A further four cohorts will join us from 2025-2028.

Recruitment is currently closed. Please check our Scholarships page for updates on recruitment for September 2025 entry.

We have already recruited five cohorts into the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy and the Environment, which began on 16 September 2019.

A: Recruitment is currently closed. If you are interested in applying for a PhD Scholarship with September 2025 entry, please check our Scholarships page for updates.

Information on research projects being undertaken by cohorts 1 -5 of our Aura CDT in Offshore Wind Energy and the Environment may be found on our Research Projects page.

A: Our applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a first class honours degree OR a Masters and an upper second class honours degree OR a distinction at Masters level with any undergraduate degree.

Applications for each Research Project Scholarship will have specific requirements. Generally, we offer opportunities for graduates of a wide range of academic and working backgrounds including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Science, Exercise Science, Engineering, Geography, Geology, Marine and Earth Science, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology and Statistics.

All applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong interest in offshore wind and the environment.

A: We only consider online applications using the official forms. Applications are made via the admissions system of the university where your potential research project is based. If you have not applied with that university before, you will need to set up an account to enable you to track the progress of your application and upload supporting documents.

You may contact auracdt@hull.ac.uk if you require any further advice around applications.

A: Yes, we welcome part-time students at the Offshore Wind CDT.  However, Scholarships for part-time students are only available for UK students, due to Visa restrictions. Please contact auracdt@hull.ac.uk if you have specific questions about part-time study.

A: Please see our Research Projects page where we list all research projects currently being undertaken by Cohorts 1 – 5 of the EPSRC-NERC Aura CDT in Offshore Wind Energy and the Environment.

When we open recruitment, we also add the Doctoral Scholarship research projects that are open to applicants of our EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience.

Research projects are varied and reflect offshore wind industry challenges but all fit within our Research Themes.

A: We don’t require a research proposal for applicants as you apply to a specific project, so the research proposal is already defined.

A: No, you do not need to give us details of a specific academic you would like to work with. To join the Offshore Wind CDT you apply to a specific research projects, so the supervisory team is already defined.

If you wish ask questions before applying, please direct these to auracdt@hull.ac.uk and we will ensure that your query is answered. We ask you not to contact supervisors directly.

A: Following the initial six-month intensive training programme, students are based at the university of their lead academic supervisor and will graduate from that institution. Dependent on the research project and lead supervisor, this will be either the University of Durham, Hull, Loughborough or Sheffield.