How to apply

The CDT is funded by the EPSRC, allowing us to provide scholarships that cover fees plus a stipend set at the UKRI nationally agreed rates. These have been set by UKRI as £20,780 per annum at 2025/26 rates and will increase in line with the EPSRC guidelines for the subsequent years (subject to progress).

Our funded Doctoral Scholarships are available to UK Students. The advertised CDT scholarships in this current recruitment round are available to Home (UK) Students only as the CDT has reached the annual cap, set by the funding council (UKRI EPSRC), on international student recruitment for the 2025 intake. To be considered a Home student, and therefore eligible for a full award, a student must have no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the scholarship (with some further constraint regarding residence for education). 

The CDT is committed to generating a diverse and inclusive training programme and is looking to attract applicants from all backgrounds. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for home fee status candidates who identify as Black or Black mixed or Asian or Asian mixed if they meet the programme entry requirements. This positive action is to support recruitment of these under-represented ethnic groups to our programme and is an opt in process.

Find out more

Recruitment is open until Friday 9 May for EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience scholarships beginning study in September 2025. 

Applications are made directly to the University where the PhD project is based using a link provided in the ‘How to apply’ section of that project description. This will take you to the correct University online application portal where you will make your application. Specific instructions are given on each project page, but we have provided a broad overview below. 

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. 

With your application, you need to upload copies of the following supporting evidence:

– Complete transcripts (and final degree certificate(s) where possible). If your qualification documents are not in English, you will need to supply copies of your original language documents as well as their official translation into English.

– Your Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

– A completed Supplementary Application Form (please upload according to instructions on the project page).

The Supplementary Application form may be downloaded here.

Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the Aura CDT website before you apply to give you a good understanding of what a CDT is, our CDT’s research focus and the training and continuing professional development programme that runs alongside the CDT. The  Frequently asked questions  page and  Candidate resources  page are essential reading prior to applying. 

Ensure you complete all sections of the Supplementary Application Form in font and size Calibri 11pt, specify the research project you are applying for. Once fully completed, you should upload the form with your application:

– University of Hull – please upload when asked to add a Research Proposal (the Form replaces the Research Proposal which is not needed for this application). 

– Loughborough University – please upload as part of your supporting evidence documentation. 

– University of Sheffield – please upload when asked to add Supporting Statement. The Form replaces the Supporting Statement and so you do not need to complete the Supporting Statement section. 

(You will also be asked for your degree transcripts during the application process). Please do not send your form directly to the Aura CDT. 

If you have any queries about the CDT please email auracdt@hull.ac.uk.

Interviews will be held online with an interview panel comprising of project supervisory team members from the host university where the project is based.  Where the project involves external supervisors from university partners or industry sponsors then representatives from these partners may form part of the interview panel and your supplementary application form will be shared with them (with the guaranteed interview scheme section removed). Interviews will take place during early and mid-June.