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Application Process

We are currently accepting PhD applications from home fee students for a number of funded PhD projects starting this autumn.

There are 3 stages to our application process

  1. Application:
    You apply to the CDT programme regardless of which university/project you have chosen.
  2. Selection:
    The CDT management team and project supervisors consider all submitted applications, perform interview panels, and make PhD funding offers.
  3. Registration:
    Successful candidates then submit a formal application to the university hosting their chosen PhD project through the university’s normal application portal.

CDT Applicant ID

Unique ID

  • Create a unique random applicant ID
  • Your initials followed by the last 4 digits from your phone number
  • Use exactly the same ID on every form

CDT Application Forms

Complete 3 forms

  1. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (strongly encouraged)
  2. Personal Details (mandatory)
  3. Project Application (mandatory)
Form 1: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

This form is optional. The purpose is to:

  • Comply with funding agency requirements.
  • Inform our EDI Strategy and monitor progress towards our goals.
  • Analyse the effectiveness of our EDI policies and processes.

This data will be collected and treated anonymously to ensure privacy and confidentiality. The information will not form the basis of any part of selection process. This information will only be used for statistics (we will not report any individual’s data in isolation) for the CDT management and advisory board. The data will be managed by the CDT project manager or their nominee.

Link to EDI form
Form 2: Personal Details – MANDATORY FORM

Information from this will be kept separate from the main application form. The data will be administered by the CDT manager or their nominee. The data will be used to

  • communicate with you;
  • request references from your referees;
  • monitor interview offers to underrepresented groups and
  • make decisions about widening participation enhanced stipends.

You must complete this form.

Link to Personal Details Form
Form 3: Project Application Form – MANDATORY FORM
  • You must complete this form.
  • This form is used to make shortlisting decisions. It will also be available to interviewers.
  • It will be seen by academics at the universities. It may also be seen by the relevant project partner, if you applied for one of their projects.
  • Please anonymise your answers, e.g., use your applicant ID and not your name.

Below is guidance on how to complete the sections.

Statement of Motivation

In your answer please consider:

  1. Why you want to study for a PhD?
  2. Why do you want to study for a PhD within the CDT in Sustainable Sound Futures?
  3. How has your education given you the skills and knowledge to join the CDT?
  4. Any experiences outside education that are relevant to your application.

Project selection and proposal

Please describe:

  • What particular skills and knowledge you want to develop during your research.
  • Your research interests. Link this to the project you’d most like to research as well as discussing your broader interests.
  • How they align with the CDT’s aim to create a more Sustainable Sound Future.
Link to Project Application Form

Widening participation

We are keen to support applicants from underrepresented groups in Acoustics Research. Our focus is on applicants who have one or more of the following characteristics:

  1. Female (as currently about 4 in 5 professionals in Acoustics are male).
  2. Has a home postcode (i.e., the postcode you used to apply to university through UCAS) that is listed as ‘quintile 1’ or ‘quintile 2’ in the POLAR4 column on the POLAR checking tool.
  3. Identifies as having a disability. The term ‘disability’ is quite broad, and further definitions of what might be considered a ‘disability’ can be found under the Equality Act 2010.
  4. Are a first-generation student (you are the first person in your family to go to university).
  5. Are a mature student (you were aged 21 or over when you started your first undergraduate course).
  6. Are a care-experienced or an estranged student.

If you meet one of the above criteria, we will do an interview provided your application passes essential selection criteria.

If you receive a CDT funding offer and you meet one of the criteria 2-6, the CDT Management Team will also consider you for a widening participation enhanced stipend. (Note, there are a small number of these available each year.)

FAQ

Applicant FAQ

Questions?

Please email us