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Sponsoring a CDT Project

Sponsoring a PhD project is a highly cost-effective way to drive relevant leading-edge research that your organisation is unable to undertake in-house due to factors such as expertise, equipment or funding.

As a sponsor, you work with us to identify a medium-term research project that benefits your organisation but also has the academic depth needed for doctorate study. You might also provide case studies, data, access to facilities and/or offer the student a placement opportunity. You will be involved in the student’s supervision via periodic progress meetings.  Many research students will go on to join their sponsors in key technical roles. 

Both the PhD student and your staff will benefit from effective knowledge transfer through the CDT’s activities. In addition to gaining skills and insights from your project student, their supervisory team, the wider cohort and your staff will have the opportunity to impart industry-specific skills and insights to our students. 

Intellectual Property Rights

A PhD project is a close partnership between the partner and the University, and usually there will be joint outputs and publications. We follow a reasonable approach to IP arrangements and publication (i.e. sponsor prior approval, removal of sensitive information, etc). All arrangements are set out in the studentship contract negotiated between your organisation and the university hosting the PhD student.

Both the research student and your staff will benefit from effective knowledge transfer through the CDT’s activities. In addition to gaining skills and insights from your project student, their supervisory team and the wider cohort, your staff will have the opportunity to impart industry-specific skills and insights to our students. 

Industry partner studentship contributions

Partner contributions mostly contribute to the direct costs of a PhD studentship. These direct costs cover:

  • A tax-free stipend based on the standard UKRI rate for PhD students.
  • UK home tuition fees.
  • Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), which covers costs of carrying out research such as lab consumables, travel to conferences, access to facilities etc.

This is up to £135,000 per student over the lifetime of the PhD (up to 4 years full-time), and our current partners are funding all or part of these studentship costs. Funding all of the direct studentship costs provides an organisation with greater control over Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). However, various studentship funding models are available and can be tailored to your organisation or PhD project requirements. We can also tailor a PhD for employees to study part-time.

Sponsors may also be eligible for Research and Development Tax Credits from HM Revenue & Customs.  

We also welcome smaller contributions to travel and widening participation awards. 

EPSRC & University studentship contributions

Sponsored PhD students also receive substantial co-funding from EPSRC and their host university: 

  • Free access to the CDT’s cohort training programme including summer schools (funded by EPSRC, £25k) 
  • Enhanced stipends for widening participation (funded by EPSRC, £8k).
  • A limited number of fee wavers to cover the difference between national and international tuition fees (funded by universities, £50-90k). 
  • Early Career Researcher (ECR) skills training
  • Professional Development training