What is a CDT?

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutes (HEIs) in England.

UKRI’s vision is to creat an outstanding research and innovation system giving everyone the opportunity to contribute and benefit, enriching all our lives. Through it’s nine research councils UKRI funds research in all areas. As part of its remit, in November 2022 UKRI, launched a call for outline proposals for Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) to deliver high quality, cohort-based doctoral training in the applications and implications of novel and existing AI technologies.

What is a Centre for Doctoral Training and how does it work?

A CDT is:-

• A programme of doctoral student training (such as PhD, EngD), to support innovation, skills development, and responsible leadership, in research and industry.
• Focused on a specific topic or theme within engineering and physical sciences
• Normally led by one HEI but can also be by partnering several others with complementary strengths/expertise. A grant is awarded to support the Centre, typically for 9 years.
• Each year, the Centre is expected to recruit a minimum of 10 students for 4 years (termed a 4-year studentship), to provide a cohort-based approach to training.
• A 9-year award therefore equates to 5 years of student cohorts and at least 50 students across the grant lifetime. The last cohort joins the Centre in the 5th year and completes their training in the 9th year.
• The grant funding will normally provide financial support for a proportion of the students. It is typically expected that additional students must be supported by non-UKRI funds (i.e., from the HEI or from industry partners).
• Studentship costs include fees, stipends and research training support for student individual projects.
• The last EPSRC CDT competition was held in 2018 – information can be found on the UKRI and EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) website.

Key points to note:-

• CDTs are focused on training, not research, and therefore require evidence (normally through engagement with industry partners) of a national need for PhD candidates to be trained in that specific topic or theme. In particular, the diverse skillset that each student will gain needs to be one that industry agrees they need and will support.
• Letters of Support (LOSs) from industry partners illustrate and confirm how important the proposed new CDT will be. A company can pledge support in various ways:
  • cash to fund studentships;
  • an in-kind commitment such as offering internships;
  • by enabling students to use company facilities and staff time to support a student’s research and training.

• A cohort-based approach to training provides a more collegiate environment, with an informal support structure and opportunities for collaboration/networking.

• Students will have the chance to develop connections within the academic and work environments that will shape their future careers