The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will launch its latest Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) funding opportunity in November 2022.

The funding opportunity will close to outline applications in February 2023.

Supporting next generation researchers
Funded CDTs will support the next generation of internationally-recognised doctoral researchers who will go on to generate impact across academia, industry, the third sector and government.

Each CDT will need to address:

key engineering and physical sciences challenges aligned to the 7 cross cutting priorities as described in the EPSRC strategic delivery plan 2022 to 2025
regional, national or global drivers and opportunities
Additionally, applicants for a CDT will need to choose one of the following focus areas under which they will apply and be assessed. This should be the key driver for the CDT’s vision.

Focus areas
Focus areas for CDTs are:

meeting a user-need or supporting civic priorities, or both:
centres must be co-developed and co-delivered with non-academic partners, as well as demonstrating significant co-investment by those stakeholders
delivering an EPSRC research priority:
centres supporting research and innovation across the EPSRC remit and addressing government priorities
supporting an innovative approach to CDT delivery:
an opportunity for centres to design a new CDT model
EPSRC expects to support about 40 CDTs through the funding opportunity.

The actual number will vary depending on the level of partnership funding generated by bids and continued considerations of future financial pressures.

Agile CDT opportunities
The overall budget for the funding opportunity reflects a move to more agile and frequent CDT opportunities, subject to future funding availability.

This is in line with a recommendation from the review of EPSRC-funded doctoral education.

The CDT scheme is one of EPSRC’s 3 training schemes by which we support doctoral education, alongside Doctoral Training Partnerships and Industrial CASE awards.