Doctoral Training Partnerships

Bangor University are delighted to offer fully funded Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) (ESRC DTP) studentships starting in October 2025 in the following pathway subject areas.

• Bilingualism/Linguistics
• Psychology
• Sport and Exercise Science
• Criminology and Law
• Sociology/Science and Technology Studies
• Data Science, Health and Wellbeing
• Education
• Social Work, Social Care, and Social Policy
• Economics
• Management and Business
• Environmental Planning

Entry Criteria:    

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equivalent to an UK honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.   

Duration of study:   

The duration of study varies from 3.5 to 4.5 years full time (or part time equivalent).     

The duration study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.   

Research in practice placement:   
All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.    

International Eligibility:   

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.     

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:  

WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.    

Assessment:   

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions 

How to apply:   

Applications should be received no later than 11/12/24 including all required documents. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered.    

All applications should be submitted using the following links (please use the correct email address for the pathway being submitted to:

• Bilingualism/Linguistics – bilingwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Psychology – psychwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Sport and Exercise Science –      spexwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Criminology and Law – crimwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Sociology/Science and Technology Studies – socwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Data Science, Health and Wellbeing -dshwbwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Education eduwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Social Work, Social Care, and Social Policy – socialworkwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Economics econwgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Management and Business businesswgsss@bangor.ac.uk
• Environmental Planning envirowgsss@bangor.ac.uk

Please include the following documents with your application:   

• WGSSS Application Form 

• Academic CV (two pages maximum) 

• 2 academic or professional references (candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application. The reference must detail the applicant’s research strengths). 

• Degree certificates and Transcripts (including translations if applicable)   

• If relevant, proof of English Language Competency (see institutional requirements for entry)  

Funding:   

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £19,237) and includes access to a Research Training Support Grant.    

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.    

The Envision Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) brings together a powerful group of UK researchers with industry and non-governmental organisations’ partners to provide a new generation of environmental scientists with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to take on the challenges of a changing world. Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Members

• Lancaster University 
• University of Nottingham
• Bangor University
• the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
• British Geological Survey
• Rothamsted Research

Applications are now open for October 2025. 

Check out the available projects here

Apply here

NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Real-Time Digital Water-Based Systems (RED-ALERT CDT)

RED-ALERT CDT's will train a new generation of leaders to transform how we manage aquatic environmental health via Real-Time Digital Water-Based Systems. 

Red-ALERT convenes private, government, regulatory/public sector organisations with world-leading researchers in genetics, ecotoxicology, sensor technology, Internet of Things, autonomous real-time data collection, mathematical modelling & data analytics.

The Red-ALERT CDT has been co-developed, and works collaboratively, with partners across industrial and government agencies.

Red-Alert CDT

The Medical Research Council (MRC) / National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP) aims to improve health by improving trials. Our MRC Doctoral Training Partnership presents an opportunity to undertake training for a PhD in trials methodology.

DTP projects are available in various areas including statistics, data analytics and informatics, computer science, health economics, qualitative methods, mixed-methods, clinical medicine and psychology.

Students will become members of the TMRP, offering a broader spectrum of training activities and networking opportunities beyond their host Research Organisation. Students will be encouraged to join relevant TMRP working groups, where they will meet other PhD students, post-doctoral researchers and senior academic staff from relevant and complementary research themes. In addition to a structured ‘core’ training programme, we are able to provide a range of more specific training that students may choose to attend following consultation with their supervisors.

Members

• University of Aberdeen

• Bangor University

• University of Birmingham

• University of Cambridge

• University of Glasgow

• Institute of Cancer Research

• University of Leeds

• University of Liverpool

• Newcastle University

• University of Plymouth

• Queen Mary University London

• University College London

PhD Studentship opportunities for 2025 entry

Applications are now open for October 2025. The closing date for applications is 13th January 2025.

Available projects from Bangor University:

• Value of funding research that is substantially comparable to a previously failed randomised controlled trial in terms of the question being addressed (PHOENIX).
• How should the environmental impact of medicines be considered in the context of trial outcomes?
• Developing linked pharmacometric-pharmacoeconomic analyses to inform clinical trial design.

Before making an application, applicants should contact the project supervisor to find out more about the project and to discuss their interests in the research before 6th January 2025.

The application form is available online at: https://mrctmrpdtp.com/current-opportunities/

Please complete the form fully. Incomplete forms will not be considered. CVs will not be accepted for this scheme. Please apply giving details for your first choice project. You can provide details of up to two other TMRP DTP projects you may be interested in (from any of the partner Universities) at section B of the application form.

Completed application forms must be returned to: enquiries@methodologyhubs.mrc.ac.uk. The deadline for applications is 12 noon (GMT) 13th January 2025. Late applications will not be considered.

Link to TMRP DTP

The AIMLAC Centre for Doctoral Training provides 4-year, fully funded PhD opportunities across the broad areas of particle physics and astronomy, biological and health, and mathematical and computer sciences.

The CDT is built upon longstanding research and training collaborations between the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Bristol, Cardiff, and Swansea. In addition, Supercomputing Wales and the University Computing Academies provide bespoke support via Research Software Engineers and access to HPC facilities in a coordinated fashion. 

Please visit  CDT website for more details about the centre and how to apply.

A limited number of positions is available for international students, including fees and bursaries.

Training

The programme consists of a substantial training component in the first year, including cohort-based training in AI and computational methods, to establish a common base. Engagement with our external partners is embedded throughout and includes a short-term placement in Year 2 and a further 6-month placement across Years 2/3. Transferable skills training is delivered via residential meetings, at our annual CDT conference, and in cooperation with the Alan Turing Institute. More details can be found on the Training and Events pages.

Research

Our doctoral training programme is constructed around three research themes:

• T1: data from large science facilities (particle physics, astronomy, cosmology)
• T2: biological, health and clinical sciences (medical imaging, electronic health records, bioinformatics)
• T3: novel mathematical, physical, and computer science approaches (data, hardware, software, algorithms)

While the themes are diverse as academic disciplines, in our CDT they are linked through the use of AI, machine learning and advanced computing methods. Therefore, a crucial role is played by knowledge exchange across themes via cohort training, joint supervision, peer-to-peer interaction and student mentoring. Research project are embedded within one of the themes, with supervisory support across themes, to develop new synergies. More details can be found on the Research page.

Fully funded PhD positions

Fully funded PhD positions are available for students with a strong interest and aptitude in computational science and in one of our research themes. Positions are funded for 4 years, including the placements with the external partners. Considerable funding is available for training, workshop and conference support, as well as for a laptop and other computational resources. The CDT will recruit 5 cohorts, with a minimum of 11 PhD students per cohort. The first, second, third and fourth cohorts have started in October 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. For details on how to apply, see the Applications page.

The Nuclear Energy Futures CDT is a EPSRC funded centre for postgraduate training, bringing together PhD students from Bangor University, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and The Open University.

The Nuclear Energy Futures CDT combines innovative research and teaching, guidance from academic and industry experts and a supportive environment to help you make a better energy future.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 956124.

**(Applications for 2021 are now closed)

Hywel Dda University Health Board provides healthcare services to a total population of 380,000 throughout Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Two Funded PhD Studentships in Public Health Economics at CHEME Bangor University