EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership and Doctoral Landscape Award

The UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) provides bi-annual funding to UK universities to support their doctoral training and development in the fields of engineering and the physical sciences. 

This funding is granted to universities that excel in key areas including the quality of doctoral programmes, the support provided to PhD students and the overall research culture and environment.

Recognising our commitment to advancing doctoral education in an inclusive, dynamic research environment, Heriot-Watt was awarded EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) funding of £7.2m for the period 2022 to 2028.

More recently, the University was awarded the new Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) grant of £9.8m. These concurrent funding awards, which recognise our research excellence and impact, demonstrated through an extensive portfolio of EPSRC-funded projects, will support a range of opportunities including studentships and post-doctoral pathways, between 2025 and 2031.

Opportunities

The flexibility of both the EPSRC DTP and DLA means we have funding available for a suite of schemes that not only support studentships, but also provide opportunities for early-career researchers and those who have completed their doctoral degree and are looking to step into their first postdoctoral role. 

Studentships

The majority of DTP and DLA funding supports studentships with relevance to the EPSRC remit - see more info on the EPSRC website here - and can fund stipend and/or fees for up to 3.5 years. We encourage cross-disciplinary projects as well as collaborative projects with industrial partners aligned to areas of strategic importance within the university, and those strategic priorities identified by EPSRC.

Doctoral students can expect a collaborative and supportive environment which fosters high-quality research and enhances the skills, knowledge and experience of students pursuing a PhD in engineering and the physical sciences. Training provided takes account of varying prior and future career pathways, from academia to industry, in an inclusive and supportive environment. 

Studentships are open to all nationalities and across all research areas and we actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds.    

Live studentship opportunities are advertised via the webpages of individual Heriot-Watt University Schools and Institutes - and bookmark this page for updates on when the scheme opens. 

Postdoctoral Pathways

Heriot-Watt University is committed to supporting postdoctoral researchers in advancing their careers through a range of tailored postdoctoral pathways. Between 2025 and 2031, we will offer both 12-month and 24-month postdoctoral opportunities, providing a unique platform for early-career researchers to develop their expertise, collaborate with leading academics and engage in impactful research. These positions will be available across a variety of disciplines, offering resources and professional development to help postdoctoral researchers transition into independent research roles or pursue careers in academia, industry or other research-focused sectors. Keep an eye on this space for further updates.