As a research-intensive university, Reading has partnered successfully with a number of other institutions to bid for funding from UK Research Councils, charities and trusts in order to form highly respected doctoral training centres for postgraduate researchers.
In addition to specialised training, these collaborations offer you the chance to compete for funding across a range of areas. The partnerships and centres with which we are involved are listed here.
Partnerships open for new recruitment
Advancing the Frontiers of Earth System Prediction
The Research Programme on Advancing the Frontiers of Earth System Prediction (AFESP) is a £30 million 15-year investment by the University of Reading in partnership with the , the and the . It aims at enhancing our capabilities in global data assimilation, simulation and analysis to deliver a new class of accurate, reliable and usable forecasts, with a wide range of novel scientific and societal applications.
Arts and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Landscape Awards (AHRC)
The University of Reading will be offering a number of AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards. More details will be provided when they become available.
FoodBioSystems Doctoral Landscape Award (BBSRC)
The University of Reading is one of six partner universities: University of Reading, , , , , and . It aims to develop a cohort of bioscientists with in-depth knowledge and technical expertise of food systems and biological processes across the Agri-Food system from pre-farm to post-fork. They will become the urgently needed experts - able to transform the food value chain and address challenges of sustainability, efficacy, authenticity and safety in food production systems whilst delivering better nutrition and concomitant health benefits for society. The consortium forms an unrivalled partnership in terms of its breadth and depth of research excellence, along with novel training environments, in relation to agri-food systems. Our broad remit covers a unique nexus of fundamental biology related to animal and plant biology, through to human nutrition and health. We will develop transformative technologies through integrating physical and digital sciences, and big data approaches, into biosciences.
Mathematics for our Future Climate Centre for Doctoral Training (EPSRC)
The University of Reading participates in this consortium with and the , alongside ocean, weather and climate services and industrial partners from key sectors. It is an interdisciplinary initiative which uses mathematics to address issues arising from climate change. Funding, of four years duration, is offered for PhD projects in the following areas: mathematical theory and numerical modelling of fundamental oceanic and atmospheric processes, analysis of data and assimilation with weather and climate models, and mathematical applications related to the response to climate change.
Find out more about the MFC Centre for Doctoral Training
South East Doctoral Training Arc (ESRC)
The University of Reading is delighted to be part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-funded South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc). This Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is a strong consortium of 6 leading universities: Royal Holloway, University of London, the University of Kent, Kingston University, the University of Reading, the University of Surrey, and the University of Sussex. SEDarc DTP funding allows for innovative doctoral support for research in the social sciences. It allows for the development of broader skills through a comprehensive training programme, and the potential for experience in working outside academia through placements.
AI-INTERVENE Doctoral Focal Award (NERC)
The core partners of this DFA – the University of Reading, University College London, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the Zoological Society of London, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology -- uniquely and comprehensively bring an unparalleled breadth and depth of AI and biodiversity expertise, data and access to state-of-the-art hubs and hosting facilities.This is a revolutionary doctoral training programme which aims to produce a new generation of AI-empowered data scientists equipped with the required AI expertise, data science tools, ecological knowledge and wider interdisciplinary skillset needed to unlock the full potential of the wealth of existing as well as emerging sources of biodiversity data. The actionable knowledge and insights obtained from application of state-of-the-art AI theory, methods and models to the data will support AI-INTERVENE’s partners to make informed data-driven decision making to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
CROCUS: Climate system and diodiversity science for Challenges, Risks, and Opportunities – Collaborating in Understanding and Solutions (NERC)
This partnership is led by the University of Reading with , , , , , , , and .
Climate extremes and biodiversity loss have impelled governments and businesses worldwide to adopt ambitious Net Zero, adaptation, and restoration plans. The environment sector is developing rapidly to design, realise, and evaluate these plans, using cutting-edge science, innovation, and big data. Therefore, to help address the most pressing environmental challenges facing society, CROCUS aims to train a new generation of environmental scientists to become: interdisciplinary experts with strong quantitative skills; entrepeneurial, creative thinkers; and leaders in sustainability and inclusivity.
Partnerships closed for new recruitment
South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (AHRC)
As part of a consortium of eight UK universities, the University of Reading offers training and postgraduate support for doctoral students across a range of disciplines.
AgriFood Training Partnership (BBSRC)
Bringing together the University of Reading, Birmingham University, Leatherhead Food Research and Rothamstead Research, the research undertaken by this partnership focuses on creating a food industry resourced to produce sufficient sustainable food for health.
Collaborative Training Partnerships (BBSRC)
A total of 10 CTPs are being funded by BBSRC to carry out important scientific research in key aspects of agriculture. The University of Reading is involved in two of these.
The first, led by Waitrose, focuses on crop production, sustainable soil and ecosystem services, and also involves Rothamsted Research and the universities of Warwick and Lancaster.
The second concerns crop research and is led by Berry Gardens. Alongside Reading, it will involve the universities of Nottingham and Lancaster.
FoodBioSystems Doctoral Training Partnership (BBSRC)
The University of Reading is one of six partner universities – Aberystwyth, Brunel, Cranfield, Queen’s University Belfast, Reading and Surrey – which together form this BBSRC-funded doctoral training partnership and offer PhD supervision, training and support across a wide range of disciplines.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership (EPSRC)
The DTP funded a number of PhD studentships each year for research in disciplines within the Engineering and Phyical Sciences.
SCENARIO Doctoral Training Partnership (NERC)
The Postgraduate Centre in the Science of the Environment: Natural and Anthropogenic Processes, Impacts and Opportunities (SCENARIO) is a collaboration between the University of Reading, the University of Surrey, the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the British Geological Survey.
It aims to train the next generation of doctoral researchers in the area of environmental science.