As a research-intensive university, Reading has partnered with a number of other institutions to successfully 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, grouped by the relevant funding organisation.
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP)
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:
- archaeology
- classics
- cultural geography
- English literature
- film, theatre and television
- history
- history of art
- law
- modern languages and European studies
- philosophy
- politics and international relations.
Find out more about the SWW AHRC DTP studentships
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
AgriFood Training Partnership (AFTP)
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.
Find out more about the AgriFood Training Partnership
Collaborative Training Partnerships (CTPs)
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 (DTP)
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:
- agriculture
- biological and biomedical sciences
- chemistry
- food and nutritional sciences
- geography and environmental sciences
- pharmacy.
Find out more about the FoodBioSystems DTP
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.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
This training grant funds a number of new PhD projects each year which are all advertised on our PhD studentships page.
Mathematics for our Future Climate Centre for Doctoral Training (EPSRC) (MFC)
The University of Reading participates in this consortium with Imperial College London and the University of Southampton, 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
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
SCENARIO Doctoral Training Partnership
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.
Find out more about the SCENARIO Doctoral Training Partnership