Key facts
Deadline: Sunday 22 January 2023
Funding start date: Sunday 1 October 2023
Number of funding places: 10
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Source of funding: Centre for doctoral training
Key staff: Professor Barbara Evans
Schools: School of Civil Engineering
A Water-WISER PhD offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the generation of new knowledge to improve water, waste and sanitation infrastructure and services for the poorest and most marginalised members of our global community.
The CDT is hosted by three world leading water, sanitation and waste management research centres, each with a pedigree of more than 40 years of relevant research and teaching experience, namely:
- Water, Public Health and Environmental Engineering group at the University of Leeds;
- The Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) at Loughborough University; and
- The Water Science Institute at Cranfield University (CWSI)
Application deadline for October 2023: 22 January 2023
What are the unique features and benefits of a Water-WISER studentship?
- A carefully crafted 4-year MSc and PhD programme of trans-disciplinary training will develop the requisite skills to solve complex problems and engineer solutions to infrastructure and service delivery challenges in the global south;
- Studentship funding includes a minimum 6-month industry placement or in country field work opportunity;
- Whilst hosted at a specific centre, you will also engage in a programme of stimulating technical and professional training with cohort peers in partner institutions;
- Research will be co-designed with and supported by industry partners and implementing agencies to ensure relevance and impact;
- Coordination and management provided by water@leeds, one of the biggest inter-disciplinary water research initiatives in the world
Entry requirements
Applications are invited from candidates with a minimum of a UK upper second-class honours degree (2:1), or equivalent, and/or a Masters’ degree in a relevant subject. We also recognise relevant industrial and academic experience.
Funding
There are a number of highly competitive EPSRC Fully Funded Studentship Awards for Session 2022/23 covering the full cost of University Fees plus Maintenance. Applications are open to all applicants, with opportunities for Non-UK Fee rated applicants limited by UKRI to 3. A full standard studentship consists of academic fees paying up to £4,600 for academic session 2022/23, together with a maintenance grant of £17,668. UKRI will confirm the maintenance grant for 2023/24 in the near future. The CDT also provides funding for 6 month industry placement or in country field work opportunity, subject to approval by supervisors.
There are also a limited number of places available to Non-UK Fee rated applicants who are able to self-fund their own study or are funded by an external sponsor. However, you must be able to either self-fund your own studies (paying with your own or your family’s funds) for 4 years and we may require additional evidence, or if you are applying for external sponsorship or have already secured external sponsorship, your sponsor must be able to provide funding for 4 years and will require confirmation from your sponsor.
Important: Any costs associated with your arrival at the University of Leeds to start your PhD including flights, immigration health surcharge/medical insurance and Visa costs are not covered under this studentship.
Faculty information
Please visit the Centre for Doctoral Training in Water WISER for more information on the programme.
How to apply
You can apply for your research degree online , please select programme code EPSRC CDT Water and Waste Infrastructure Systems. Make sure you complete the application form as fully as you can.
You must provide the following documents/information as incomplete applications will not be considered:
· Transcripts (or transcripts to date) for all degree-level qualifications
· CV – including academic study, work experience and any publications
· Personal statement including research interests. At the top of your personal statement please write the following statement: “I agree to my personal data/references held by the University of Leeds, to be shared with the Universities of Loughborough and Cranfield, in order for my application to be considered for this CDT by all institutions (to comply with GDPR).”
· Institutional email addresses for two academic referees
· In the finance section of your application, please state clearly how you intend to fund your studies, i.e. CDT Water-WISER Studentship, Self-funding or External sponsor including their name
· If applying for external sponsorship or have secured external sponsorship, confirmation from your sponsor that they offer 4-year scholarships or that you have secured a 4-year scholarship.
Important information: please add the title of CDT Water-WISER in both the ‘funding’ and ‘research area/title’ section of the application form.
If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University’s minimum English Language requirements
Entry requirements
Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.
English language requirements
The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.
Contact details
For further information on applying, please contact the Doctoral College Admissions:
e: phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk
For further information on the research area, please contact James McKay:
e: j.mckay@leeds.ac.uk
