At any one time, the University of Southampton is training around 3,000 doctoral research students.
Many of these students are funded by, or affiliated to, one of over 20 Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs). Funded by UK Research and Innovation research councils, and partners across Government, Industry and the NHS, each year they allow us to offer numerous opportunities for doctoral projects in a world-class research environment. Note that from 2021 entry up to 30% of all UKRI funded places will be open to students of all nationalities.
Some DTPs/CDTs span disciplines, others focus on a specific areas of research. Collectively, with University researchers, each offer exciting postgraduate research opportunities seeking to address many of the global challenges of our time. Working with the University Doctoral College and Faculty Graduate Schools, the DTPS/CDTs offer support and a wide range of professional development and skills training aimed at allowing their doctoral graduates to become the next generation of research leaders tackling the critical projects for the future.
A list of the current DTPs/CDTs are given below. Please follow the links for the training opportunities that they offer.
For other funding opportunities, please see here.
Active and recruiting
| DTP/CDT |
|---|
|
Engineering, Physical Sciences and Mathematics. |
|
Global economies, governance and security, population change, social and wellbeing challenges |
|
MRC DTP in Translational Biomedical Sciences Cancer, neurological, inflammatory and infectious diseases, anti-microbial resistance and global health |
| Leverhulme Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies |
| Resilient Flood Futures (NERC funded) |
| AI for Sustainability (UKRI funded) |
| Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security (EPSRC & MOD funded) |
| Quantum Technology Engineering (EPSRC funded) |
| Maths for our Future Climate (ESPRC Funded) |
| Sustainable Sound Futures (ESPRC funded) - September 2025 entry |
No longer recruiting
| DTP/CDT |
|---|
|
Oceans and climate; the dynamic earth; interactions of organisms with the global environment |
|
Next generation Artificial Intelligence, Machine Intelligence for Nano-Electronic Devices and Systems |
|
Defence and Security Mobility DTP Doctoral training for existing and future workers in the Defence and Security sector. |
|
Next generation computational modelling |
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Geoscientific and environmental research in oil and gas |
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Prosthetics and orthotics (EPSRC funded) Interdisciplinary science and engineering research for health care needs |
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Sustainable infrastructure systems for transport, water and energy |
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South Coast Biosciences (SoCoBio) DTP (BBSRC funded) Biosciences, biotechnology, sustainable agriculture and food, renewable resources and integrated health |
|
Environmental science, engineering, technology development, business and policy |
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South West and Wales (SWW) DTP 1 (AHRC funded) New generation thinkers across the arts and humanities |
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South West and Wales (SWW) DTP 2 (AHRC funded) New generation thinkers across the arts and humanities |
|
Theory and modelling in chemical sciences |