Collaborative and industry-led studentships provide opportunities to work with non-academic partners via part- or fully-funded studentships. This may include, but is not limited to, partnering with large commercial enterprises, charities and NGOs, and public sector bodies.
With a funded studentship, MSD and PhD candidates can undertake research in a range of industries and sectors and receive supervisory guidance from an academic and the sponsoring organisation.
Open to domestic and international students, the University may match fund up to 50% of the studentship, including stipend at the UKRI standard level. Applications for match-funding are viewed more favourably when the studentship may lead to strategically valuable partnerships and further funding opportunities.
These types of funded studentships are coordinated by the Knowledge Exchange team and must be managed through them to access internal match funding.
The Knowledge Exchange team support academic leads with the administrative aspects of the funded studentship, ensuring the correct processes are followed.
A Knowledge Exchange Manager will discuss your proposal with you, assist with the application for match funding, and calculate the costings.
Once the match funding application is approved, we work with the REO contracts team to prepare the necessary agreements and coordinate any other operational tasks required. We can also manage communications with the external partner throughout the process.
Funded studentships enable doctoral students to gain expertise in a specific sector, build their professional network, and access offsite facilities and research environments. Importantly, they will participate in knowledge exchange at the start of their research journey and contribute to projects with a real-world impact.
As the academic lead and co-supervisor, this is also an opportunity for you to collaborate with a non-academic partner and help to shape the research.
Industry-funded studentships must be coordinated by the Knowledge Exchange team. This not only reduces the administrative workload, but it also ensures the studentship is accurately costed, reflected in your staff profile and captured in your personal research income.
Contact your Knowledge Exchange Manager if you: