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How to Apply for a SUSTAIN PhD Studentship

Round 3 applications for October 2026 entry are now closed. 

Thank you to everyone who applied to join the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable, Understandable agri-food Systems Transformed by Artificial INtelligence (SUSTAIN)


Please check back for updates on any future application rounds.

Applicant Information

Project Selection
Application Materials & Process

Project Selection

You will apply for a 4-year PhD programme under the supervision of a team led by one of our four partner universities. Successful Candidates will be based at the University leading their specific project. Academic staff and partners have co-created projects based on key industry challenges, which will be shaped with your input during the first year of your PhD. All projects will benefit from external partner involvement

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In your application, you will be asked to select up to 3 projects, in order of preference, that match your skills, experience and interests. Please browse the list of available projects here.

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Please note that due to funding restrictions, some projects may not be available to international applicants. The eligibility criteria will be specified next to each project. 

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Application Materials and Process

The SUSTAIN CDT uses a two-stage application process.  

Your application will be considered complete when both stages have been submitted. Incomplete applications may be rejected.  

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Stage 1: Complete the Online Application Form

Applicants must first complete the SUSTAIN Online Application Form , which collects: 

  • Personal details 

  • Project preferences 

  • Personal statement(s) 

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We recommend using Microsoft edge, disabling any adblockers, and to try incognito mode if you run into any issues with submission.

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We strongly recommend preparing your answers in a Word document before starting the online application.  

The form does not save automatically, and navigating back or exiting the form will cause information to be lost. You can then cut and paste your responses into the form when you’re ready.  

You may wish to draft the following in advance: 

  • Why do you want to pursue a PhD? (100 words) 

  • What appeals to you about joining a CDT, and SUSTAIN in particular? (100 words) 

  • How will a PhD from the SUSTAIN CDT help you achieve your career goals? (150 words) 

  • For each project you select: 

“Why did you choose this project, supervisory team and host institution?” (200 words – please do not include any personal identifying information) 

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After submitting the form, please save a copy of your application for your records. If you do not already have a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to create one before you save your submission.  

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Stage 2: Email Your Supporting Documents 

After you receive our acknowledgement email, please reply to it and attach all required documents. Your email should include:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

  • Academic transcripts 

  • Any additional documents required for international applicants, such as: 

  • Immigration check codes 

  • Evidence of recent English language qualifications.  

Your application is not complete until these documents have been received.  

IF YOU DO NOT RECIVE THIS EMAIL WITHIN 10 MINUTES CONTACT US AT:   SUSTAIN@lincoln.ac.uk

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References 

References are required for the full application but will only be requested after interview. You do not need to submit references during the initial application stages.  

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

The SUSTAIN CDT is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those that are underrepresented in STEM.  

To ensure a fair recruitment process, all applications are anonymised before review by the SUSTAIN Admissions Committee (SAC) and project teams. Identifying information is removed to help reduce the potential for unconscious bias.  

C3 R3 Application Timeline.jpg

Personal Statement(s)

Your Personal Statement is now completed within the online application form. You will be asked to answer a series of structured questions designed to help you demonstrate your motivation, experience and suitability for the projects you are applying for.  

This personal statement is a crucial part of your application. It is your one opportunity to stand out, capture the attention of project teams, and increase your chances of being shortlisted. A clear, thoughtful and authentic personal statement often makes the difference between otherwise similar applicants.  

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We strongly advise against using AI tools to generate your personal statements. While AI -generated answers may appear polished at first glance, they are noticeably generic. Statements that reflect your own voice and genuine motivation are consistently more persuasive, and applicants that invest time in expressing their authentic perspective generally perform better in the selection process.  

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Anonymisation Requirements 

To ensure a fair and unbiased review, all identifying information must be removed from your personal statement responses. Please do not include any of the following: 

  • Your name 

  • Your nationality or country of residence 

  • Employer or organisation names 

  • Names of educational institutions 

  • Links to authored papers, portfolios, or websites containing your identity.  

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This information will be redacted (removed) from your statement(s) prior to shortlisting.  

During anonymisation, information about your project preferences will also be removed before review.  

 

Hear from Our Director 

To help you prepare, listen to advice on how to craft a strong and compelling personal statement:

Evaluation Criteria

Please note that if you have applied to the SUSTAIN AI CDT three times without being shortlisted for interview, you will not be eligible to reapply to the programme for one year.

Evaluation Criteria

The SUSTAIN Admissions Committee and Project Teams will evaluate your application based on the SUSTAIN Skills Matrix to shortlist and select successful candidates. 

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If you are selected for interview, you will need to give a presentation explaining your interest in your selected project(s) and SUSTAIN. Your presentation will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Subject knowledge

  • Communication skills

  • Industry knowledge

Student Eligibility - Qualifications

As a minimum applicants must hold the following: 

  • A minimum first class or 2:1 Bachelor's degree or MSc with merit in a relevant subject area. 

  • Non-native English speakers must hold a minimum qualification equivalent to IELTs 6.5. A Bachelor's or Master's degree from an English-speaking University will also be considered.​

Student Eligibility - Residency

Both home and international students must be resident in the UK for the majority of their studies and any time spent overseas should be for the purposes of fieldwork/long-term attachment.   

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To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the criteria and the associated residency requirements described in the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions – Annex B here: UKRI training grant guidance – UKRI. Please note, the SUSTAIN Team cannot assess a candidate’s eligibility for home-fees status, and submitting an incorrect fee classification may result in a studentship offer being withdrawn. 

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If a candidate does not meet the home student criteria, they would be classed as an international student.   

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International students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5. The standard UKRI cap of 30% open eligibility for studentships applies to all CDT grants. The 30% cap is per academic year intake (CDT cohort) from the Academic Year 2024/25 onwards.  

Part time study is available. 

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