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HOW TO APPLY FOR A SUSTAIN PHD STUDENTSHIP
LATEST APPLICATION
INFORMATION
QUICK LINKS:
ROUND 1 APPLICATION FORM (but please read all guidance first)
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ROUND 1 STUDENT APPLICATIONS FOR OCTOBER 2027 ENTRY ARE NOW OPEN
We are pleased to invite applications for Round 1 of the SUSTAIN CDT recruitment cycle, for entry in October 2027.
Before submitting your application, please read all guidance materials carefully to ensure you understand the two-stage process and the requirements for submitting a complete application.
Enhanced Funding for Home Students
Eligible Home-fee students joining SUSTAIN in October 2027 are expected to receive an enhanced tax-free stipend of up to £30,000 per year through the UK Government’s TechFirst programme, subject to final funding confirmation. Further details can be found on the PhD Package page.
Please note that due to funding and student visa sponsorship requirements, not all projects are open to international applicants. If a project is open to Home applicants only, this will be specified on the ‘Advertised Projects’ page. Applications that do not meet the stated eligibility criteria will not be considered.
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.
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 note that due to funding and student visa sponsorship requirements, not all projects are open to applicants worldwide. If a project is open to Home applicants only, this will be specified on the ‘Advertised Projects’ page.
TIPS TO READ BEFORE APPLYING
1
PREPARE IN ADVANCE
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.
Once you've prepared your answers to the questions (see below), you can then cut and paste your responses into the form when you’re ready.
2
USE MICROSOFT EDGE
Use a Microsoft account if you have one. If you do not already have a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to create one before you save your submission.
Once you have submitted your form, please save a copy of your application for your records.
3
TROUBLESHOOTING
We recommend that you disable any adblockers, and to try incognito mode if you run into any issues with submission.
After you've submitted, you should receive an acknowledgement email within 10 minutes. If you don't receive this email, contact us at: SUSTAIN@lincoln.ac.uk
QUESTIONS TO PREPARE
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)
1. 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.
STAGE 1: COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM
Applicants must first complete the SUSTAIN Online Application Form, which collects:
Personal details
Project preferences
Personal statement(s)
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. 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.
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 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 THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT EMAIL WITHIN 10 MINUTES CONTACT US AT: SUSTAIN@lincoln.ac.uk
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.
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.
2. PERSONAL STATEMENT
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.
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.
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
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.
SUSTAIN CDT APPLICATION SUBMiSSION
SUSTAIN CDT SCREENING
(see Eligibility Criteria and Desired Skills Matrix)
PRELIMINARY SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEW
HOST UNIVERSITY ASSESSMENT (Qualifications, English requirements)
UNIVERSITY OFFER
3. 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.
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
To see more about the skills we are looking for in SUSTAIN students, and how we evaluate applications, see our SKILLS MATRIX.
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.
HOW ELIGIBILITY IS ASSESSED
As part of the SUSTAIN CDT recruitment process, applicants are assessed against the CDT's eligibility requirements. This initial assessment is used solely to determine whether an applicant is eligible to be considered for a SUSTAIN CDT studentship.
Meeting the SUSTAIN CDT eligibility requirements, being shortlisted, being invited to interview, or receiving a provisional studentship offer does not in itself confirm admission to the university where you will be registered.
Following the CDT selection process, your host university will independently assess whether you meet its academic, English language and admissions requirements. The university will also determine your Home or International fee status, which must be consistent with the information provided in your application.
Applicants must satisfy all requirements of their host university before they can be formally admitted and enrolled as a SUSTAIN CDT student.
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.
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.
If a candidate does not meet the home student criteria, they would be classed as an international student.
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.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
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Receiving an offer from the SUSTAIN CDT does not guarantee admission to a partner university.
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If you are offered a place by the CDT, there will be a relatively short period between receiving your offer and completing the admissions process with your home institution. If you do not already hold an acceptable English language qualification, you may need to obtain one within this timeframe.
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Applicants who are unable to meet the English language requirements of their host university may have their university application rejected.
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Check the requirements of your preferred host university before applying, and ensure, where possible, that you already hold an appropriate English language qualification.
TWO-STEP ENGLISH LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
1
APPLY TO THE SUSTAIN CDT
Initial English language screening to determine eligiblity for the CDT selection process, based on a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) or other accepted evidence of English language proficiency, such as an eligible Bachelor’s or Master’s degree taught in English.
2
APPLY TO YOUR HOST UNIVERSITY
If offered a CDT place, you must apply to your host university. The university will assess whether you meet its English language requirements.
If you do not meet those requirements, you may not be admitted, even if you have received a SUSTAIN CDT offer.
4. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All international students must complete a two-step process to ensure they meet the English Language requirements of both the SUSTAIN CDT and the host university (indicated by the project code). Each university has its own English language requirements, accepted qualifications and minimum scores, which you should review before applying:
University of Lincoln (Project codes starting with L) – See Language Requirements
University of Aberdeen (Project codes starting with A) - See Language Requirements
University of Strathclyde (Project codes starting with S) - See Language Requirements
Queen’s University Belfast (Project codes starting with Q) - See Language Requirements
STEP 1: SUSTAIN CDT Application
As part of the SUSTAIN selection process, we carry out an initial assessment of English language proficiency against a baseline requirement of IELTS 6.5 (or an equivalent qualification). This initial check is used solely to determine whether an applicant can be considered for the CDT recruitment process.
Please note: Meeting the SUSTAIN CDT baseline requirement, being shortlisted, or being invited to interview does not mean that you have satisfied the English language requirements of the university where you will be registered.
STEP 2: University Admission
Successful SUSTAIN CDT candidates must subsequently apply for admission to their designated host university. Each university has its own English language requirements, accepted qualifications, validity periods and minimum component scores.
Applicants must satisfy the requirements of their host (also called home) university before they can be formally admitted as a SUSTAIN CDT student.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All international students must complete a two-step process to ensure they meet the English Language requirements of both the SUSTAIN CDT and the host university (indicated by the project code). Each university has its own English language requirements, accepted qualifications and minimum scores, which you should review before applying:
University of Lincoln (Project codes starting with L) – See Language Requirements
University of Aberdeen (Project codes starting with A) - See Language Requirements
University of Strathclyde (Project codes starting with S) - See Language Requirements
Queen’s University Belfast (Project codes starting with Q) - See Language Requirements
STEP 1: SUSTAIN CDT Application
As part of the SUSTAIN selection process, we carry out an initial assessment of English language proficiency against a baseline requirement of IELTS 6.5 (or an equivalent qualification). This initial check is used solely to determine whether an applicant can be considered for the CDT recruitment process.
Please note: Meeting the SUSTAIN CDT baseline requirement, being shortlisted, or being invited to interview does not mean that you have satisfied the English language requirements of the university where you will be registered.
STEP 2: University Admission
Successful SUSTAIN CDT candidates must subsequently apply for admission to their designated host university. Each university has its own English language requirements, accepted qualifications, validity periods and minimum component scores.
Applicants must satisfy the requirements of their host (also called home) university before they can be formally admitted as a SUSTAIN CDT student.
