CENTA offers studentships through two main pathways.
You can apply directly to a project, or, if eligible, you can apply directly for one of our Science Opportunity Scholarships (or both). The routes have different eligibility criteria and application deadlines.
Have any questions about applying for a studentship / PhD project with CENTA? Visit our Studentship FAQs page.
Our project-based studentships
Applications to our project-based studentships for autumn 2023 entry have now closed.
To apply for one or more of our project-based studentships, you will need to apply directly to the university that is hosting the project through their application system. A respective link is given in the project description. If applying for a project-based project hosted at one of the Research Centres, you should apply via the partner university and inform the point of contact at the Research Centre.
You may only apply to one project at any one university but you may apply to more than one CENTA project if they are hosted at different universities.
Further information on our projects and support for studentships and a link to search for projects is also available on our CENTA Studentship Information page, Once you have decided on which project to apply for you will need to follow the links to the local institution (given in the project description) and ensure you submit the following documents:
- A CENTA application form (Word document – 64kb)
- A CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably those who can comment on your academic abilities)
- The application form of the university you are applying to. This maybe online or to an email address.
Deadline
Applications to our project-based studentships for autumn 2023 entry have now closed.
Eligibility
Our project-based studentships are open to all applicants who meet the academic requirements (at least a 2:1 at UK BSc level or at least a pass at UK MSc level or equivalent). Please note that unless you are eligible for a Home award, you will need to consider how you will be able to meet any shortfall in funding for tuition fees. Different institutions will have different requirements for this, please contact the supervisors listed on the project for more information.
(For further information please see Annex B in the following document: https://www.ukri.org/files/funding/ukri-training-grant-terms-and-conditions-guidance-pdf)
Interviews
Your application will be considered by a local university-based recruitment team. If successful at the shortlist stage, you will be invited to an interview, most likely during the weeks of the 6th – 17th February 2023. It is likely that all interviews will be conducted online this year but as soon as is practically possible, you will be invited to visit your host institution and meet your potential supervisors in person.
Our CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships (CSOS)
In order to address a historical imbalance, it is our ambition to offer up to 3 fully-funded scholarships to Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) Home-award-eligible applicants who meet the academic requirements.
These scholarships are awarded to candidates prior to any project development. Once awarded, CENTA will put you in contact with academics who conduct research in your area of interest and who, with your help, will design a suitable project for you.
If you are interested in any of the CENTA projects that have been advertised, you may apply directly to that project as well, through the separate project-based studentship pathway (see above).
To apply for a CSOS scholarship you will need to send:
- A CSOS application form (Word document – 72Kb) and
- A CV with the names of at least two referees (ideally those who can comment on your academic abilities)
Deadline
Applications to our CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships (CSOS) for autumn 2023 entry have now closed.
Eligibility
Our CSOS scholarships are open to all home-award-eligible BAME applicants who meet the academic requirements (at least a 2:1 at UK BSc level or at least a pass at UK MSc level or equivalent).
To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have settled status, or
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter
If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.
(For further information please see Annex B in the following document: https://www.ukri.org/files/funding/ukri-training-grant-terms-and-conditions-guidance-pdf/ )
Interviews
Your application will be considered by a CENTA recruitment team. If successful at the shortlist stage, you will be invited to an interview, most likely the week commencing 23rd January 2023. Your interview will be conducted online.
If you’re offered a scholarship
If you are offered a studentship, CENTA will put you in contact with academics who conduct research in your area of interest and who, with your help, will design a suitable project for you. Depending on your subject of interest, there may be projects offered by a number of supervisors at different institutions or research centres. By mid-February, your decision which one you would like to work on should be available. CENTA will support you in this process.
Successful candidates – acceptance deadline
Successful candidates on both pathways will be made a conditional offer in mid March.
The annual universal acceptance deadline for NERC PhD studentship offers will this year be on the 31st March 2023. (This date has recently been amended by NERC from the previous date of 15th March).
The purpose of the annual universal acceptance deadline is to ensure that PhD applicants who have applied for multiple studentship opportunities, and may therefore receive multiple offers, do not have to make a decision on the studentship they wish to accept before knowing the outcome of all of their applications. Applicants who receive a PhD studentship offer from a NERC DTP or CDT for the forthcoming academic year are therefore not required to accept an offer formally before this date unless they wish to do so.
However in order to facilitate offering studentships to wait-list candidates, we ask you to make a decision about whether to accept or reject your offer by 12pm midday, 3rd April 2023..
Further information
Please contact the CENTA Manager at [email protected] for more information.