How to Apply

Applications for 2024 entry will open soon

Please check back for more information in October, when projects for 2024 start will go live and applications open.

In the meantime, information on the application process can also be found in our FAQs. Information on the 2023 process may be found below, and though we do not expect this process to change drastically for the coming recruitment year some elements may differ.

2023: Additional opportunities for candidates from underrepresented groups!

Within our programme, we are dedicated to diversifying our community. As part of our ongoing work to improve Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the NERC Panorama DTP, we are offering additional opportunities to UK/Home candidates from identified underrepresented groups: Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those from a disadvantaged socio-economic background, and disabled people.

For these groups, this year the Panorama DTP are offering:

– 10% additional interview spaces for appointable candidates.
– applicant support via 30 min 1-2-1 video calls with our EDI Officer on 3rd & 4th Jan 2023
– We will also be ringfencing 2 full DTP studentships

To sign up for these opportunities, please fill in this form, which is separate to your application form to keep your information safe under the Data Protection Act 2018. Specific details on the eligibility requirements may also be found in this link, in the description at the top of the form.

Important information:

  • Application deadline: Wednesday 4th January 2023
  • We aim to contact candidates who have been shortlisted for interview during the week commencing 6th February 2023
  • STRIKE DELAYS: Due to the industrial action at UK universities we had to reschedule our interviews to a later date. Interviews will take place between Monday 6th March and Thursday 16th March 2023.

Projects marked CASE have the possibility becoming an industry-partnered project which includes an external industry partner with additional research training and support grant (RTSG) funding and a placement.

We recently hosted ‘Demystifying the PhD application process’ webinars, with current DTP PhD students and staff discussing how to find, apply and interview for PhD positions. From these, we have compiled a list of FAQs to help with applications. If you’re interested, the recordings are below:

Eligibility and funding 2022/2023

We have 24 highly competitive NERC fully-funded studentship awards for session 2022/23 covering the full cost of University fees, plus a maintenance stipend allowance at the UKRI rate of £17,668 (2022/23 rate) per year for 3.5 years, and a generous research training and support grant (RTSG). Applications for all projects are open to both home and international applicants, please note the number of fully-funded places open for international applicants is limited by UKRI to 30% (7 studentships).

Step 1

Contact the lead supervisor of your chosen project to register your interest, and to ensure that they will be able to effectively support your application. In many cases potential supervisors may be able to arrange initial visits to Leeds, York or Hull to discuss the work. Please note that you can only apply for 1 project within the DTP.

Step 2

An On-Line Study Application (OLA) should be submitted to Leeds via University Application for Research Degree Study.  In the ‘Planned Course of Study’ section, the programme code that should be selected is ‘NERC PANORAMA DTP’; it is important that you select that programme of study.  In the ‘Research Area/Title’ section the OLA you should simply input the full title of the project that you wish to be considered for and the supervisors’ names. Your application cannot receive consideration until you provide all supporting documents, as follows:

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)/resumé which shows a high level of academic achievement and appropriate non-academic experience. Please include high school results.
  • Transcripts and certificates of ALL degrees to date. If you have not yet completed your current degree, you will need to send an official transcript of your results so far.
  • Personal Statement: Please provide a personal statement, of no more than 1 page, outlining (i) explain why you are interested in your chosen project, (ii) what motivates you to pursue PhD study, (iii) what is your research experience and how does you skill set matches the requirements for your choice of project, and (iv) what is the wider importance of this research project.
  • English Language: Generally, if you are from a country other than the UK, you may need to meet the English language requirements evidence through an English language test (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL). The test certificate is not required when applying but will be required when registering if you are successful.
  • Academic References: Before we can give full consideration to your application, we will need a minimum of two strong academic references. These can be submitted with your application if they are signed, or alternatively, they can be emailed directly by the referee to nercdtp@leeds.ac.uk using this form Referee_Report_Panorama_DTP. Please note that it is your responsibility to request these references and ensure they that are sent to us.

Step 3

Interview: We will call the strongest applicants for interview. Interviews for all projects, whether hosted by the University of Leeds, University of York (Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories) or University of Hull (Energy and Environment Institute), will be held in Leeds during the week indicated above. We seek to make offers to students who have the best qualifications for the projects and who perform best at interview.

Step 4

Offer: We will first make informal offers shortly after interview. Strong candidates whose first choice project is no longer available will be offered an alternative, where possible. Once you accept our offer, we will then make a recommendation for your acceptance for PhD study to the university where the project will be based. That is the university where you will become a registered PhD student and it will send you a formal offer of a study place. The letter will instruct you how to accept the place.

Once you accept the offer of the study place, you will be sent a formal funding letter.