University of Hertfordshire leading the way on international PhD opportunities

The University of Hertfordshire is one of eight institutions who are part of the groundbreaking COFUND Doctoral Fellowship programme. The DTA3/COFUND builds on the Doctoral Training Alliance, which is the largest nationwide multi-partner initiative of its kind. Run by University Alliance, it builds on the research strengths and industry-focus of its members to produce independent, highly-employable researchers with knowledge, expertise and skills in strategically important areas.

This is the third year the scheme will run, which so far has enabled over 50 students to study in the UK. The programme is supported by a €6.5 million grant from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Doctoral Fellowship programme.

The programme offers doctoral researchers in the fields of Applied Biosciences for Energy, Health and Social Policy with a range of support including:

• Complete funding for course fees
• Research costs supported
• A salary of over £22,300 per annum
• Access to an enhanced skills training programme

The University of Hertfordshire is participating in the Energy programme through its Centre for Engineering Research (CER). The team has already successfully completed the recruitment of six Marie Curie Fellows to conduct energy related research covering a wide range of the school's expertise from materials, structures, electronic systems, bioengineering and sustainable energy technologies, who are expected to start their research in October.

Rodney Day, Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, commented: “This programme enables the University to develop talented researchers in the field of Energy research to be able to respond to the fast-changing needs of industry and society at large in this important sector.”

Professor Debra Humphris, Chair of University Alliance and VC of COFUND member, University of Brighton commented: “The DTA3/COFUND programme is one of a kind and distinct in its offering for students, universities and institutions, and it’s fantastic to see it go from strength to strength. As the UK’s largest multi-institution partnership of its kind, the DTA enables University Alliance members to attract talent from overseas and operate internationally.”

The project leading to the DTA3/COFUND application has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 801604.

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