Our programme does not have a fixed list of projects. According to our mission, PhD projects must be developed dynamically and based on real-world problems submitted by our clinical and industrial partners.

Each year, we run the ‘Project Generation Event’ (PGE), which kick-starts the process. Thereafter, projects are developed in collaboration with our students, academic supervisors, industrial and clinical partners. This approach ensures our research is both innovative and relevant.

The PGE is each cohort’s first real milestone. It is an in-person event held in the winter of Year 0 brining together students, academics, clinicians and representatives of our industrial partners to discuss unmet needs in drug delivery.

Following the PGE, projects are reviewed by CDT Management.  Industry partners then select projects they wish to support.  The project list is then shared with students. Where more than one student is interested in a project, we hold a round of interviews to allocate it. In practice however, this is rarely the case.

The first cohort of the CDT AMDD started on the programme in October 2026 and is expected to graduate in 2030.

We will be recruiting one cohort per year, always starting in October, until October 2027. That will be the last cohort for this iteration of the CDT.

Applications open towards November/December each calendar year and close in mid-February. As this changes every year, candidates are advised to always check the ‘How to Apply’ page of this website.

Our programme is designed to provide you with a broad training experience. During the initial training period, you will have the opportunity to meet and work with various faculty members. PhD projects are generated during a process called the PhD Project Generation Event, where students, academic supervisors, industry, and clinical partners all contribute to producing these projects. The academic supervisor writes up the project proposal, and students then choose from the list of these projects. Supervisors are specifically assigned based on the project chosen, ensuring that you have the guidance and expertise needed for your research.

The studentships are open everyone. The awards cover tuition fees and a tax-free stipend for the duration of the PhD. To check your fee status, consult the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

You will need to declare your fee status as part of the application, though this is not an assessed criterion and falls under our sensitive data management policy. However, if you are offered a place in the programme and fail to prove that your fee status matches that declared as part of the application, the offer may be withdrawn.

We place great emphasis on a fair, transparent, and equitable recruitment process. We are open to applicants from around the world. We hold interviews online and do not require the submission of documentation in advance.

We anonymise all applications to remove any personal information and protected characteristics. This includes fee status and mode of study (part-time or full-time).

Our shortlisting is conducted blind. It is exclusively based on academic performance and fit with the programme. For more details, visit our EDI and the CDT page.

CDT funding covers:

·      Tuition fees

·      UKRI stipend + London allowance (for UCL)

·      Generous travel and expense allowances

·      Extensive training and CPD opportunities

·      Social and networking events throughout

The CDT AMDD is one of the best-funded Doctoral Training Entities in terms of research training and skills development provision. Furthermore, students working on industry-funded projects may be offered additional support through our partners.

Whilst we recognised that students may wish to apply for additional awards, this will not normally be possible through our two institutions. Please note that any additional funding secured whilst on the programme must be declared to the appropriate CDT Manager.

Each year the CDT offers up to 13 studentships, though this may vary. UCL normally takes eight students and Nottingham usually takes 5 students per year.

All applications get assessed after the deadline. There is no ‘first-come-first-serve’, so there is no advantage to applying early.

If places remain unfilled at the end of the assessment process, additional rounds of interviews may be conducted.

No, you do not need to provide any additional documents are not needed at the initial application stage. Our application questions capture all necessary datapoints required for assessment. Documentation will only be requested if you are offered a position.

Please note that following an offer of place, candidates will still have to proceed through each institution’s recruitment system (though they will not be re-assessed).

You may have to prove your language proficiency.  Details may be found on the webpages of the various universities.

University College London

University of Nottingham

If you are offered a place on the programme - you will need to provide as soon as possible after being offered a place on the CDT, and by end of August in the year of enrolment at the latest. You will not be allowed to register without this being in place.

To prepare for the interview, practice a 5-minute presentation on a subject of your choice, review your past research projects, and stay updated on recent scientific developments. Interviews typically last 20 minutes and are conducted online via MS Teams.

No. You are responsible for arranging your own accommodation, though both institutions have a wealth of resources you can consult.

No. You need to apply through the standard form and may end up with a different supervisor. This is a non-negotiable funder mandate. To ensure compliance, all EPSRC-funded PhD projects are overseen by the Management Team.

You choose your preferred university at the time of application and can apply to one or both locations.