Studentship and training awards
Studentships
We fund around 975 postgraduate students each year. We only fund students through university departments and NERC research centres. The awards display notice lists the institutions with NERC PhD studentships to award in the coming year.
We do not deal directly with applications from prospective students. If you are intending to apply for a NERC studentship you must contact the department or research centre where you want to study. Similarly, we cannot consider requests for funding for other programmes or expeditions.
NERC's new approach to investments in postgraduate training.
At the start of 2012 NERC announced significant changes to the way in which postgraduate training is supported, including the establishment of a NERC Training Advisory Group (TAG).
Student eligibility
The eligibility rules are in section B of the Studentship Handbook. Heads of Departments, prospective supervisors and potential students needing advice on eligibility should contact the Registrars Office in the first instance. Where there is doubt about an individual's eligibility for a NERC studentship the Registrar should contact the NERC Training Awards Team.
Applying for a Studentship
Prospective supervisors must now apply for studentships via the Je-S (RCUK joint electronic submission) system. Further details of the process are available on the How To Apply page.
Available Studentships and Training Awards
Studentships and training awards are made direct to Universities and Research Centres. Prospective students cannot apply directly to NERC for funding.
The different studentships schemes can be found on the Available Studentships and Training Awards page.
Studentship funding
Where NERC has agreed funding for a studentship (to a university department or research centre), the funds will be provided to the organisation via a Training Grant. Details of the funds on the Training Grant and any other funds available to NERC students can be found on the Available Studentships and Training Awards page.
Supplying students details
Organisations have to provide details of the students and their studentship projects to NERC no later than one month after the student starts. Details of how to do this are available on the Submitting Student Details page.
NERC Funded PhD Projects
Details of the PhD projects (PhD start year, project title, abstract, Research Organisation (RO), RO department) for NERC funded studentships starting over the previous five years (2007-2012) can be found on the NERC Funded PhD Projects page.