Natural Environment Research Council Home
Skip to content

CASE Studentship Open Competition

Introduction

The CASE Studentship Open Competition promotes collaboration between the research community and the end-users of research. It aims to achieve both a benefit to the end-user and to the student. This is a 'directed' scheme.

NERC will be holding its annual CASE Studentship Open Competition later in 2011, with a closing date of 11 October 2011 at 16:00. Around thirty-five studentships will be awarded. A Je-S application form will be available from 1 September.

A CASE studentship is a PhD studentship during which the student enhances their training by spending between 3 and 18 months with the CASE partner in a workplace outside the academic environment.

Impact is one of the scheme's main criteria. Applications must demonstrate the potential for societal or economic impact through collaboration with the CASE partner and the provision of high quality training in research skills. For more on impact see the RCUK website.

Applications focusing solely on the advancement of science and on academic impact are provided for by the algorithm studentships route.

CASE studentship projects must provide sound training in the research methods, and a stimulating intellectual challenge for the student. The work's impetus and initial requirement should originate from the CASE partner.

Both the research organisation and the CASE partner nominate supervisors responsible for overseeing the student's training.

Changes since the 2010 round

NERC's moderating panels are very keen that CASE partners demonstrate their enthusiasm for applications they are involved in, so from this round a supporting letter from the CASE partner (or from the senior partner if there is more than one) is required.

CASE Partner Support Letter Guidance (12KB)

Independent Research Organisations (IROs) are now welcome was CASE partners, provided they can demonstrate they are end-users of science.  This remains a requirement for all CASE partners.

The CASE partner (or the principal partner if there is more than one) must now have a base in the UK.

CASE partners for applications to 'priority areas' may now be business, public, or third sector (previously these have been restricted to proposals with business partners).

Priority Areas

As with the last two years' competitions, up to five studentships will be awarded in each of the six priority areas listed below.  The science must fall within NERC's remit and the CASE partner may be public, private or third sector but as with all partners must be primarily a user body whose primary role is not research. This is a change from previous years, when partners for Priority Area applications have been limited to the private sector.

  1. Water
  2. Energy
  3. Food and agriculture
  4. Resource management (minerals, forestry, waste, etc)
  5. Financial services (risk management and valuation, including insurance)
  6. Environmental monitoring

To apply for a studentship in one of the six priority areas, please prefix the title of your application [WATER], [ENERGY], [AGRIFOOD], [RESOURCE], [FINANCE] or [ENVIRONMENT] as appropriate.

Priority areas guidance document (27KB)

Applications can also be submitted outside the priority areas and will be considered in the general competition.

Eligibility requirements

Applications should fall within the NERC science remit.

Individuals may make only one application to the scheme, whether it be in the role of supervisor or of co-supervisor. This applies to both the research partner and the CASE partner.

Eligible Research organisations:

Research Partners

HEIs and Research Council Institutes (RCIs) can only be research partners, not a CASE partner: RCIs may only apply as the research partner and must partner with an HEI in addition to the CASE partner.

CASE partners

The CASE partner must be an end-user i.e. an organisation whose primary role is not research, but rather to use the outputs of research in developing business, technology, regulation, policy, or social / environmental enterprise, within the public, private or third sector.

The CASE partner must demonstrate that commercial, regulatory, policy-making or enterprise activities form a significant part of its remit and that the focus of the proposed studentship falls within the scope of these activities.

CASE partners should also provide evidence of the need for their buy-in and of the rationale for advancing their activities.

Independent Research Organisations (IROs) may act as the CASE partner if they can demonstrate the above.

List of Independent Research Organisations

The CASE partner (or the principal partner if there is more than one) must now have a base in the UK.

Eligibility requirements

Applications should fall within the NERC science remit.

Individuals may make only one application to the scheme, whether it be in the role of supervisor or of co-supervisor. This applies to both the research partner and the CASE partner.

Table 1. Eligibility of research organisations
Organisation Involvement in studentship as
UK HEIs research organisation partner
NERC research centres research organisation partner
Independent research organisations research organisation partner (with an HEI)
Research council institutes research organisation partner (with an HEI)


Please see also further information about the classifications of research organisations Link to external site.

Closing date

This is an annual call. The next closing date is 11 October 2011.

Further information

Please see the following:
Guidance to applicants (56KB) Assessment criteria (18KB) Priority areas (27KB) CASE partner supporting letters (12KB)   •   How to apply for studentships
  •   Fieldwork costs proforma
  •   Exceptional consumables proforma

Or contact:

Related links

 

External links

 

Joint electronic-Submission (Je-S)