Studentships
The EPSRC CDT in ReNU+ is a unique and ambitious programme that will train the next-generation of doctoral carbon champions who are renowned for research excellence and interdisciplinary systemic thinking for Net Zero.
The ReNU+ vision is that they will become living examples of a highly skilled workforce delivering an equitable energy transition so that Net Zero is inclusive for all.
ReNU+ includes a high-skilled training programme that has been co-created with industry partners and will be co-delivered in an inclusive environment of research excellence led by Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham universities. Throughout ReNU+ you will engage directly with industry and gain valuable transferable skills. For examples of industry case studies, please take a look here.
Upon completion of the training programme, doctoral carbon champions will be able to: identify carbon dioxide emissions savings opportunities through quantitative analysis; navigate complexity and risk across disciplinary boundaries; and understand policy, end-user engagement and investment as wider success factors for Net Zero. To learn more about the CDT, please meet our students.
Achieving Net Zero requires the full range of perspectives and lived experiences for an equitable and sustainable energy transition. ReNU+ welcomes and encourages applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and part-time students. As part of this goal, ReNU+ facilitates pre-application support workshops to help potential applicants learn more about a PhD before applying and provide an informal opportunity to ask questions. ReNU+ also provides support during your PhD with a dedicated Progression Tutor and excellent related networks including the Pro: NE Project.
How to apply
Projects are usually advertised at the end of the year for projects starting on 1st October the following year. Visit our Apply Now page for list of projects that are open for applications. If there are no projects open for applications, please fill in our Contact Us form to receive communications about future studentship opportunities.
Additional Information:
Why do a PhD?
Learn more about completing a PhD by listening to our academics, students and industry partners discuss the benefits of a PhD qualification via some short videos on our Programmes page.
What our ReNU+ CDT Director, Professor Neil Beattie says:
We need a supply of talented next-generation leaders who will drive getting towards Net Zero. Programs like ReNU and ReNU Plus really focus on making sure those people understand the wider context for energy, not just their individual research project, but also things like the energy system, energy policy, and also finance and economics associated with getting towards Net Zero.
What our current ReNU CDT students say:
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD?
"I'm a PhD scholar in Northumbria University funded by ReNU. I chose to pursue my PhD because of my passion in material science and engineering and to contribute towards the digital sustainable technologies. "
"I decided to pursue a PhD was because I really enjoyed my master's project and I realized that doing more research would probably be very interesting to me. The long answer is that I've always thought of research as one of the things I wanted to do so it made sense in terms of my future path."
Why did you choose to apply for the ReNU program specifically?
"I chose to apply in the ReNU program specifically because it focuses on the interdisciplinary research and the renewable energy. ReNU is actually part of three universities that is Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham University. So this gives us more support from various experts in the field and the state of art that we are working on."
"The ReNU training program brings in a lot of support so there's to begin with very wide lectures on what kind of problems we're facing in terms of reaching net zero or just the energy problem. There's also a lot of help with careers advice and stuff like progression."
What would you say are the benefits of being part of a cohort of students?
"The benefits for being part of the cohort of students is that it creates a collaborative environment for everyone and we all can interact with each other and this creates a good support network and exchange of ideas and research which actually helps us in our research. And secondly, with the help of this, we can have access to various labs, be it Northumbria University, be it Durham University or Newcastle University, for example, in my research I need TEM for morphological studies of the films. And it's not in Northumbria University and I'm planning to use the one that is in Durham. So it actually helps to overcome the barriers."
"Being part of a cohort is really motivating for me because I can talk about what I'm facing and find someone with similar problems or find solace in the fact that we're all stuck in the same problems but also it's more than that it's sharing experiences and ways to deal with certain problems that a normal PhD student might not be able to have."
In terms of the ReNU Plus program specifically, what would your advice be to future students who might be interested in that?
"I would highly recommend that they join the ReNU Plus program. They're going to find access to a lot of different resources within the program spanning from biology, physics, electrical engineering and chemistry and they're going to have crossovers with industry partners to find job opportunities as they go further afield."
A key objective for ReNU+ CDT is to recruit more diverse and inclusive cohorts of Doctoral Carbon Champions (DCCs).
ReNU+ welcomes and encourages applications from candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences such as:
- candidates from ethnic minorities
- those from a disadvantaged socio-economic and alternative backgrounds, first generation in their family to go to university
- those with caring responsibilities
- those with disabilities (physical, neurodivergent etc…)
Find out further information at the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page.
Programme Duration: 4 years (Full Time). Studentships are also available for applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis (please check individual adverts for further details).
Funding: Each studentship supports a full stipend, paid for four years at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees and a Research Training Support Grant (for travel, consumables, and further training). Applications are open only to candidates eligible for Home fees. If you are unsure of your fee status, please refer to this UKCISA webpage to find out your fee status.
Please see individual adverts for details on entry requirements as these vary between university and project.
If you do not hold the entry requirements but you feel you have evidence of relevant skills and expertise that is equivalent, please get in touch with both the project contact and relevant institution director.
Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
- have settled status, or
- have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence, and be aware of the following additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship.
Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to the information on https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application otherwise your visa may be refused.
Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be borne by the university. Please see individual adverts for further details of the English Language requirements for the university you are applying to.
Further guidance on how to apply can be found via our Application Resources webpage.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
