For DTP Partners
The project proposal call for 2026 cohort has closed
We expect to award a minimum of 19 studentships to start September 2026.
PhD students will receive a full UKRI studentship (including stipend, university fees at UK home student rate, training and contribution to conference costs) for four years. The studentships will be open to individuals eligible for UK home student status and to international students however the maximum number of studentships that can be awarded to international students in 2026 is six.
To maintain project distribution across FoodBioSystems partner universities we have an aimed for number of studentships to advertise and award from each university. However, the distribution of the advertised and awarded projects will remain dependent on the quality of the projects submitted and of the student applicants.
Summary of student selection process
All applications for advertised projects will be submitted via the DTP online form. Candidates may apply for one or two projects and their project preference is not taken into account during the candidate assessment process.
We assess candidates’ academic background, research skills/experience, aptitude and motivation in a three-stage process
- Shortlisting by project teams
- Anonymised applications are assessed, using standardised rubrics, to ensure consistency across all project teams. We do not consider CVs.
- The supervisory team select 4-5 applicants for a 30-40 minute on-line interview.
- Applicants eligible for a guaranteed interview are added to the interview list.
- Interviews
- Follow a standard format and candidates are assessed using a common rubric.
- Assessment by Selection Committee reviewers
- If candidates are suitable for a project, a panel of reviewers from the DTP Selection Committee assess their anonymised written answers from the application forms.
The selection panel make the final decision on awarding studentships.
- Interview and selection panel scores are combined and threshold for award is set (usually the mean score).
- Studentships are awarded to projects with candidates who meet the threshold for award (in rank order of projects within each university).
- We can award up to 30% of our studentships to candidates with international student status. This is a maximum of six studentships in the 2026 cohort.
- Supervisor and candidate project preferences are also considered (if the candidate meets the threshold for award).
- Remaining candidates who are eligible for studentship award are added to our reserve list.
- To widen the pool of projects with reserve candidates, Selection Committee may slightly reduce the eligibility threshold for reserve status.
- The Management Committee reviews and ratifies the Selection Committee decision before awards are announced.
| Event / Action | Date/Deadline |
| Project proposal webinar (slides available) | Thurs 19 June 11.30-13.00 |
| Pre-call information shared | w/c 14 July 2025 |
| Call for project proposals & proposal submission site opens | postponed to 23 September |
| Partnership event at Kew Gardens (Provisional Booking Form) | Thursday 11 Sept 2025 |
| Call for project proposals closes | Monday 20 Oct 2025 (12.00 BST) |
| Proposals sent out for review | Wednesday 29 Oct 2025 |
| Selection Committee meets to select proposals | w/c 17 Nov 2025 |
| Management Committee reviews and ratifies Selection Committee decision | w/c 24 Nov 2025 |
| Call for student applications opens | w/c 8 Dec 2025 |
| Closing date for student applications | Monday 26 January 2026 (12.00 GMT) |
| Shortlisting period | 9 -27 February 2026 |
| Student interview window | 27 February – 12 March 2026 |
| Selection Committee meets and recommends awards | 18/19 March 2026 |
| Management Committee reviews and ratifies awards | w/c 23 March 2026 |
| Award/rejection letters sent to shortlisted candidates | by 30 March 2026 |