Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership

What you get

You will be offered a fully funded PhD place in the field of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences for 3.5 years (42 months). The core funding consists of a tax-free living allowance of approximately EUR 24,390 per year (£20,780 in 2025/26). This is increased annually in line with the UKRI standard rate. Your tuition fees will also be fully covered. International students pay the lower ‘home’ tuition fee rate rather than the higher international rate. In addition, you will receive a research budget of £9,000 for laboratory and fieldwork costs, £2,000 for conferences and £1,000 for additional training courses (up to £1,000 more on request). Some projects involve an industry partner, which provides a paid placement and additional research funding. The programme is funded by NERC (the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council) and run jointly by the Universities of Bristol, Exeter, Bath and Cardiff.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold (or are expected to obtain) a UK bachelor’s degree with a ‘First Class’ or ‘Upper Second’ classification (2:1) or an equivalent qualification from abroad. A degree with a grade of 2:2 may be sufficient if you have supplemented this with a Master’s degree or relevant professional experience.
• Field of study: You hold a relevant degree in environmental sciences or earth sciences, or in physics, engineering, mathematics, statistics or computer science.
• Where you study: The PhD programme takes place at one of the four UK partner universities: Bristol, Exeter, Bath or Cardiff.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Most places are allocated to ‘domestic’ applicants (from the UK, Ireland or those with permanent residence in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland). A limited number of places are available to international applicants, who will also pay only the domestic fee.
• Residence: You have lived for at least 3 years without interruption in the United Kingdom, the EEA, Switzerland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar prior to the start of your PhD.

How to apply

Select a specific project from the range offered by one of the partner universities. Send your application, including the DLTP form for the personal statement, to that university. The application deadline for the October 2026 intake is 8 January. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview with a selection panel in early March.

How realistic are your chances?

This is the largest NERC PhD partnership in the United Kingdom, but there are only around 24 fully-funded places across all four universities for the 2026 cohort (the group starting together this year). Competition is fierce. Domestic applicants have the best chances, as places for international applicants are limited. Your strongest assets are a well-considered choice of project and a clear alignment with a specific research topic. A first-class honours degree or a 2:1 in a relevant subject, combined with an early and targeted application, will give you strong prospects.