The SWBio DTP is a BBSRC-funded structured PhD bioscience training programme, with students required to complete a taught first year, a PIPS/CASE placement (depending on type of studentship) and attend DTP cohort activities. Training is supported by a multi-institutional partnership based mainly across the South West and Wales, including 6 universities, 3 research institutes and an industry partner.
Further information about the BBSRC-funded SWBio DTP >>
PhD Studentships
There are 3 types of PhD studentships with the DTP:
- Standard Studentships
- Standard Studentships with Associate Partner – projects designed in collaboration between our core and associate partners.
- CASE Studentships – projects designed in collaboration with a CASE partner.
Overview of the requirements for each studentship type >>
Studentships are fully-funded for 4 years (stipend and tuition fees) and includes a £16k Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) and a £1,920 fieldwork budget (to support fieldwork/conferences/PIPS placement).
Please note:
- you may only submit one project on which you are listed as the main supervisor through each type of studentship route.
- you may be nominated as a second supervisor on more than one project. However, the SWBio DTP considers it usually unrealistic for a supervisor to be proactively and substantially engaged in multiple projects, and this may detract in the consideration of a project.
For further information about designing a project/the project process, please contact your institutional Management or Implementation Group member for advice or alternatively the DTP Hub. Contact Information >>
CASE studentship requirements:
| Mandatory financial contributions to CASE studentships | ||
| Companies <50 Employees | Companies >51 Employees (including employees in parent companies or subsidiaries) | |
| Placement Expenses | Yes | Yes |
| Academic Contribution (to support the project costs at the academic partner) | No | Yes (at least £1400/annum – £5,600 over the 4 years) |
| Studentship Stipend | No | No (but encouraged) |
Regardless of the size of the company, the non-academic partner must always meet all the costs incurred by the student during their placement at the organisation, including project-related consumables, as well as travel and accommodation. Note: If the non-academic partner is a public funded body, or charitable organisation the financial contribution can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
All students spend a minimum of 3 months on a placement with the non-academic partner. This 3 month period can be at any point during the studentship (subject to the timetable of the taught component in the first year) and may consist of a number of shorter visits if appropriate. The BBSRC encourages placements of longer duration but up to a maximum of 18 months.
Further BBSRC guidance for CASE studentships:
Note: Links above are to other DTP websites. This is whilst BBSRC are updating links on their website.
Key dates
| Project call opens | July – early September |
| Projects advertised | Mid October – Beginning of December |
| Supervisor nominations | December – Beginning of January |
| Interview days | End of January/early February |
DTP mailing list
If you are based at one of our SWBio DTP partner institutions, you can join our partnership SWBio DTP mailing list. We will use this mailing list to contact you about DTP related information such as project calls, BBSRC news and other DTP activities that may be of interest to prospective/current supervisors (e.g. DTP events, supervisor training opportunities).
To sign up to this mailing list, please follow the below instructions:
- Go to the SWBIO-DTP mailing list: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=swbio-dtp
- Choose the ‘subscribe’ option and include your details
- Receive confirmation which will require you to click ‘OK confirmation’
Unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time by visiting the SWBIO-DTP mailing list: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=swbio-dtp