EPSRC DTPs represent significant investments in doctoral training. The purpose of the EPSRC DTP is to align part of our training investment with the underpinning EPS research that our Council supports.
DTP funding is allocated every few years (for example, the DTPs starting in 2020 are for students starting in both 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years). A snapshot of live grants is taken on 1 April of the allocation year.
Universities in receipt of a DTP determine the distribution of this studentship funding within the university. Find out more about this flexibility.
Our algorithm
The funding is allocated to UK universities with significant EPSRC research activity, by means of an algorithm. The algorithm is based on a comprehensive profile of EPSRC research funding, awarded competitively from EPSRC’s core resource baseline. Exclusions that arise from this principle are:
- non-completely won grants
- capital funding
- national facilities funding
- training grants
- grants awarded on behalf of UKRI
- non-core funding
We do not limit the number of institutions who can receive a DTP allocation. The number we support is influenced by the distribution of research funding across institutions.
Portfolio and grant value
The total portfolio value for an institution is determined based on the lead applicant’s affiliation. Considering the total eligible research funding that has been awarded, the institutional proportion of this is calculated. This proportion, applied to the DTP budget available, gives a preliminary DTP allocation for that institution.
A minimum DTP grant size is applied. This ensures multiple EPSRC students can be supported each year. Any preliminary allocation below this is redistributed amongst the remaining institutions. The grant value must also be sufficient to justify the overheads for the universities in meeting our requirements regarding both strategic documents as part of the DTP assurance process and the monitoring/reporting of students. The exact minimum grant value will vary with each allocation year as it takes account of studentship cost increases, stipends for example.
The pro rata grant resource value is used, such as the outstanding resource funding based on the remaining duration. This ensures the DTP allocation reflects the forward-looking grant portfolio and smooths the variation caused by large grants being awarded in the past.
Documentation you must provide
Institutions that are to be allocated a DTP award are required to provide a Statement of Intent.
This documentation provides information about the strategy the university will employ in distributing and managing the funds.
These documents are considered by a panel of experts and DTP awards are only released if the Statements of Intent meet the criteria for this assurance stage.
Resources
You can read our Equality Impact Assessment reports on: