Studentships
Studentships are a funded opportunity which link to a specific research project.
Funding is is only available to PhD students working on that specific funded project or one that is open to any applicants in a specified field.
Most funding is for PhD places. Schemes vary and may provide either full cover or partial funding for tuition fees, and some may also include a maintenance grant. A list of schemes currently open will get advertised below throughout the year and via the national press or on job websites. Appointments are then made following shortlisting and interviews.
Please check individual awards for eligibility. Current research students are not eligible to apply for our research studentships.
Available studentships
Studentships are updated regularly so if you have missed a deadline, or there are no relevant opportunities at the moment, please check again soon.
Project title: Landscape study for micro siting of small vertical axis wind turbines
MSc by Research in School of Engineering and Computing
Reference number: TreesWT
Applications are invited for an MSc by Research in the Research Institute for Engineering, within the School of Engineering and Computing. Both home and EU or international applicants may apply. The post is self-funded.
It is expected the successful applicant will commence September 2025.
Project description:
Trees are typically considered as obstacles for small wind turbine applications. However, their precise effect on the performance of wind turbines in their vicinity has so far received little research attention. It is therefore of interest to study, through experiments and modelling work, the airflow around trees with dense foliage (e.g., conifers) and to examine how certain tree configurations could influence or even improve the wind environment at a site where small vertical axis wind turbines are planned.
Preliminary research has shown the need to accurately measure the inertial resistance of trees. The inertial resistance will be measured in this project using suitably identified “tree material” in a wind tunnel. The sensitivity of the results to different aerodynamic porosities of the material will be examined.
A 2D simulation of the flow around a conifer tree will be conducted via ANSYS Fluent CFD solver using the measured values of the inertia resistance. The flow patterns will be compared with 2D simulated results and experimental flow patterns around an artificial and a natural conifer tree, as well as with the results obtained from previous work.
There is the option of PhD progression after successful completion of this MSc by Research.
Further information
Informal project related enquiries about the post can be made by email:
How to apply
Applications should be completed on our online application system, selecting the following options:
- Type of study: Research degree (postgraduate)
- Course: Master of Science (by Research)
- Campus: Preston Campus
- Mode of study: full-time
Please quote the reference number TreesWT on the application form.
- Closing date: Monday 7 July 2025
- Proposed interview date: TBC
- Expected start date: September 2025
Current research students are not eligible to apply for this studentship.
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| Attributes | Essential | Desirable | Measured by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education and qualifications |
|
MSc on related topic | Application and interview |
| Experience |
Programming and one of the following:
|
|
Application and interview |
| Skills and abilities |
|
|
Application and interview |
Project title: Natural ventilation of Photovoltaic (PV) modules using the cooling effect of wind speed for temperature reduction
MSc by Research in School of Engineering and Computing
Reference number: NatVentPV
Applications are invited for an MSc by Research in the Research Institute for Engineering, within the School of Engineering and Computing. Both Home and EU/International Applicants may apply. The post is self-funded.
It is expected the successful applicant will commence September 2025.
Project description:
Elevated operating temperatures cause decrease in efficiency and degradation of the solar cells over time. Reduction rates typically range from 0.4% / 5oC to 0.5% / 5oC. The most cost-effective option to improve the cooling of photovoltaic panels is to make the most of natural wind. Although the airgap between the panel and the mounting surface, the tilt and the sparsity of module arrangements have attracted the attention of researchers, little consideration has been given so far to the morphology of the ground at the location of the PV panels. The study builds on and expands current research at the School of Engineering and Computing on this topic and it will be a quantitative investigation of the increasing wind speed on solar panel temperature. ANSYS Fluent will be used to study through a 2D analysis, then progressively through 3D analysis how specific morphologies and types of the ground underneath the panels can enhance the cooling effect of wind speed. The work will include preliminary experiments in a wind tunnel. There is the option of PhD progression after successful completion of this MSc by research.
Further information:
Informal project related enquiries about the post can be made by emailing:
How to apply
Applications should be completed on our online application system, selecting the following options:
- Type of Study: Research Degree (Postgraduate)
- Course: Master of Science (by Research)
- Campus: Preston Campus
- Mode of Study: full-time
Please quote the reference number NatVentPV on the application form.
- Closing Date: Monday 7 July 2025
- Proposed Interview Date: TBC
- Expected Start Date: September 2025
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
| Attributes | Essential | Desirable | Measured by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education and qualifications |
|
MSc on related topic | Application and interview |
| Experience |
Programming and one of the following:
|
|
Application and interview |
| Skills and abilities |
|
|
Application and interview |
ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP)
The North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership is one of fourteen DTPs in the UK, created by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The NWSSDTP comprises the Universities of Liverpool, Keele, Lancaster, Manchester, and Central Lancashire, and provides Master’s and PhD students with access to funding and quality research training in social science disciplines.
You will have access to research expertise across the partners. You can take advantage of a variety of study in social sciences, as well as in subjects where scientists are collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines such as medicine and the arts. The NWSSDTP welcome applications for full-time and part-time study across all the constituent pathways and institutions.
Funding is available at the University of Central Lancashire for the following subject pathways:
- Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work
- Psychology
- Socio-legal Studies
- Sociology
More information can be found on the ‘How to Apply’ webpage.
The 2025 Standard Studentship competition has now closed. Applications for the 2026 competition will re-open later in the year.
Please contact us if you have any queries.
UCLan funded Doctoral Training Centre for industry collaboration
We established our Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) for industry collaboration in 2022. The DTC supports fully-funded studentships across a broad range of subject domains.
Discover more about the Doctoral Training Centre