What is a studentship?
This is a form of doctoral funding that is often attached to a specific project. They sometimes cover tuition fees and living costs. The funding amount and duration of the studentship can vary depending on the funder and the project so please read the funding section of the studentship advert carefully.
The table below outlines our currently available studentships and deadlines for applications. Click on the link to find out more information and to apply. Remember to read through the How to apply page for for guidance on the application process before starting your application.
Available Studentships
Aston Institute of Health & Neurodevelopment
| Research project title | Supervisor | Full details | Deadline |
| Using simulation for psychological preparation and support | Prof Rachel Shaw | View advert | 16th June 2025 23.59 UK time |
Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence
| Research project title | Supervisor | Full details | Deadline |
| Development of Label-free Method for Real-Time Dynamics of Membrane Proteins | View advert | 1st June 2025 23.59 UK time | |
| Digital Discovery of Polymer Nanoparticles | Dr Sam Parkinson | View advert | 25th August 2025 23.59 UK time |
| Sustainable design of high-performance polyester membranes for separation technologies | View advert | 25th August 2025 23.59 UK time | |
| Swarming Microrobots as Targeted Therapeutics in Confinement | Dr Samuel Wilson-Whitford | View advert | 25th August 2025 23.59 UK time |
College of Health and Life Sciences
| Research project title | Supervisor | Full details | Deadline |
| The role of the cAMP receptor protein in antimicrobial resistance and virulence gene regulation in pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae (Aston University and Symbiosis International) | View advert | 1st June 2025 23.59 UK time | |
| Engineered EV for wound healing (Aston University and Symbiosis International) | Prof. Andrew Devitt | View advert | 1st June 2025 23.59 UK time |
| Novel OPM-MEG for pre-surgical eloquent cortex mapping in children prior to surgical brain tissue resection | Dr Caroline Witton | View advert | 30th May 2025 23.59 UK time |
| Sleep pain and caregiver experiences in SYNGAP1-associated intellectual disability (The SPACES PhD) | Dr Georgie Agar | View advert | 26th May 2025 23.59 UK time |
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
| Research project title | Supervisor | Full details | Deadline |
| Event Cameras for Object Detection and Image Enhancement | Dr David Benton | View advert | 1st June 2025 23.59 UK time |
| Neuronal network activity and plasticity in human cortical organoids | Prof David Saad | View advert | 1st June 2025 23.59 UK time |
| Privacy-preserving Human Attention Tracking for Human Robot Collaboration | Dr Zhuangzhuang Dai | View advert | 19th December 2025 23.59 UK time |
CDT (Centre for Doctoral Training) Net2Zero
| Research project title | Supervisor | Full details | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-Driven Catalyst Discovery for Engineered Greenhouse Gas Removal in Net-Zero Chemical Processes | Prof. Sai Gu | View advert | Open until filled |
| Biofuel Chemical Looping Combustion for Clean Energy Production with CO2 Capture | Dr. Fatih Gulec | View advert | Open until filled |
| Dual Functional Materials for enhanced CO2 capture and utilisation through process integration | Prof. Chunfei Wu | View advert | Open until filled |
| Enzymatic utilisation of CO2-derived fatty acids for production of high value chemicals | Prof. Greg Challis | View advert | Open until filled |
| Understanding Porous Liquids for CO2 Capture and Conversion | Prof. Stuart James | Open until filled |
ESRC funded PhD Studentships: Open Competition
The competition for pathway-specific ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership studentships commencing in October 2024 is now closed. The competition for entry in October 2025 will open early in the new academic year. Please follow this link for details: Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP PhD studentship competition
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP)
Applications for October 2024 are now closed. MIBTP is a BBSRC funded Doctoral Training Partnership between the universities of Aston, Birmingham, Coventry, Harper Adams, Leicester and Warwick. The MIBTP has an ambitious vision to deliver innovative, world class research across the life sciences to boost the growing bioeconomy in the Midlands and across the UK.