UK government to fund almost 5,000 STEM postgraduates

THE NEXT generation of UK scientists and engineers will receive a £500m (US$637m) funding boost from the government, which has committed to backing 4,700 postgraduate students.

Announced on National Engineering Day, the Doctoral Landscape and Doctoral Focal Awards has been provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and will be made available to 45 higher education institutions across the UK.

Prospective students will be able to apply for the funding in the coming months before their studies next year.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) says the investment aims to support the next generation of researchers in areas of health, physics, and engineering.

Peter Kyle, the science and technology secretary, said: “This £500m investment will support our vitally important higher education sector while supporting more bright students to pursue their talents and in turn deliver the life-saving drugs and clean energy alternatives of the future, that benefit all of our lives.”

Established success

DSIT points to several past recipients of the awards and their success in the engineering field, including Jennifer Olsen, whose PhD on improving the comfort of prosthetic limbs earned her a Women in Engineering Society’s ‘WE50 Engineering Heroes’ award.

Olsen is an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Prize research fellow in the School of Engineering at Newcastle University.

Dame Ottoline Leyser, CEO of UKRI, said: “The UKRI’s investments in Doctoral Training are pivotal for the UK’s research and innovation endeavour.

“The awards provide funding for universities across the UK to nurture a cadre of creative, talented people to develop their skills and knowledge.”

Research areas

The awards funding will be allocated to students through three of the UKRI’s research councils.

Around more than 2,300 students will be funded with an investment of £293m by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Council, and Natural Environment Research Council Doctoral Landscape Awards.

Similarly, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will invest £279m in 2,400 students, and the Natural Environment Research council will invest £11.4m in 90 students.

John Lazar, the president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “We warmly welcome this announcement on National Engineering Day.”

He added: “UK engineering research has a strong global reputation and today’s support from government is an investment in our future economy.”