PhD EPSRC CDT in Developing National Capabilities for Materials 4.0, with the Henry Royce Institute
Year of entry: 2026
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Overview
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Duration
- 4 years
- Entry requirements
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The minimum requirement for admission to this CDT is a upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a STEM discipline, or international equivalent. An ATAS certificate may also be required for some international students.
- How to apply
For projects hosted at the University of 99¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· ONLY , please complete the . Once in, you will need to select Postgraduate Research, then 2026/27 academic year, and then CDT in Materials 4.0.
If the PhD you are interested in is hosted at one of our partner institutions, please follow the instructions in the project-specific FindAPhD page. If you are unsure, please email doctoral-training@royce.ac.uk .
Programme options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Y | N | N | N |
Programme overview
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0 (CDT in Materials 4.0 / CDT in Digital Materials) is a 4-year Postgraduate Research programme coordinated by the Henry Royce Institute .
Although there is a cohort-based training component in which cohorts come together, you will start your research from day 1!
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:
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PhD (full-time)
UK students (per annum): Band A - £5,238; Band B - £7,700; Band C - £13,200, Band D - £21,200; Band E £36,100
International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A - £29,900; Band B - £32,400; Band C - £37,900, Band D - £45,900; Band E £60,800
Scholarships/sponsorships
Candidates admitted to the CDT in Materials 4.0 will have their fees fully covered, regardless of their nationality, and receive a tax-free stipend.
Additionally, a Research and Training Support Grant is available to all CDT students, to cover research-related expenses.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- doctoral.training@manchester.ac.uk
- School/Faculty overview
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See:
Programmes in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.
- Materials
- Biomaterials
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Coatings and Ceramics
- Computer Science
- Imaging and Characterisation
- Metallurgy and Corrosion
- Nano and Functional Materials
- Nuclear Engineering
- Polymers and Composites
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
The minimum requirement for admission to this CDT is a upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a STEM discipline, or international equivalent. An ATAS certificate may also be required for some international students.
English language
All applicants will need to demonstrate competency in English. Applicants who do not already possess an acceptable English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test and attain, as a minimum:
IELTS: 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6 in writing and listening and 5.5 in all other sub-tests.
TOEFL iBT: At least   90 overall with   no subtest below 70. We do not accept 'MyBestScore'.
Further information can be found on our website .
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
For projects hosted at the University of 99¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· ONLY , please complete the . Once in, you will need to select Postgraduate Research, then 2026/27 academic year, and then CDT in Materials 4.0.
If the PhD you are interested in is hosted at one of our partner institutions, please follow the instructions in the project-specific FindAPhD page. If you are unsure, please email doctoral-training@royce.ac.uk .
How your application is considered
In addition to the application form, all CDT candidates will be asked to complete a short questionnaire, which will be used for shortlisting.
Interview requirements
Shortlisted candidates will be expected to prepare a 5-minute presentation on previous research they have conducted; this presentation will be followed by questions and answers, in stages:
- Questions related to the presentation
- Technical questions related to the project applied for
- General questions on Postgraduate Research
- Questions the applicant might have, for the panel to answer
Programme details
Programme description
Materials 4.0 is the digital materials revolution that will accelerate the discovery, innovation and validation of new materials systems. It aims to maximise the value of materials data and link the digital and physical via cyber-physical systems for prediction, classification and control of material performance. Globally, companies are racing to adopt a materials informatics framework, combining capabilities from risk management, materials modelling, artificial intelligence / machine learning, manufacturing informatics and life-cycle simulation.
The Materials 4.0 CDT programme is structured to allow PGRs to engage with their research projectsfrom the get-go. Aresidential induction, which will be delivered as soon as the academic year in all participating institutions has started, will begin to build intra-and inter-cohort cohesion and then early commencement of research will give our PGRs opportunities to establish relationships with their supervisors, host research groups and industrial sponsors from the outset. The training programme will interleave activities with ongoing research, building from basic learning to leadership over four years, as follows:
- Year 1: Learner - y ou will gain the basic knowledge and develop the core skills required for their transition to researchers. You will:
- Year 2: Trainee - Materials 4.0 PGRs will deepen their background knowledge and develop the skills necessary to pass on their learning. You will:
- Year 3: Trainer - PGRs will become involved in training the wider community of materials researchers from beyond the CDT, as well as CDT PGRs from later cohorts, which will help them deepen their own subject-specific knowledge and hone their skills.
- Year 4: Leader - PGRs will grow into leaders and become advocates for the digitalisation of materials discovery and manufacturing in industry and academia.
Additional programme information
This Centre for Doctoral Training is managed by the .