Centres for Doctoral Training
Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) at the University of Surrey offer funded, cohort-based PhD opportunities that combine interdisciplinary research, advanced skills training and industry collaboration. These programmes help postgraduate researchers develop the expertise and professional experience needed for successful careers in academia, industry and the wider research landscape.
UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion
Through challenge-led research and close collaboration with industry, we are empowering researchers to develop AI media technologies that serve diverse audiences and drive real-world impact.
Bringing together the world-leading expertise of the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI at the University of Surrey - a pioneer in AI technologies for the creative industries, including vision, audio, language, and machine learning, and StoryFutures at Royal Holloway, University of London - a leader in creative production and audience experience, spanning arts, psychology, user research, and immersive storytelling.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Open Secure Networks (FORT)
Researchers will have the opportunity to advance work in exciting and emerging areas of wireless communications and cyber security.
The Centre aims to equip graduates with multi-disciplinary skills required for future network of networks. These training skills are needed by both industry and academia to carry out advance research, global standards, network deployment and safe/reliable automatic network operation and future services.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Micro- and NanoMaterials and Technologies
Solving academically challenging and industrially relevant problems through a profound understanding of processing–microstructure–property relationships. We have a unique focus on characterisation and provide sponsoring organisations with use of state-of-the-art instrumentation equipment.
Centre for Doctoral Training in Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Environmental Sustainability
Focusing on the identification, understanding, assessment and solutions-delivery of pressing science and engineering, environmental, societal and regulatory challenges in the civil and defence nuclear sectors.
The multidisciplinary RAPTOR collaboration will be driven by scientific endeavour, national priorities and industry need. The consortium is University of Liverpool, University of Manchester Dalton Nuclear Institute, University of Suffolk and University of Surrey together with nuclear energy and security sector partners.
Surrey contact – Professor Paul Sellin.
Physics-Led Applications for Nuclear Engineering and Technology programme (PLANET)
This programme will train a new generation of applied nuclear physicists with strong experimental, theoretical and computational skills to support the UK’s priorities in national security, clean energy and healthcare.
Led by the University of York, with partners at Surrey, Cambridge, Lancaster and Edinburgh, it brings together world-class expertise in nuclear physics and nuclear engineering. Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and match-funded by industry, at least 80 industry-ready nuclear scientists will be trained by 2034, focusing on nuclear data, reactor physics, radiation detection, AI, medical isotopes, fusion and nuclear security.
Surrey contact: Dr Esra Yuksel.
Skills and Training driving availability of National Defence Assets UP skilling (STAND-UP)
STAND-UP brings together Universities of Birmingham, Cumbria, Derby, Lancaster, Nottingham, Strathclyde and Surrey, to train over 80 multi-disciplinary engineering doctorates (EngDs) and over 20 part-time “EngDs@Work”.
The technical programme will be delivered through five residentials, all at defence nuclear enterprise locations, in a year of specialised cohort-based training.
Courses cover nuclear science and engineering, sustainable product lifecycle from design, through manufacture to decommissioning, alongside programmes of professional skills, outreach, project and risk management.
Surrey contact - Professor Mark Whiting.