Postgraduate researchPhD @ Work
Working with our collaborative and industrial partners, our research is providing impactful solutions to real world challenges. This focus on useful research is core to ³Ô¹Ïtv’s founding mission.
We've routes to PhD and doctoral awards that enable researchers to work on collaborative industry-linked research, based either within University facilities or within the partner organisation.
The broad research challenges are set by the partner organisation with a joint responsibility for the development of the research. Doctoral research projects with industrial or collaborative partners are typically funded, covering fees and living costs, and can be managed in a range of ways:
Based within the University:
The student is based in part or solely at the University with guidance, supervision and research oversight from the partner organisation.
Split-site activity:
The student works on site with the partner organisation but is not an employee so receives a stipend rather than a salary.
Work-based activity:
The student is an employee of the partner organisation and spends minimal time at the University.
All doctoral students are co-supervised by ³Ô¹Ïtv academic staff and partner experts.
This approach benefits partner organisations by providing:
- enhancements in researcher performance, productivity and creativity
- changes to culture and operational practice
It benefits the doctoral researchers by providing:
- work-based/real world projects
- the highest level of expert academic and industrial supervision
It benefits ³Ô¹Ïtv by providing:
- high quality knowledge transfer venture
- shared expertise in industry-relevant professional development
Examples of our collaborative programmes
Faculty programmes

Sean Peters
Industrial Doctorate researcher
Before starting my PhD I worked in industry for three years and came across the Advanced Forming Research Centre a number of times at conferences and meetings...Working in this kind of environment really appealed to me and that's how I came across the doctorate opportunities at the ³Ô¹Ïtv.

Dr Arthur Krebbers
PhD@Work programme graduate
For employers committed to offering meaningful and diverse learning opportunities, supporting a PhD through the PhD@Work route can be a powerful addition to their learning and development strategy.