MPhil/PhD Studentship in Energy Structures at University of Derby 2026

The University of Derby has an opportunity for two full-time postgraduate research studentships in the Zero Carbon area of research in the College of Science and Engineering (SE).

Please note: Only international students can apply for this project, as recruited researchers must comply with the mobility rule associated with the project:

They must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent by the researcher as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention 140 are not taken into account.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineNovember 30, 2025
• Study LevelMasters , PhD
• SponsorUniversity of Derby
• City to studyDerby
• School to studyUniversity of Derby
• Course to studyEngineering , Science
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

£49,775.81 stipend per annum + international tuition fees of £16,900* per annum (up to three years)

*This fee is indicative and may increase for the 2026-27 academic year.

Requirements

• Supported researchers must not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
• Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• DC’s must be recruited and enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• Recruited researchers can be of any nationality.
• Recruited researchers must comply with the mobility rule

English Language

• Doctoral Candidate (DCs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.

Selection Process

Recruitment will be carefully executed and monitored in accordance with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers and in the DN mobility rules. Following an open, transparent, merit-based, impartial and equitable recruitment procedure which are tailored to each DC offering.

The DC positions will be advertised until all positions are filled. All applications proceed through the central on-line recruitment site via the University of Edinburgh. Candidates apply electronically for one to a maximum of two positions and indicate their preference.

Application Documents

All candidates must upload the following documentation:

• degree Certificate(s) (and translations if not English)
• transcript/interim transcript (and translation if not English)
• syllabus/Course description (and translation if not English)
• research Proposal (maximum 2 pages)
• CV
• English Language certificate
• reference contact information (references will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates).

Check also:
Wits-Edinburgh Programme in Sustainable African Futures by Mastercard Foundation 2026-2027
Department of Aeronautics MSc Scholarship at Imperial College London 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

Applications should be submitted through the GENIUS Doctoral Network.

Application links

DC 10: Geothermal extraction from flooded mine shafts for heating and cooling applications - GENIUS Doctoral Network

DC 12: Agrifood business parks: geothermal integration with low carbon technologies - GENIUS Doctoral Network

Review our entry requirements before submitting your application and check out the 'Getting Started' section below.

Closing dates for applications: 30 November 2025.

Interviews: Dec 2025/Jan 2026

If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Supervisors: Professor Chris Sansom and Dr Tugba Gurler 

DC10: DoS - Chris Sansom, First Supervisor - Tugba Gurler 
DC12: DoS - Tugba Gurler, First Supervisor - Chris Sansom

Find out more about Zero Carbon.

To learn more, visit University of Derby Scholarship webpage