Faculty of Science PhD@Work Programme FAQS

Please visit the PhD@Work home page for additional information. We encourage anyone interested in the programme to contact science-research@strath.ac.uk and we will be happy to arrange an initial online meeting to discuss any questions that you have.

Once you have discussed your project with staff at Strathclyde, and supervisors have been identified, applications should be submitted using the standard online application portal. The Strathclyde academic supervisor can offer the PhD@Work applicant advice on this process.

If you are interested in the PhD@Work scheme, we encourage you to contact science-research@strath.ac.uk to arrange an initial online meeting with faculty staff. As part of this meeting, we will discuss your project ideas and help you identify potential supervisors (if you do not already have a relationship with an academic at Strathclyde). We also encourage interested candidates to visit our website to explore our areas of research expertise and staff profiles.

 

Each department in the Faculty of Science has their own research webpages: 

 

Information on specialist Research Centres can be found at: www.strath.ac.uk/science/ourresearch

Doctoral research projects can begin at any point of the year to allow project alignment with the company’s research planning and strategy. However, the start date should be the 1st of a month.

PhD@Work candidates will typically join the programme on a part-time basis, spending 50% of their time over six years working towards the PhD. However, different patterns are possible to suit the candidate’s and company’s needs, provided the total duration of study is the equivalent of three years full-time. We will be happy to discuss this with you on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, however, continuity is key to any PhD project, especially for part-time PhDs. It is therefore recommended that any pauses are kept to a minimum.

No. Some candidates may choose to come to the university, for example to meet with their supervisor, spend time in their research laboratory, or access specialist facilities not available at the company, but others will study wholly remotely.

Either UK or international tuition fees apply to the PhD@Work depending on the nationality and country of residency of the candidate. These are published annually (see Postgraduate Fees for the appropriate year of entry at www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/feesfunding/tuitionfees). 

Please contact science-research@strath.ac.uk if you would like further information on the estimated fee levels for a proposed project.

No. The expectation is PhD@Work candidates will continue to be employed and salaried by their company throughout the programme. A separate stipend is therefore not required.

In addition to the fees, it is recommended that a provision is made by the company to financially support the activities of PhD@Work candidates. This may include travel and subsistence for short visits and meetings, spending time on campus, bench fees, lab costs and materials (where applicable), attendance at conferences, etc. It is recommended that you discuss the requirements of the project with either the relevant academic supervisor or contact science-research@strath.ac.uk

This would normally be arranged through annual invoicing, the schedule of which will be agreed upon at the outset by all parties and detailed in the Studentship Agreement.

As the PhD@Work candidate will be based at the company and conducting the majority of research on their business site, IP would normally be assigned to the company.

A template Studentship Agreement for PhD@Work candidates in the Faculty of Science is available. Once all parties are content with the provisions of this, it will be signed and copies retained for future reference. Where more complicated Agreements are required – for example if a company wished to commit to supporting multiple studentships over an extended period of time – such negotiations will be handled by the university’s Grants and Contracts team in RKES (Research and Knowledge Exchange Services).

Confidentiality is agreed at the outset of the project by all parties through the application process. When the PhD@Work candidate is in a position to submit their PhD thesis, an External Examiner is required to be appointed. Strathclyde can assist with Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs) / Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) (if required) as aligned with the External Examiner appointment.

Strathclyde is a socially progressive institution, which is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. For further information on the University’s policies and initiatives please see here: www.strath.ac.uk/professionalservices/accessequalityinclusionservice/equalitydiversity.

There may be tax benefits to either the company or the PhD@Work candidate, however, this would be for the company to explore.

Yes, however the PhD@Work candidate may be classed as an international student – depending on their nationality and country of residency – and so eligible to pay tuition fees at the international rate.