Guidance

PhD research funding from Dstl

Information for UK academic institutions, research groups or research centres about calls for PhD funding.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) operates the UK-France PhD programme and various smaller individual PhD calls. Calls for PhD-level research will each have a different theme and application process.

We welcome applications to PhD level research calls from UK institutions with leading academics, research groups or research centres.

To be notified of future PhD funding opportunities, join R-Cloud.

We do not accept applications from individual students; if you are a student you will need to approach a relevant department at a university.

UK-France PhD programme

The UK-France joint PhD programme aims to develop research in key areas of mutual interest to France and the UK. It is jointly managed by Dstl and the French MOD’s Defence Innovation Agency (AID).

100 PhD studentships have been funded since the scheme began in 2011.

Published 1 July 2014
Last updated 21 December 2022 + show all updates
  1. The deadline for proposals for the 2023 UK-France programme has now passed.

  2. Added information for Future Workforce and Training (FWT) Programme PhDs.

  3. Deadline for proposals for the UK-France PhD programme extended to 10 November 2022.

  4. Added details of 2023 UK-France PhD programme.

  5. 2020 details added

  6. Updated with 2020 details

  7. Details for 2019 UK/France PhD programme added

  8. Applications for quantum sensing PhD funding are now open.

  9. The date of the 2019 UK-France PhD programme call updated.

  10. Added PhD call.

  11. 2018 PhD call information and application form added

  12. Added information on UK/France 2018 PhD calling timelines.

  13. Removed Responsive Materials for Detection of Deposited Organic Solids PhD call as it has now closed.

  14. Updating PhD call information

  15. UK-France PhD Programme details updated

  16. New PhD call on military cyber systems

  17. Added 'Enhanced Detector Paper' PhD call.

  18. Add 2016 PhD calling notice

  19. UK-France PhD programme 2015 calling notice added

  20. New PhD calling notice added

  21. New PhD call added

  22. Added a new PhD call: Decision Aids for Command and Control

  23. New PhD call added

  24. New PhD call: Dstl is looking for funding options for a 3-year research project starting in October 2014 on the topic of analysis of aerosol samples with respect to microbial communities in geographically diverse environments.

  25. First published.