Stand‑UP Doctoral Focal Award (DFA)
The STAND‑UP Doctoral Focal Award (DFA) provides fully funded Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentships across seven UK universities, focused on developing high‑quality nuclear skills and research leadership.
Supported by EPSRC/UKRI, the programme combines advanced technical training, industry placements and multidisciplinary supervision to prepare doctoral candidates for strategic roles in the civil nuclear sector. Through collaborative projects with academic and industrial partners, the DFA fosters applied research that addresses real‑world challenges in nuclear engineering, safety, decommissioning and innovation while strengthening the UK’s long‑term skills base.
For prospective doctoral researchers
Engineering doctorates that put you at the centre of national priorities.
Every STAND-UP studentship is a four year, fully funded Engineering Doctorate with 24 to 36 months embedded with an industry partner. You will work on live challenges, alongside leading academics and industry mentors, on the technologies that keep critical national infrastructure available.
Four year, fully funded EngD with tax-free stipend
24 to 36 months on placement with a UK industry partner
12 month cohort taught programme across seven universities
Five three-week residentials at key nuclear engineering sites
Welcome to the STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award (STAND‑UP DfA) introduction video.
This short film outlines the STAND‑UP DfA: a funded Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentship programme supported by EPSRC/UKRI, delivered across seven UK universities. You will learn:
What the STAND‑UP DfA offers to doctoral candidates in nuclear engineering and related disciplines.
The research themes, industry partnerships and training components that shape the EngD pathway.
Eligibility criteria, application timelines and the selection process.
Experiences from current students and host organisations, highlighting real projects and career development opportunities.
Watch to find out how the STAND‑UP DfA combines academic excellence, industry placement and sector-focused training to develop skilled professionals for the UK nuclear sector.
The STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award
The STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award is an EPSRC/UKRI-funded initiative providing fully funded Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentships across seven UK universities to develop high-calibre nuclear skills and research leadership.
The programme combines advanced technical training, industry-aligned research projects and professional development, enabling candidates to tackle real-world nuclear challenges in areas such as reactor technology, decommissioning, waste management and safety case development. Students benefit from multidisciplinary supervision teams, collaborative placements with industrial partners, cohort-based training events and access to national facilities, ensuring outcomes that deliver both academic excellence and practical impact for the UK nuclear sector.
The STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award
The STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award is an EPSRC/UKRI-funded initiative providing fully funded Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentships across seven UK universities to develop high-calibre nuclear skills and research leadership.
The programme combines advanced technical training, industry-aligned research projects and professional development, enabling candidates to tackle real-world nuclear challenges in areas such as reactor technology, decommissioning, waste management and safety case development. Students benefit from multidisciplinary supervision teams, collaborative placements with industrial partners, cohort-based training events and access to national facilities, ensuring outcomes that deliver both academic excellence and practical impact for the UK nuclear sector.
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The STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award (STAND-UP DFA) provides fully funded Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentships across seven UK universities to develop specialist nuclear skills and address industry challenges. Supported by EPSRC/UKRI, the programme combines advanced research with industrial placement, structured training and professional development to produce highly skilled engineers prepared for leadership roles in the civil nuclear sector. Students undertake collaborative projects aligned with industry needs, benefit from multidisciplinary supervision and receive cohort-based training to enhance technical, business and transferable competencies. The STAND UP DFA aims to strengthen the UK nuclear skills pipeline, foster innovation, and deliver impact through applied research that supports safe, sustainable and economically
The STAND UP Doctoral Focal Award (STAND-UP DFA) provides fully funded Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentships across seven UK universities to develop specialist nuclear skills and address industry challenges. Supported by EPSRC/UKRI, the programme combines advanced research with industrial placement, structured training and professional development to produce highly skilled engineers prepared for leadership roles in the civil nuclear sector. Students undertake collaborative projects aligned with industry needs, benefit from multidisciplinary supervision and receive cohort-based training to enhance technical, business and transferable competencies. The STAND UP DFA aims to strengthen the UK nuclear skills pipeline, foster innovation, and deliver impact through applied research that supports safe, sustainable and economically viable nuclear technologies.
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