Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Want to learn about what the NERC YES•DTN is and how to apply to a PhD studentship? Looking for advice when choosing a project or preparing your application?
Our FAQs are a handy guide for anyone interested in natural science or environmental research who may be considering further study. This FAQ section will hopefully answer some of the most common questions. If you cannot find the answer you are looking for, we will be running a number of webinars for applicants.

‘Demystifying the PhD application process’ webinars

These webinars are designed to support candidates during recruitment. We will announce the dates and how to join these via our website and social media, so please keep an eye on those. The webinars will include information on Panorama from our Director, Manager/EDI officer, and Q&As with a panel of current Panorama DTP students.

Recordings from our Panorama DTP for previous application rounds can be found here:

FAQs

 

 

DLA PhD funding explained

What is a Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA)?

  • A Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) is the new system the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is using to fund and train PhD students in environmental science. Our DLA award is called YES•DTN. FindAPhD has a handy guide to NERC cohort funding options.
  • A DLA consists of multi-discipline academic departments and external partners from industry, commerce or research.
  • It differs from other PhD studentships such as centres for doctoral training (CDTs) or University scholarships in terms of funding specifics.

What funding is available?

  • YES•DTN will provide students with a full PhD studentship. This consists of:
    • a personal stipend (tax-free allowance that you don’t have to pay back) at Research Council UK (RCUK) rates for 3.5 years
    • university fees
    • generous support for research costs, fieldwork, training and conference travel.
  • Depending on your background, you may be able to apply for additional funding from a charity or from a Government initiative to help support your cost of living. A growing list of these resources may be found on our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion page.
  • International students:
    • we cover all your university fees as well (regardless of home-international fee difference)
    • however, we cannot cover costs associated with relocation to the UK which you may incur, e.g. accommodation, travel, student visa, health surcharge.
    • See the UK Govt. website for more information on student visas (including costs) and the health surcharge. You can also get in touch with the Student Visa Advice service at the University of Leeds.

I’m disabled – is there funding for extra support during my PhD?

  • If you are disabled, you may be entitled to extra support during your YES•DTN PhD via the UK Govt. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
    • The DSA does not need to be paid back, and covers costs of ‘the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability’ up to £25,575 a year (2022 to 2023 rate).
    • If you think you may be eligible for this, please read the guidance provided by the UK Government and then get in touch with us (yes-dtn@leeds.ac.uk)
    • We can help you put in a claim to the DSA following the UKRI DSA Framework

Can I study part-time?

Part-time study is an option, but we are currently only able to offer part-time at a rate of 0.6FTE. Due to student visa restrictions, part-time study is only available to home students.

Can you have a job alongside your PhD? 

  • A PhD should be treated like a full time job and you are expected to study on average 37 hours per week.
  • You may take up part-time work , but you are limited to a maximum of 250 hours in any 12 month period. Any part-time work you do should not interfere with your ability to study. It may be a good idea to discuss this with the project supervisor to get a better understanding of the workload before taking on extra work. 
  • PhD students in the UK on a student visa are not permitted to work more than 20 hours per week, unless they take annual leave. Working in excess of the 20 hour maximum is a violation of your visa and may lead to your visa being curtailed.
  • PhD students are encouraged to take on paid tutoring and demonstrating work after completing a one day ‘Foundations of Teaching’ course.
  • Depending on your background, you may be able to apply for additional funding from a charity or from a Government initiative to help support your cost of living. A growing list of these resources may be found on our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion page.
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Eligibility:

What are the minimum entry requirements?

  • The minimum entry requirements for PhD study is a 2.1 honours degree, or equivalent, in a subject relating to your proposed area of research, or a good performance in a Masters level course in a relevant subject.
  • A first class honours degree (or equivalent) is usually required to be competitive for scholarship funding and a Masters degree is also a valuable asset.
  • If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

I am still studying and don’t have a transcript – what should I do?

  • If you do not have a transcript it would be helpful to provide a letter or certificate of enrolment which confirms the details of the programme you are currently registered onto.

I am an EU/international candidate – can I apply?

  • Yes, we are able to offer up to 30% of our full scholarships to international candidates.
  • International applicants will need proof of English language e.g. IELTS/TOEFL .  You do not need to meet the English Language requirements before applying but any offer will be conditional on meeting them.  In addition, you will need to meet the English Language requirements to obtain a student visa.
  • Note that while YES•DTN will cover all your university fees (regardless of home-international fee difference), we cannot cover costs associated with relocation to the UK which you may incur, e.g. accommodation, travel, student visa, health surcharge. Please see the UK Govt. website for more information on student visas (including costs) and the health surcharge. You can also get in touch with the Student Visa Advice service at the University of Leeds (where the DLA is hosted).

How do I know if I am a home/UK candidate or an international candidate?

  • To be classed as a home/UK student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
    • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
    • Have settled status, or
    • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
    • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK
  • More information on what this means can be found in the UKRI International Eligibility document.

What qualifications do you need to apply to a YES•DTN studentship? 

  • Minimum 2:1 Bachelors’ degree in a field linked to the PhD project. Note that we have recruited successful PhD candidates that changed fields completely. Quite often your skills are more important than specific knowledge that you have.
  • You can apply straight after a Bachelors’ degree, but you will need to show how you are competitive with those with a Masters: 
  • Draw on skills you have developed in situations other than your undergraduate project e.g. student work experience, programming etc.

Do you need to have research publications before starting a PhD? 

  • Not at all – although this would definitely be a bonus. The majority of our PhD students do not have publications before starting their PhD.

I already have a PhD, can I still apply?

  • Unfortunately not. We are not permitted to fund applicants who have already been awarded a doctorate.
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Finding the right PhD project:

How do you find a PhD? 

  • There is no right or wrong way to find a PhD, but what IS important is choosing the right one for you. All the current YES•DTN projects are listed here, and if you’re interested in any of them you’re encouraged to email the academic supervisor for the particular project for more information. If you’re at all unsure about contacting the academic(s) directly, get in touch with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Dr. Heather Selley (yes-dtn@leeds.ac.uk), who can give you some pointers or act as an intermediary. For help on making your final decision and exploring your options, see the advice below. 
  • If you’re already an undergraduate/Masters’ student:
    • make use of the careers services at your uni 
    • talk to your personal tutor for advice  
    • talk to your dissertation/summer project/Masters’ supervisor (particularly if you’re interested in turning your current project into a PhD) 
  • Websites can provide good advice as well as adverts for positions, such as:
  • Social media, e.g. Twitter/LinkedIn. Make an academic account and follow academics in your field, and (if you’re a current undergraduate/Masters’ student) your lecturers  
  • It may be helpful to talk to trusted friends and family, e.g. other students in your current cohort 
  • It can be useful to apply for work experience/summer internships in an academic group and talk to your supervisor(s) about potential projects. We offer paid Research Experience placements.  
  • Get in touch with academics in the field you’re interested in to see if they have an opening for a PhD
  • Pro tip: speak to supervisors before you apply to their PhD positions. This is invaluable, as it helps you to get a feel for what the project entails and whether you and the potential supervisor/academic group would be a good fit for one another.

Can I apply for more than one YES•DTN project?

  • No, you can only apply for 1 project within YES•DTN. Applicants who are interested in more than one project should contact the lead supervisors for further information about each project, so that they can then apply for their preferred choice (see more advice on choosing in the FAQs below).
  • We aim to recruit applicants based on their academic merit and interview performance. Following interview, strong candidates whose preferred project is no longer available will be offered an alternative, where possible.

Can I provide my own project or PhD proposal?

  • No – YES•DTN only offers pre-defined projects that you can apply to
  • If you do not define a project when applying or you provide your own project we will not process your application
  • Scientific projects are flexible and you typically will be able to have influence on the way the project is going – wherever the science takes you

How do you decide which PhD project is the right one for you? 

  • Consider factors beyond the project itself (good advice on this is also under the ‘What should you do before applying to a PhD project’ and ‘How do you find a PhD?’ questions in the FAQs). 
  • If you can, try to visit the department to get a better feel for the:
    • Location (remember, YES•DTN is spread across Leeds and York): Do you like the host University/city? What would your commute look like? Can you see yourself living in one of these cities?
    • Department (again, YES•DTN is spread across several institutes within the universities): Do you prefer a large, bustling department with many academics? Is the Department the best choice for the project field you’re interested in? 
    • Group: Do you get on well with the other people in the academic group? 
  • Finances: How does the stipend compare with the cost of living in the area? 
  • Career prospects: Are you going to develop the skills you want for your future career?
  • Think about the project too: Can you get excited about the topic and the project? Would you feel a sense of purpose/fulfilment from the project aims? Can you see yourself working on this topic for 3 to 4 years?
  • Motivation: why do you want to do a PhD? Studying for a PhD is not an easy option, so should be something you really want to do before you start.

How different can the PhD project be to your Masters/previous research project (if you have one)? 

  • You can definitely apply to something directly linked to your Masters – the PhD can even be a ‘continuation’ of your Masters work – but it’s not at all essential 
  • If you wish to switch fields, emphasise the research and transferable skills you gained from your project in the PhD application 
  • We have recruited successful PhD candidates who have changed fields completely. Quite often your skills and motivation are more important than specific knowledge that you may have.  
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Applying for a YES•DTN studentship:

When do you apply for a PhD? 

  • YES•DTN projects are listed on our website from late October/early November (listed on the Projects page). Other PhDs may have varying deadlines. 
  • Applications will open shortly afterwards (early December 2024 for October 2025 starts)
  • Our application deadline: 8th January 2025  17:00 GMT
  • More information can also be found on our How to Apply page and the other FAQs below.

What should you do before applying to a PhD project? 

  • Research the topic area to gauge your interest in the project:
    • Maybe read a paper or two… 
    • Academics/groups often have their own websites 
    • Twitter/LinkedIn 
  • Think about whether the project is the right option for you for your next step. If you need people to talk to about this to help you decide, good options are:
    • The project supervisor(s)/academic group 
    • Careers service 
    • Personal tutor 
    • Dissertation/Masters’ project supervisor 
    • Trusted friends and family 

Should I contact the PhD supervisor before applying? 

  • There is no formal requirement, but we strongly recommend it as it helps you to get a feel for what the project entails and whether you and the potential supervisor/academic group would be a good fit for one another. 
  • It also shows initiative and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have. 
  • If you’re at all unsure about contacting the academic(s) directly, or would like some advice first, please get in touch with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Dr. Heather Selley (yes-dtn@leeds.ac.uk), who can give you some pointers or act as an intermediary

What is the best way to contact the project supervisor? 

  • Email is good, and you can use this to ask for a meeting/online call if you prefer 
  • Potential supervisors are generally happy to talk about the project and are happy to answer questions 
  • Please make sure your initial email is addressed & worded appropriately. Although Universities can be relaxed environments, your first email should address the supervisor using their title. Make sure you do your research so you can demonstrate genuine interest in the supervisors research area

How quickly should I apply once the project is available? 

  • As long as you give yourself enough time to prepare your application before the YES•DTN deadline it doesn’t matter – no preference is given to earlier applications. 
  • We recommend starting the application before Christmas, as over this period many admin and academic staff are unavailable and can’t be contacted given the University closure days and annual leave.  

What supporting documents do you need for the PhD application?  

  • As part of your University of Leeds online application form you will be asked to provide the following documents:
    Academic transcripts or certificates
    English language qualification certificates (if applicable)
    Visa and immigration documents.
  • All documents should be in English or be accompanied by a certified translation into English. They can be sent via the online research degree application or can be emailed to the relevant postgraduate research admissions team after you have submitted your application. Your email should include your student ID number (emailed to you on submission of your application), full name and your intended course of study.
  • Please do not send original documents at the application stage and only provide documents via email.
  • You are not required to submit any additional documents as part of your YES•DTN online application form

Do I need to meet the English Language requirements before I apply?

  • No, but your offer will be conditional on providing proof that you have met them.  You will also not be able to apply for a student visa until you have.

Do I need references? 

  • No. We don’t use references in our selection process. 
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YES•DTN Interviews:

What is the interview process like? 

  • To make the process fairer to applicants, and more inclusive than traditional interview formats, YES•DTN conducts three short (15-20 min) interviews with a different pair of panellists in each. These focus on:
    • Academic skills e.g. subject knowledge, analytical thinking, scientific writing 
    • Soft skills e.g. project management, time management, communication/presentation  

How do you best prepare for the interviews? 

  • We conduct three short (15-20 min) competency-based interviews focussing on both academic and soft/transferable skills. 
  • To prepare answers in advance, it may be helpful to use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result). See the National Careers Service page for a nice rundown of the STAR technique, and other similar sites for more information. 
  • Imagine that you are on the interview panel, think about what questions you would ask the candidate, and prepare answers to those, e.g. how does your research experience link to the PhD project etc.  
  • Use the internet to research common academic interview questions and prepare answers to those 
  • It can be helpful to chat through your thoughts with a friend/colleague beforehand, or write them down to ‘streamline’ them 
  • Pro tip: preparing answers can be very useful, especially if you’re nervous. However, you may not be able to prepare for everything – that’s completely natural – and sometimes answers can be too scripted, making it difficult for your natural character and passion for the project to come through, so there’s no need to overdo it. 

What sorts of questions can you ask the interviewers in interviews? 

  • About the structure of the interviews and decision making.  
  • Questions regarding the research environment and potentially the research field (as our panels are diverse from across YES•DTN, not everybody might have the necessary insight into the specific research field). 
  • About opportunities during the PhD e.g. conferences, training, laboratory exchanges, industry/CASE (industry-partnered) internships, teaching/demonstrating 
  • About the funding T&Cs e.g. stipend annual allowance, funding length, training/travel budget, maternity/paternity/sick leave policies etc.