How and when to apply

LoLo CDT will NOT be recruiting for studentships for 2019/20 and onwards.

Follow Twitter feed @ERBECDT for news on specific Studentship projects related to our new Centre ERBE CDT.

Who we are looking for

The Centre’s research will address new challenges within five themes, grouped around major research programmes (bringing benefits of strong existing capability, support structures and research networks):

  • Technology and systems
  • Energy epidemiology
  • Urban scale energy demand
  • Building performance and process
  • Hygrothermal performance and moisture flow
  • Unintended consequences.

Applications are invited from UK graduates with a good first degree (1st or 2:1) in one of the following areas: physics, mathematics, engineering, chemistry, natural sciences, materials science, geographical sciences, social sciences, psychology, architecture, and other building-related disciplines. The competition for places means that, in practice, in addition to a relevant first degree, many successful applicants also have a Master’s degree or other higher qualification and expertise.

Eligible EU students with these or equivalent qualifications may apply, but must meet the minimum language requirements of the relevant university, UCL or Loughborough. Exceptionally, international candidates will be considered, again subject to meeting university minimum language requirements. Applicants with other relevant qualifications or extensive relevant industry experience who can show evidence of a scientific and engineering research capability may also apply. Please refer to the “funding eligibility” information box.

We also accept applications from students who wish to self-fund. This must be indicated clearly on your pre-application form and successful candidates will initially register for the MRes and develop their PhD application with our supervisors during this year.

A common feature of our students is a strong commitment to become an accomplished researcher with the ability to organise and drive forward their own research and a broad range of interests that extend beyond their own discipline. A background in buildings and energy is not essential. The essential requirement is the ability to learn the principles of building physics and associated engineering concepts during the initial 1-year MRes.

We welcome applications to study for the MRes in Energy Demand Studies at UCL and  Loughborough as a self-funded, standalone, one-year programme, with the possibility for the most capable candidates to apply for a PhD studentship.

Students need to be based close to their chosen university to satisfactorily follow the course and to benefit from the associated programme of site visits, laboratory and field work.

How to apply

You are required to submit a CV and a combined covering letter/personal statement using our online application form (available only during recruitment periods). Your covering letter/personal statement should indicate your interest in our research areas and the relevance of your own skills and experience.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with senior members of the Centre management team.

If there is a good match between your background and qualifications and the objectives of the Centre, you will be invited to make a formal application to UCL or Loughborough University, with the full support of the CDT and its staff (CDTs are technically not able to make offers on behalf of the University).

It is advisable to prepare the CV, personal statement/covering letter before starting to complete the online form.

LoLo provides an inclusive and stimulating environment to pursue research, we welcome applications from all, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity and social background. We encourage those from groups that are traditionally not well represented in buildings research to apply.

LoLo CDT will NOT be recruiting for studentships for 2019/20 and onwards.

Follow Twitter feed @ERBECDT for news on specific Studentship projects related to our new Centre ERBE CDT.

Please note: Recruitment is handled separately by UCL and Loughborough. Note that we do not accept applications outside of the main recruitment phases or by CV only. Please note the short listing process for applications for self-funded places may take longer than the main recruitment process.

 

Eligibility for EPSRC Funding

Most students on the LoLo CDT programme are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). In general the criteria for EPSRC funding require a connection with the UK that enables indefinite right to reside in the UK.

EPSRC Funding is available as follows:

To be eligible for a full award (stipend and fees) you must have: Settled status in the UK, meaning you have no restrictions on how long you can stay AND Been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of your studies. This means you must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or occasional absences) and not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This last requirement only applies to non-EU/UK applicants).

To be eligible for a fees only award: Students from EU countries other than the UK are generally eligible for a fees-only award. To be eligible for a fees-only award, a student must be ordinarily resident in a member state of the EU, in the same way as UK students must be ordinarily resident in the UK.

There may be opportunities for exceptional applicants who would not normally meet the eligibility requirements for EPSRC funding.

However these opportunities are limited and competition for places highly competitive.

Further information on eligibility can be found on the EPSRC website.

 

 

Loughborough University Projects

1. Predicating summertime overheating risks in occupied dwellings using decision science.
2. Improving the prediction of overheating in complex urban dwellings.
3. Heat related sleep deprivation in summer and its prevention.
4. Multi-vector modelling of community energy systems.
5. Using big data to develop post-code level energy demand maps of the UK building stock.
6. Evaluating indoor air quality in educational buildings. The quality of the air in schools has an impact on health, learning and educational attainment.
7. The design of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems for low-energy buildings.
8. Understanding window opening behaviour in modern dwellings.
9. Building materials and whole of life decarbonisation of near zero energy buildings.