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UCL SECReT works with partners from across the crime and security spectrum in order to produce genuinely impactful PhD research. Our partners help us to increase the capacity of the centre by funding or part-funding students onto the programme. In this way partners have more direct control over the student's research, but at the same time benefit from the excellent research and teaching environment provided by UCL SECReT. There are 3 principle mechanisms by which a partner can fund a student - full funding, part-funding or through an EPSRC Industrial CASE award.
By fully funding a student onto the programme, the organisation retains maximum control over the project and over any intellectual property developed during the project.
The cost of funding a PhD researcher through the four-year SECReT programme is broken up as below:
| YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 4 | ||
| Living expenses (£) (stipend) | 17,090 | 17,090 | 17,090 | 17,090 | |
| University PhD fees (£) - UK residents | 4,200 | 4,200 | 4,200 | 4,200 | |
| Basic project costs (£) | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| Other costs (conferences, travel, etc) (£) | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | |
| TOTAL: | 26,790 | 26,790 | 26,790 | 26,790 | 107,160 |
Some organisations opt to give up a certain degree of control over the project and provide part-funding for the PhD researcher. In practise this means a minimum of 50% funding: approx £53,000.
The balance of the funding is provided by UCL SECReT (or other sources of funding if available).
- Project must fall within EPSRC remit
- Organisation has less control over Intellectual Property
- We have limited places for such part-funded awards
Industrial CASE-style awards: 75% subsidised PhD researcher
The EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Industrial Case Award competition gives organisations the chance to bid for a PhD studentship which is funded as follows:
- £67,000 by EPSRC
- £23,000 by your organisation
To these amounts UCL SECReT will add an additional £18,000 from its own funds (making a total of £108,000) so that the student may carry out a four-year PhD with the full benefit of the research environment at UCL SECReT— the UK's international Security Science Doctoral Research Training Centre.
It should be noted that:
- This is a competitive bid and there is no guarantee of winning
- The proposed project must fall within EPSRC’s project remit
The project proposal would be written jointly by the organisation and UCL SECReT and submitted to the EPSRC. If successful the organisation will effectively be able to have a PhD project of its choice carried out at a 1/5 of the cost it normally takes to train a PhD.
If you have a project that you wish to propose please contact us immediately at: vaseem.khan@ucl.ac.uk or call 020 3108 3039.
The proposal
The proposal itself is a four page form which would be completed by a UCL academic and someone from your organisation who will act as key contact for the project and will supervise the student for a minimum of three months during the lifetime of the project. SMEs are particularly welcome to apply.
Full rules and eligibility available by clicking here. Basic eligibility criteria are:
- The organisation must provide a placement for a period of minimum of three months
- The organisation must have a research or manufacturing base in UK
- Proposed projects must be within EPSRC remit: Click here for further information.
SECReT works with a number of organisations from the public and private sector who have funded students onto our programme, or otherwise provided tangible support such as data or equipment, including organisations such as RAPISCAN Systems, Selex Galileo, the El-Masry Foundation, the Home Office, a range of UK policing agencies, Cranfield Defence Academy and many others. These students are working on problems of direct interest to the organisations in question, delivering not only leading research but also learning the valuable skills that will turn them into future leaders, often within those organisations.
To see examples of SECReT students working with a range of partners on real world problems including radicalisation, cyber security, explosives, baggage screening, forensic analysis and sex trafficking please click this link.
