How to Apply
Download and complete the DigitalMetal application form (docx., 151kb).
Complete and submit your University PhD application via the University of Leicester EPSRC DigitalMetal CDT Application Portal
Guidelines for your PhD application:
- Upload your completed DigitalMetal Application Form to the Personal Statement section (a separate personal statement is not required)
- Upload your supporting documents (CV, degree transcripts and certificates, evidence of English language).
- Enter the names and contact details of referees in the space provided. Please be sure to let your referees know to expect a reference request from us. Or upload reference letters if available (these should be on signed headed paper).
- Under the funding section of the online application form select studentship and state DigitalMetal CDT
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
CV & DigitalMetal Application Form
A good CV should be clear and well organised, and not exceed 2 pages in length. It should cover details of your educational background and achievements including any research projects undertaken as well as describing any work or industry based experience you have.
Via the DigitalMetal application form, we get the chance to learn more about you and your motivation for study, beyond the degree grades and basic details in your CV. It specifically allows us to understand:
- Ehat is your motivation for and interest in applying to the DigitalMetal-CDT, and in particular the specific research theme you’ve applied for. This includes what you hope to get from a PhD in terms of supporting your future career ambitions
- how your background skills and experience will support the work in the PhD – these can be wider skills, such as communication, coding, report writing, team-working, or specific skills such as previous laboratory work or project experience that’s relevant to the topic of the PhD. Examples where you have used your initiative, imagination, or perseverance to achieve a goal or problem solve can be very useful here – we are interested in how you have made the most of the opportunities available to you to gain skills and experience.
We are additionally interested in understanding if you’ve had to overcome any particular challenges to get to where you are today (that is, a graduate applying for a PhD), so that we can (in confidence) include this in the short-listing and decision processes.
Interview Guidance – Preparing for the interview, and the interview process
If you are shortlisted for an interview, we want you to be comfortable and give your best performance. Our interview Panel are experienced at putting applicants at ease, and we hope that the interview will be a positive experience.
We hold all of our interviews online, via Microsoft Teams, so you should prepare to have that software available to you.
As part of the interview you will be expected to give a short presentation, so ensure you are familiar with sharing your screen in presentation mode so you can present any slides you prepare confidently from the outset. Your presentation should cover; your research background, what you would bring to the DigitalMetal CDT and why you wish to pursue a PhD. This will be followed by a Q&A session with the Panel.
In the interest of fairness, our Administration Team will ensure that interviews are conducted consistently, with at least 3 interview panel members from across our 5 DigitalMetal CDT partner universities. The interview panel will ask all applicants the same interview questions.
Our Panel are looking particularly for motivation and enthusiasm, both for the specific DigitalMetal CDT research theme you are applying for and the wider field including why this research may contribute in transforming the metals and manufacturing industry. If you are applying with one of our Industry partners support we would have the expectation that you would additionally detail how your PhD research would relate to a potential future position.
Above all it’s important that you’ve thoroughly prepared for the interview and have “done your homework”, as this shows your genuine excitement for the project, gives us the most valuable insight and makes the interview more rewarding for all.
We would caution applicants against any use of AI-driven chatbots/ChatGPT support during the interview, our Panel will be vigilant regarding the personal authenticity of interview responses.