The Open University is currently recruiting for DTP studentships in several areas.
Applications to begin the ILESLA programme are now open and will close Thursday 8 January 2026, 12:00 midday. Further information about the programme and instructions on how to apply can be found in BBSRC-NERC funded 'Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award' (ILESLA) PhD studentship opportunities.
The Open University has partnered with the University of Oxford (lead university), Oxford Brookes University, The Pirbright Institute, Diamond Light Source, and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source to launch the BBSRC-NERC funded Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award (ILESLA). This ambitious doctoral training programme will prepare a new generation of creative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial researchers who are equipped to meet the complex, cross-disciplinary challenges the world faces.
The primary aim of ILESLA is to cultivate researchers capable of developing innovative solutions to challenges in and at the intersection of biological and environmental sciences, focusing on five interconnected themes:
- Climate and Earth – Advancing understanding of climate and earth systems.
- Biodiversity and Sustainability – Sustainable approaches to support food, feed and energy security, manufacturing and biodiversity.
- Animal and Human Health – Innovative approaches to understand and support animal and human health.
- Rules of Life – Frontier science addressing fundamental questions about biological organisms and ecosystems.
- Transformative Technologies – Development of tools and technologies underpinning biological and environmental research.
View a full list of research topics within each theme.
This exciting award is expected to fund at least ten new PhD students at The Open University, across five intakes (2025 – 2029) and to fund students registered at the University of Oxford or Oxford Brookes University who will be co-supervised by researchers at The Open University. Recruitment will be annual.
Entry requirements
As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
- a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant academic subject (e.g. biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geology, geography, physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science).
International applicants will need to demonstrate that they are sufficiently proficient in English to support successful study at research degree standard before any offer of registration can be made. To find out if you need to prove your English language abilities with an English proficiency test, please see our International research student applications page or visit the government student visa website.
Please note that if you are required to take a test, higher level English language is required for this opportunity. This equates to:
- Minimum overall IELTS academic score 7.5, with no less than 7.0 in each component.
Further information on eligibility including what other tests can be accepted can be found on the University of Oxford's website.
How to apply via The Open University
Applications are currently closed. The application period for an October intake will open in the preceding November/December. Application closing dates will be confirmed closer to the time.
If you wish to be supervised by Open University academics, or to conduct your research at The Open University, you should apply via the Open University, following the procedure outlined below.
Please read the general ILESLA admission procedures located on the University of Oxford’s website before applying:
To apply via The Open University please complete the below essential (and optional if required) documents, save as either .doc, .docx or .pdf and email to [email protected] by the deadline shown above. Please do not combine the files into one document. File naming convention should be ‘Name of form – Surname – First name – Research theme’.
Essential documents to submit:
- A completed Application form (UK) (if you are a UK citizen) OR Application Form (International) (if you are not a UK citizen or settled UK resident). If you are unsure whether you would be classed as a UK or international applicant, please see further information on our website. Please ensure you note which of the five research themes you have chosen in the ‘Research Proposal’ section of the application form.
- A completed OU ILESLA Admissions Form. Please note that you do not need to submit a CV: all the relevant CV information will be contained in the OU ILESLA Admission form. CVs submitted in any other format will not be considered.
- Three written references. Your references will support proven and potential academic excellence in terms of intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, ability to work in a group and independently, and relevant experience or skills. At least two, ideally all three of these references should be academic references that can comment on your suitability to study for a research degree. One professional reference can be accepted if you have relevant work experience, but academic references are preferred.
Optional documents to submit:
- Socio-Economic Background Information Form. Applicants are optionally invited to provide information on their socioeconomic background and personal circumstances, which may be used as contextual information during admissions processes, including the allocation of scholarships targeted at students from groups that are under-represented in doctoral research.
- Contextual Statement Form. We recognise that socio-economic data may not fully capture an individual student’s personal circumstances, so if any of the criteria listed in this form apply, we encourage you to submit a statement providing additional detail on your personal circumstances using this contextual statement form.
- Qualification transcripts (if available). Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only submit official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.
- Language qualification certificates if required for you and if available at application stage. Please see information above as to whether this applies to you, and which tests we accept. We recommend academic IELTS but do accept others. If you have not yet undertaken the test, please still do apply and you can send these to us later. We do recommend obtaining these as soon as possible, to avoid delaying the progression of your application. We cannot provide an offer without it (if you require it).
Further information on the research degree application process at The Open University can be found on our website. International research student applicants should also see the further information and guidance on our International research student applications page. All appointed students will need to adhere to The Open University Research Degree Regulations for the duration of their study. Please note that applications will be coordinated centrally by the ILESLA lead university, the University of Oxford. This will mean that applications will need to be shared outside of The Open University during the shortlisting and interview stage.
Supervisor information
Please consult the LHCS research webpages, The EEES Research webpages and The Open University Research site for suitable supervisors. If you have further questions, please contact us via [email protected]. Please note that sometimes, despite our best efforts, it might not be possible for you to work with the specified supervisor(s).
Funding Information
ILESLA is co-funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and The Open University. Awarded applicants chosen for funded studentships will receive a monthly stipend equating to £21,237 per annum for four years and will also have their tuition fees funded for the four-year funding duration. Where part-time study is chosen, students will study at 50% full-time equivalent (18.5 hours per week), receive £10,618 stipend per year over eight years and have their part-time fees funded for up to eight years. UKRI training grant terms and conditions will apply. A budget will be provided for project costs during the PhD.
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
The Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA) is a consortium of Universities and research institutes, including the OU, working together to provide excellence in doctoral research training, within the remit of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Please read more about this partnership on our Doctoral Training Partnerships page.
NERC-funded CENTA studentships are advertised from early November on the:
The deadline for CENTA applications starting in October is in early January and interviews for shortlisted candidates are in mid-February.
To be eligible for a full CENTA studentship award, you must have no restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the studentship. Funding may be available for international (following Brexit, now including EU) students; please contact your prospective supervisor directly for more information.
Often, other studentships funding is also available and sometimes at a later date. The websites listed above will have more information.
Please note that the OOC DTP has now completed the final round of awards and will not be funding any new studentships after the 2025/26 cohort. The following information remains up for students who are already enrolled.
The Open University offered Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding through the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (OOC DTP). Please read more about this partnership on our Doctoral Training Partnerships page.
Awards for UK residents cover all tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant at the UKRI national minimum doctoral stipend rate (£19,237 in 2024–25 for 12 months). If the award is for a period of less than 12 months in any year, the grant is reduced pro-rata to reflect the number of days for which a student is enrolled on course. A limited number of awards, including stipend and a contribution towards tuition fees, may also be available for international applicants (subject to residency requirements during the course of study). International applicants should check the DTP eligibility page for further information prior to making a formal application.
Full details of eligible subject areas and further information is available on the Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP website.
The Grand Union DTP is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership that unites The Open University, the University of Oxford and Brunel University London. The partnership builds on the recognised research and doctoral training strengths of all three institutions. The DTP covers 23 subject areas (‘pathways’), themed into five broad clusters. Different pathways offer students opportunities to:
- undertake a research masters, followed by a PhD (known as ‘1+3’, ‘2+2’ or ‘2+3’ routes)
- enter directly onto a PhD, having already completed appropriate masters-level training (‘+3’)
- undertake doctoral study over a longer period (‘+4’) in order to gain master-level training and skills in a flexible and personalised way, meeting individual students’ needs.
All OU pathways are available for students studying part time as well as those studying full time.
These studentships are funded by the ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Partnership. They’re fully funded for 4 years full time or 8 years part time, covering tuition fees (at UK/EU level) and a stipend. Learn more about Grand Union funding support.
How to apply
Studentships are advertised in October/November via the Grand Union DTP and OU Studentship pages with closing dates in the subsequent January.
Detailed information of the application process and OU pathways are available on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences' Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership website.