General Information

Acknowledging your funding

Every output, including presentations, posters and papers must include an acknowledgement to your funding. This should be in the following format: “The author wishes to acknowledge the funding received for this research from industry sponsor (add name), The University of (add home institution name) and UK Atomic Energy.”

Approval to publish

All published work must be given prior approval by your academic and industry supervisors. In some cases the terms of the studentship contract allows the industry partner to request information is withheld to protect intellectual property rights, and these must be respected. You must allow adequate time for your industry sponsor to approve all published work (presentations, posters, papers) prior to submission deadlines.

Code of Practice

The PGR Guidance is unique to each university - and provides support for postgraduate research students, supervisors, and Schools on undertaking and managing postgraduate research (PGR) studies.

• The University of Sheffield

• The University of Manchester

• The University of Liverpool

• The University of Birmingham

Complaints

If you feel able to do so, any complaints should first be raised with the relevant member of staff – often the supervisor is a good person to provide advice on how to best do this. Students are also welcome to raise any concerns with either or both the CDT Director (Lee Margetts) and the Deputy Director (Russell Goodall) if they prefer. Should you not wish to approach an academic member of staff, Sharon Brown is the designated non-academic contact for any complaints or concerns.

Formal complaints at any University will be handled through the complaints system at the University where the incident occurred, who will then alert the CDT Manager for action by the CDT Director. Each University agrees to co-operate and to take reasonable steps to address any student complaint that is received.

Report + Support – University of Liverpool

Report + Support – University of Manchester

Report + Support – University of Sheffield

Report + Support - University of Birmingham

Governance of the CDT

The CDT programme is managed and operated in accordance with the policies, principles, regulations and procedures of the partner Universities.

The day-to-day management of the programme is handled by the CDT Management Group. The management group takes overall responsibility for all matters related to running the course as well as outreach, recruitment, and finance for the CDT.

The CDT reports to UKAEA and is overseen by several goverance committees;

• Industrial Expert & Advisory Board - meets twicea year, and is co-chaired by Dr Emre Yildirim (Tokamak Energy) and Dr Sehila Gonzalez (Clean Air Task Force). It is comprised of every company that has offered in-kind or cash support to the CDT and the CDT management Group.

• Operations Committee - meets six times a year, and is chaired by Dr Nick Walkden, Head of FOSTER at UKAEA, and is comprised of the FOSTER Programme Manager Dr Steph Wood and the CDT Management Group.

• Student Voice Committee - will meet twice a year, from January 2026, to promotes open discussion between CDT staff and students and a forum to raise issues regarding CDT teaching, student experience, research equipment and facilities.

Interruption of Studies/Leave of Absence

In general, we will follow the Terms and Conditions for training grants awarded by UKRI.

• We defer to the interruptions/leave of absence policy of the student’s host institution for postgraduate research students.

• Students should discuss any circumstances that may result in them making a request for an interruption with their supervisor and the CDT Manager in the first instance.

• Interruptions/leave of absence should not normally exceed 12 months during the full period of the programme.

• Students are eligible for maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay. The policy of the student’s host institution and UKRI will be followed and payments will be made at the discretion of the CDT Directors.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unreferenced use of other authors’ material in your assignments and thesis. If you reference other people’s work it must be acknowledged clearly. The universities’ regulations state very clearly that plagiarism is a serious academic offence and the consequences of committing such an offence are severe. All students should read the guidance notes on plagiarism and academic malpractice for their home institution. If you are in any doubt you must seek guidance from your supervisor.

Stipend Payments

Stipends are paid direct to student bank accounts by the host university from 1st October every year, so please make sure that your bank details are correct in your student record and that you have re-enrolled each year.

Thesis Submission

Students should be aware that the theses must be submitted within 4 years of initial registration. A doctoral thesis must be presented in accordance with the home institution’s guidelines. It is important that students and their supervisor come to agreement on the style and content of the thesis as soon as possible so that a well-defined work programme can be established with this deadline in mind.