Postgraduate research funding

NERC GW4+ DLTP Projects 2026. Applications now open.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply for a project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). We are now accepting applications for PhD projects commencing Autumn 2026 in the Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences.

The application deadline is Thursday 8 January 2026.

It is important that you follow the detailed instructions provided when applying for the DLTP and be sure to read the prospectus carefully. We advise you download the 'Admissions Statement' for Bristol and follow the instructions. The prospectus also shows other Bristol Schools offering projects under this DLTP.

When applying to NERC GW4+ DLTP projects, please include in your application the GW4plus DLTP Personal Statement 2026 (Office document, 194kB) version of a personal statement. 

There is an additional 'applicants questionnaire' that the DLTP require, so please complete this at the time of application as well.

When applying for projects in the School of Biological Sciences please choose 'Biological Sciences (PhD)' in the 'find a programme' box. You should refer to the project title and supervisor in your application. You will need to make a separate application for each project you wish to be considered for. You may apply to a maximum of 2 projects within the School of Biological Sciences.

For more advice on making your application, please read the How to Apply guidance at this link (PDF, 314kB).

‌To make an application please visit this link.

EU/International applicants: Those not meeting the nationality and residency requirements to be treated as a ‘home’ student may apply for a limited number of full studentships for international students under the SWBio and NERC GW4+ DTP schemes. Although international students are usually charged a higher tuition fee rate than ‘home’ students, those international students offered a BBSRC SW Bio or NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership full studentship starting in 2021 will only be charged the ‘home’ tuition fee rate (which will be covered by the studentship). International applicants need to be aware that you will have to cover the cost of your student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD. 

Project Title	Project Details	Supervisor	Deadline to apply
Animal personality, social interactions and invasive species	Animal personality - social interactions and invasive species (PDF, 177kB)	Prof. Christos Ioannou	Thursday 8 January 2026
Genetic mechanisms of photosynthetic adaptation to a warming and higher CO2 world	Genetic mechanisms of photosynthetic adaptation to a warming and higher CO2 wor (PDF, 179kB)	Dr Patrick Dickinson	Thursday 8 January 2026
Measuring and Delivering Long-term Success in Coral Reef Restoration	Measuring and Delivering Long-term Success in Coral Reef Restoration (PDF, 221kB)	Prof. Steve Simpson	Thursday 8 January 2026
Recovery of sharks and rays: quantifying the key factors that lead to positive impacts on species abundance across a global scale	Recovery of sharks and rays - quantifying the key factors that lead to positive (PDF, 177kB)	Prof. Martin Genner	Thursday 8 January 2026
Resilience and Risk in the Anthropocene: Quantifying Biodiversity Responses to Human Pressures	Resilience and Risk in the Anthropocene - Quantifying Biodiversity Responses to (PDF, 191kB)	Dr Christopher Clements	Thursday 8 January 2026
Roles for WOX genes in the evolution of plant life histories?	Roles for WOX genes in the evolution of plant life histories? (PDF, 178kB)	Prof. Jill Harrison	Thursday 8 January 2026
Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges	Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges (PDF, 177kB)	Prof. Andy Radford	Thursday 8 January 2026
Wax on or wax off? How important are plant cuticle and epicuticular wax production to environmental stress tolerance as a plant ages.	Wax on or wax off? How important are plant cuticle and epicuticular wax producti (PDF, 188kB)	Dr Jim Fouracre	Thursday 8 January 2026

Alumni discounts

University of Bristol alumni who go on to study for a postgraduate degree – either taught or research – at Bristol can benefit from a 10 percent reduction in tuition fees.

The 10 percent discount is available for students who start their postgraduate degree on or after August 1st 2017 and will be applied to their tuition fees for the full duration of the programme.

Explore your funding options

There are several more options for funding your research degree, from scholarships to loans. See what's available to you in this handy overview.