Industrial CASE frequently asked questions
Q1: What are Industrial CASE studentships?
Industrial CASE studentships are allocated directly to a limited number of businesses through two routes. The company takes the lead in defining a student project and selects a research organisation to work with. The academic partner and company recruit a suitable eligible candidate. Projects must be in the engineering or physical sciences and are jointly supervised by the academic and industrial partners.
Eligibility and requirements
Q2: What companies are eligible to be an Industrial CASE sponsor?
To be eligible, a company must have an established UK-based research and / or commercial production capability.
Q3: What are the student eligibility requirements?
For a full award students must have a relevant connection with UK (usually established by residence), and normally a degree at 2:1 or better (or equivalent). If a student fulfils the academic requirement but has a relevant connection with an EU country other than the UK they may be eligible for an award of fees only (i.e. no maintenance grant to the student). Please see student eligibility for further details and contact your university postgraduate admissions office for advice.
Q4: What do companies need to contribute for Industrial CASE?
Companies must provide additional "top-up" funding to the student project. This is a minimum of a third (£23,404) of the EPSRC funding of £69,121 over 3.5 years in 2011 but the company can contribute more if they want to.
Companies should also provide a placement at their premises (for a minimum of three months over the 3.5 years of an award), co-supervision for the student, plus funding to cover the costs of travelling to and from the company and any accommodation or subsistence costs for the student while on placement. Students can spend more than three months with the company. If you are considering much longer placements, please check the relevant research organisation regulations as there will probably be a minimum amount of time that the student needs to spend at the university in order to remain registered for the higher degree.
Q5: Are companies required to sign a contract with the collaborating university?
EPSRC strongly recommend that a signed contract is in place before a student is recruited. Please see our Guidance on Collaborating section for further details.
Q6: How much is the student stipend?
Details of student stipends can be found in our Minimum Payments section. The Industrial CASE student stipend may be increased above the minimum payment using the industrial top-up. The amount of stipend enhancement should be carefully considered to attract a suitable eligible student. As a general rule, students do not pay tax on their maintenance grant as it is a training award. With higher contributions, students or universities may need to ask their local Inland Revenue to check on the tax-free status (we have no set level below which it is exempt and above which it needs checking).
Allocations
Q7: How are Industrial CASE studentships allocated?
Studentships are allocated to companies based on their participation in EPSRC-funded research, specifically on the basis of their financial contributions to grants started within last three years.
In addition, we have appointed "agents" to help involve small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the scheme. They identify suitable SMEs to receive a quota of Industrial CASE awards and assist the companies in making contact with appropriate research organisations.
Q8: Where are Industrial CASE studentships allocated?
Please see the list of companies and agents.
Applications
Q9: How can a company get an Industrial CASE studentship?
If you have not been allocated a studentship either directly or via one of our agents, you cannot apply directly to EPSRC.
Industrial CASE is not our only scheme where industry can get involved with PhD projects. Companies can sponsor students and projects supported through University Doctoral Training Accounts (note: to actively support and encourage collaboration through this route, EPSRC has, since 2009, set research organisations the target of converting 10% of their DTA funds into CASE awards), Knowledge Transfer Accounts (KTAs) and Collaborative Training Accounts (CTAs). If you are interested in sponsoring a student through these routes, please contact the research organisation you would like to work with.
Q10: How can students apply?
Students cannot apply directly to EPSRC and must contact the research organisation at which they wish to study. We do not hold prospectuses.
Administration
Q11: How is the studentship funded?
EPSRC funds Industrial CASE via an annual Industrial CASE Account (ICA) of five year duration, into which funds for all Industrial CASE studentships associated with the research organisation for that year are paid. Concurrent accounts may be managed flexibly. A list of specific accounts is available to view on the Support By Scheme (ICA) page on the Grants on the Web website.
Q12: What options are there should the industrial partner have to withdraw from the project?
The academic partner should attempt to find a replacement industrial partner. If the student is already registered, EPSRC will continue to fund the PhD regardless of whether a replacement is found. If a student has not yet been identified, the replacement company identified must adhere to the Industrial CASE Terms and Conditions. The company should be fully involved in the project selection, academic partner selection (within the university), and student selection as was the original company.
Q13: What if the student withdraws from the project?
A replacement student may be found for the project, subject to sufficient funds being available in the Industrial CASE Account(s) and remaining industrial top-up to fully support the student for the 3.5 year PhD.
Q14: What if an eligible student cannot be found for the specific project?
If an eligible student cannot be found, the company may seek a replacement academic partner. If the new partner is from a different research organisation the two institutions should arrange a funds transfer; EPSRC will continue to pay into the original university Industrial CASE Account.
Q15: Can a part-time student be supported by Industrial CASE? What if the Industrial CASE Account duration is less than the period of the PhD?
EPSRC fund Industrial CASE studentships with the expectation that the studentship will be full time. In exceptional circumstances, and with the agreement of the research organisation and industrial partner, a student may be registered on a part-time basis (minimum 50%). EPSRC will normally not increase the duration of the relevant Industrial CASE Account to cover the full duration of a specific studentship. This is because there should be sufficient flexibility between concurrent active accounts (as with University Doctoral Training Accounts) and with usage of the industrial financial contribution to cover the full period of PhD training for a particular individual. If the research organisation does not have more than one account, and there is less than 6 months left on the existing account, please contact EPSRC.