QUADRAT

All candidates must submit their supporting documents (see below list) via email to quadrat-admissions@abdn.ac.uk using the subject line: QUADRAT DTP PhD Application. We cannot chase missing documents – it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all documents are submitted by the relevant deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  

Please submit the following supporting documents by the Wednesday 4 June 2025 deadline:

• • your completed QUADRAT Application Form (and the the EDI Survey linked in the form)
  • all degree certificates (please include Postgraduate qualifications if held)
  • all degree transcripts (please include Postgraduate qualifications if held, & provisional transcripts for incomplete courses)
  • a cover letter addressed to the lead supervisor (one per project)
  • an academic CV
  • Two academic references – see below for details
  • Evidence of pre/settled status or indefinite leave to remain (if applicable)

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English Language Certificate if English is not your native language – see below for details

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After submitting your application, you may be contacted by the project supervisor(s) to discuss the project in more detail.

You are required to submit an English Language Certificate if English is not your native language.

Please submit this if you have it otherwise this can be added as a condition to an offer of study should your application be successful.

English requirements for the University of Aberdeen.

English requirements for Queen’s University Belfast.

You must submit two academic references to support your application. Relevant professional references can also be accepted if academic references cannot be obtained.

Deadline for references: Wednesday 4 June 2025. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that these are submitted on time. Please request these from your referees as soon as possible.

There are two ways to do this:

• • If your referees are comfortable with providing you with a reference directly, you can submit it via email with your other supporting documents – please always ask permission. References must be on institutional letter headed paper with a signature.
  • Alternatively, your referee can send a reference directly to quadrat-admissions@abdn.ac.uk. This must be on institutional letter headed paper with a signature, and sent from an institutional email address.
  • We cannot accept a reference from the supervisor of the project you are applying to, regardless of whether you have worked with them at other stages of your education. Please be sure to find an alternative referee.

Please note: remember to let your referees know if you are applying for more than one project since this may influence the content of the reference.

Please follow the below guidance when submitting your application(s):

• If applying for two projects, please send all documentation in one email.
• You must supply a cover letter for each project you are applying to, addressed to the lead supervisor.
• If you select two projects on the form and submit one cover letter, you will only be considered for your first choice project.

Please submit the application form in WORD format, along with your supporting documentation. Applications should be sent to quadrat-admissions@abdn.ac.uk.

It is anticipated that shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in late June 2025. Interviews outwith these dates cannot be accommodated but it may be possible to change the day/time of your interview upon request.

Duration: approximately 20 minutes

Interview Panel: there will be one interview panel for each partner school (e.g. Aberdeen Geosciences, Aberdeen Biological Sciences, Queen’s Biological Sciences, & Queen’s Natural and Built Environment) – 4 parallel panels. Each panel will include 2 members of the QUADRAT Management Board plus 2 other academics from the school. An EDI observer will also be present. The project supervisor will not be on the interview panel.

Logistics: Interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Tasks: You will be asked to prepare a short pre-recorded presentation.

Reasonable Adjustments

For information on any reasonable adjustments you may require during the application and/or interview process, please visit our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Hub.

Stage 1: submit your application by Wednesday 4 June 2025. All applications will be reviewed by the project supervisory teams and applicants will be nominated to progress to the next stage.

Stage 2: interview – including the submission of a pre-recorded presentation in advance of interview date

Please note, the below is a provisional timeline and dates may alter slightly:

1. The call for applications will open in May 2025.
2. The deadline to apply is 23.59 (UK time) on Wednesday 4 June 2025. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all references are received by this date.
3. Interviews are expected to take place in late June 2025. 
4. The start date for these studentships is 01 August 2025. 

Please see our FAQs for prospective applicants if you have any questions. This page tackles many of the most common enquiries we receive about the DTP and the application process. If however, the FAQ does not answer your question you can contact the following teams:

The QUADRAT Team: quadrat@abdn.ac.uk

The QUADRAT Admissions Team: quadrat-admissions@abdn.ac.uk.

The QUADRAT DTP Admissions Team will be processing applications for both Aberdeen and Queen’s applicants in the 2024-25 application cycle.

The QUADRAT DTP is funded by NERC, a UKRI Research Council. As a result, we are required to report on this information for all applicants to the QUADRAT DTP. If you do not wish to reveal this information you will always have the option to select ‘prefer not to disclose’.

NERC believes that everyone should feel welcomed, valued and included, and we challenge discriminatory or biased behaviour. We thrive to fund the best of the best, regardless of their background. To keep improving our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, we gain information on the diversity profile of our applicants. This is important for NERC but also the University to put effective policies in place to offer equal opportunities.

Please be assured that the data you supply will be only be used for monitoring purposes and in conjunction with the review of your application. As such it will only be handled by the QUADRAT DTP Coordinator and will only be shared with individuals who are integral to the interview and selection process. Only anonymised data will be reported to NERC. By providing the requested information you are consenting to its use as stated in this paragraph.

Please see our FAQs for more information.

Please visit our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Hub for more details.