NINE DTP runs a combined annual studentship competition to recruit and select postgraduate researchers of the very highest calibre to study at Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Sunderland, Ulster and Queen's Belfast Universities. We operate an open competition for the awarding of studentships, which is centred on the quality of candidates and their proposed research and training programme, alongside a linked Action for Equality initiative to award four full scholarships to nominees from specific under-represented groups.

Our studentship competition has been designed to be as open and transparent as possible, and all decisions concerning which students are funded are based upon clear assessment criteria. You can read more about these criteria in our guidelines. NINE DTP awards between 50-55 fully-funded postgraduate studentships each academic year for full-time or part-time study.

To apply for a NINE DTP studentship you must 1) apply to the university at which you intend to study and 2) work with your proposed primary supervisor to submit a Stage 1 nomination form. Note that the initial deadline for submission of a Stage 1 nomination form is 27 October 2026. However, a submission is not complete until the supervisor has completed and submitted the supervisor approval form. Therefore, you should complete nomination material in advance of the deadline.

Once you click ‘submit’ on your Stage 1 nomination it will trigger an email to your primary supervisor to complete the supervisor approval form. It will also trigger emails to your nominated referees and collaborative partner (if applicable) requesting supporting letters. Although the supporting letters from referees and collaborators do not need to be received by the 27 October deadline, the supervisor’s form must be submitted by that date.

Applicants whose Stage 1 nominations are successful in the department and pathway competitions will then be invited to provide Stage 2 applications for the final, studentship panel competition.