I am just starting the final year of my undergraduate degree. Can I apply?
Yes absolutely – we will look at your transcripts to date and references from current academic tutors, and if you are successful at interview, you would be made a conditional offer. This means you need to get a 2.1 or above in your degree before the offer becomes firm and unconditional.
What is a Home Fees Student?
A ‘home fees student’ is someone who can enrol at the UK ‘home’ fees level (currently £5,238). To be classed as a ‘Home’ student, you must meet the relevant nationality, immigration status and residency requirements for one of the eligible categories set out in the UK Government guidance on eligibility for home fee status and student finance:
- Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
- Have settled status, or
- Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- Have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or
- Have been granted full refugee status or is the child or spouse / civil partner of a refugee (meeting residency requirements)
To assess your fee status, you can use the UKCISA website as a first step to find out whether you may be eligible for Home or Overseas fee status. If you are assessed as having overseas fee status, the applicable international tuition fee applies (which is considerably higher than the home fee rate). We are subject to recruitment caps on numbers of international students
Do you accept International Candidates?
Yes, but we are limited by UKRI regulations to taking a maximum of 30% of the cohort in any year. This means we are limited to two or three offers to international students each year, and we only interview international candidates in our third round, once we have an idea of how many places we have available. About 75% of all our applicants are international students, thus competition for places is fierce. To be shortlisted for interview, such candidates usually have a top-class first degree, a good masters and industry experience.
Most international students from outside of the EU/Australia/USA/Canada will require ATAS clearance for the MSc course (Physics stream students only) and for the PhD (both Physics and engineering stream students), as well as a UK Student Visa. Please note the CDT cannot give advice on visas or ATAS.
I hold a UK passport but do not live in the UK. Can I still apply?
Yes, but to be considered a UK/Home Fees applicant, you need to have lived in the UK for three years before the date the course starts to meet the residency requirements. If you do not meet this residency requirement, you can still apply, but as an international candidate.
When are the interviews?
We have several interview rounds each year – though the last round will only run if we have vacancies left. Dates of application deadlines for each round are on our website, along with interview dates when we know them. International candidates are exclusively interviewed in the third round.
We shortlist within two weeks of the application closing and aim to let you know if you are invited to interview within no less than two weeks before the interview date. We try to accommodate preferences for morning or afternoon slots. We cannot convene separate panels for students not available on the scheduled interview day.
I applied in a previous round. Can I apply again?
You can apply again for the next year’s recruitment process. We look at all applications, but reserve the right not to invite previous applicants to interview again. On saying that, if you have taken the time to improve your knowledge and experience, we would welcome the second opportunity for you to demonstrate this.
Will you consider my CV instead of completing the application form?
No. We have designed our application form to enable us to get answers to the topics on which we need more information about you, rather than relying on variable CV information. It also enables us to assess candidates against the same criteria, supporting a fairer and more transparent shortlisting process. Finally, it enables us to gather the EDI information required by EPSRC about the success of our recruiting process. If you send a CV it can be appended to your SIMS file, but is unlikely to be used as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Who sits on the interview panel?
The interview panel consist of three or four academics who are experts in the CS field. It is normally chaired by the CDT Director, Professor Peter Smowton, an academic from UCL and one or two academics from the Universities of Sheffield and/or Manchester. Panel members are usually, but not always, on our Governance Boards.
Are interviews in person?
Interviews usually take place online as it is easier for candidates to attend this way. Successful offer holders will be invited to an offer holder day before starting the course, and anyone who wishes to pay a visit to the CDT before the interview is most welcome.
What are the interview questions like?
The panel will ask questions designed to test your academic knowledge and your motivation to do a PhD. They will also be looking for evidence of a good fit to the CDT ethos.
The panel members are all trained in interview methods and are very approachable – if they see you are struggling they will probably seek to test your understanding by prompting you to answer in a different way.
Do you ask technical questions about compound semiconductors?
Yes. While the panel does realise that not everyone will have covered this topic in detail at undergraduate level, they do expect that you will have done some interview preparation on this subject. They will ask questions on the basic theory of Compound Semiconductors – what they are, how they work, and how you manipulate the properties. When carrying out pre-interview research, make sure your references on CS related matters are trustworthy. Do not use AI as there is a lot of incorrect theory and information on the internet. Also do not try and google answers during your interview – it is very obvious to the panel and ruins your credibility.
I already have an MSc – do I still have to do the first-year masters in Compound Semiconductors?
Yes. Our first-year master’s course helps forge a strong cohort and the specific topics in compound semiconductors means you have all the underpinning specialist knowledge ready to start your PhD. The overlying CDT training programme, that takes place during this year, also gives you an understanding of the whole CS process so that when you start your PhD (which deep dives into one small area) you will understand what goes before and after your specialist part of the manufacturing chain, better to inform your decisions and research.
What is the difference between the two MSc streams?
The physics stream MSc is mostly about photonics, while the engineering stream is about RF and HF engineering, MMIC and advanced packaging. So they deal with slightly different ends of the CS manufacturing chain. However, both streams prepare you for most of the projects. The project catalogue will note if a project can only be done by students on one MSc stream or the other, but this is quite rare. We regularly have students moving from the school of engineering for physics projects and vice versa.
What is the accompanying CDT training?
We offer training in generic and specialist topics such as Responsible Research and Innovation, IP and commercialisation, Six Sigma, public engagement, project management, to make you a more effective researcher and ensure you can protect your research and communicate it to others.
Do I have to do the CDT training?
Yes. This is a mandatory part of our process. Students who do not engage with our cohort training programme may have their funding withdrawn.
Will I know my project in advance of accepting my offer of a place?
No. We gather projects over the summer, and the closing date for project submissions is 30 September, after which we put them through a rigorous screening process before approving them for our student project catalogue. We release this catalogue for students to make their selections in early December, after they enrol on the programme in September. Thus, you start your MSc without knowing what your PhD project will be, but by first establishing what areas of CS work interest you most, you can ensure you choose a topic that suits your skills and abilities.
Can I design my own PhD Project?
Most of our PhD projects are submitted by academic supervisors, as they also need to have industrial supervision and, usually, one-third industry funding. This is more difficult for students to set up. However, if you have a solid idea for a project and know of an industry partner who will support you (e.g. a former employer or placement provider) then we will do our best to find you a suitable academic supervisor. They will help you work up a project to get your idea though our rigorous screening process.
Can I choose where I do my PhD?
With caveats, yes. The MSc is based in Cardiff. After that you choose your PhD and we have a range of projects based in all four of our partner universities, though there are usually more projects available in Cardiff than at the others. We cannot guarantee in advance where you will end up. The best advice is to choose the topic that most interests you. When you choose your top four project choices, they must be spread across at least two of the universities. You then interview with the supervisory teams for them to assess your suitability. If approved, will be allocated one of those projects, as close as possible to your first choice. If you have an EDI reason for needing to be in a particular place, then we will do our best to accommodate that. However, we don’t know in advance what the geographical spread of projects will be.
How do you allocate projects?
All students submit a minimum of four project choices in order of preference, and interview for at least two of them, with the supervisory teams of those projects. Supervisory teams will assess whether the candidate is suitable for that project and send us a short report. We then make allocations considering student preferences, and subject suitability. We usually manage to allocate over 80% of students to their first choices – though this is not always possible as sometimes more than one student has the same project as first choice.
What is the difference between a CDT cohort-based PhD and a stand-alone PhD?
CDTs have developed over the last 20 years to create a community of researchers focussed on particular challenges of strategic importance. They have been supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) because they create a strong cohort of students who develop skills beyond the specialist topic of their PhD, and develop networks across universities and beyond.
CDTs provide a supportive and exciting environment, creating new working cultures and forging lasting links with industry. They offer many benefits over ‘stand-alone’ PhDs, highlighted in this article by FindaPhD, the most significant of which are targeted training and peer group support.
What is RTSG?
Each student gets a Research Support and Training Grant of £20,000 to spend on their own research, such as on equipment and consumables, lab time etc. It is also to support individual training needs so, for example, if you need to do a workshop in a particular topic that is not centrally provided, then you can use this grant to cover the course costs and your travel and subsistence costs to attend. It can also be used to support relevant conference attendance.
Do I get to go to conferences while I am a student?
Yes – there is a national conference each year which we join as a whole CDT. All four of our active cohorts attend, and this is funded centrally by the CDT – all travel, accommodation, subsistence and conference fee are covered. The conference switches annually between the Semiconductor Integrated Optoelectronics conference in Cardiff and UK Semiconductors conference in Sheffield.
Students are also encouraged to use their Research Support and Training Grant or RTSG (£20,000 per student) to attend at least one international conference of their choice. In addition, in their second year, students get to organise a conference to showcase the work of the two cohorts above them, and invite keynote speakers and careers speakers of their choice.
What happens after the interview?
If you are made an offer we will let you know, informally, by email within a couple of days, and ask you to reply to that with your decision. We also release the formal ‘offer of the place’ through SIMS (the Student Information Management System of Cardiff University) – note this is the formal offer, as the Admissions Team run checks on your qualifications and eligibility. So you also need to accept that too.
The final stage is to sign and return our ‘offer of the studentship’ (accept the conditions of the financial offer).
If your offer is unconditional, then the place is yours and the next step is enrolment a few weeks before the start of the course. If the offer is conditional, you will need to upload evidence of having achieved the minimum exam results when you know what they are.
Sometimes we make a reserve offer – this means we are holding your application open to compare you to candidates in later interview rounds, or in case a place becomes available in the future, for example, if someone pulls out. Our reserve offer holders often get upgraded to a full offer later, so it is not as disappointing a result as you may at first think.
Can I meet my Cohort before we start?
Once you have accepted your offer, we will create a Microsoft Team space and add new cohort members to that. In additional to being able to provide useful information to you via the Team, you can start introducing yourself to your fellow cohort members. We also try to organise an offer holder day, for you to come to Cardiff and have a look around, see the facilities and meet your cohort and other students and academics on the courses.
What is a stipend? Are my fees paid?
A stipend is basically a tax-free salary for you to cover your living expenses while you study. We provide a generous stipend of £2,000 above the standard UKRI stipend rate, for all four years of your study, including the MSc year. The base stipend is increased annually, usually in line with inflation, but sometimes there are bigger jumps e.g. to bring stipends into line with industry starting salaries. You would have to earn a lot more ‘gross salary’ to match a tax-free stipend, so it is more generous than it might initially look. We also cover your fees for four years, worth around £21,000 to a UK Home fees candidate, and up to £133,000 for an international student.
Can I study part time?
The studentship consists of a one-year MSc and three-year PhD. The MSc is not set up for part-time attendance, unfortunately. However, you can do the PhD part-time if required, though this has to be a minimum of 50% of FTE attendance. The stipend is adjusted accordingly.
What does the project industry partner do?
All or our projects have an industry partner. We work with partners from across the compound semiconductor supply chain to ensure that training and research remain relevant to current and future manufacturing challenges. Industry partners:
- Contribute to the design and direction of research projects
- Co‑supervise PhD students
- Provide training, placements, or access to facilities
Most of our partners also co-fund the studentship, paying around one-third of the total cost. From your point of view, this means they are very engaged and committed to the success of the project. Such collaborations benefit students by exposing them to industrial research environments. Many of our students are offered employment by their industry partners.
Can I self-fund myself through this programme?
Yes, if you can pay your own fees, support your own living costs, and cover bench fees, then you would be welcome to join our programme as an ‘aligned’ student, and take advantage of our cohort approach and all of the training opportunities we offer.
We will consider an application if you wish to self-fund, or have full funding via a company or government organisation, as long as you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements and can provide evidence of sufficient means to pay for the course.
The cost of a studentship will vary according to which university is chosen to do the PhD part of the studentship, as tuition fees vary by institution, and can be anywhere between approximately £27,000 and £35,000 per year for international students (please see relevant Universities’ webpages for up-to-date figures). A contribution of £28,000 over four years would also be required to match the Research Training and Support Grant of UKRI students, which covers bench fees and additional training provided by the CDT.