PhD Journey

Connect, Belong, Thrive

DiveIn CDT’s approach is supported by three central ‘pillars’. 

These aim to provide students with a transformative training experience and emphasise the importance of attracting talent, nurturing students, and sustaining impact.

Students will be supported with networking opportunities and tailored coaching to help them navigate challenges and seize new opportunities during their PhD.

In addition, DiveIn has won the backing of a wide range of external partners who will provide input and offer research and placement opportunities for our students.

Research Projects

The process of forming interdisciplinary teams and projects is enabled through a series of events.

  • The Lido

    September (Year 1)

    The Lido brings together students and potential supervisors for a 3-day event, in which they receive separate capability training to upskill them for building collaborative and interdisciplinary teams, and cocreate a compelling set of problem statements rooted in their expertise, curiosity and aspiration.

    Following the Lido, a shortlist of supervisors is collaboratively agreed by the participants.

  • The Splash Pool

    September (Year 1)

    The Splash Pool provides a platform for students to explore collaboration with the shortlisted academic supervisors.

    Facilitated by sandpit specialists (Knowinnovation), invited interdisciplinary mentors and provocateurs, this 3-day event encourages open dialogue and the shaping of research projects with clear interdisciplinary focus, poised to contribute meaningfully to mission-inspired themes.

    Project teams, of one student and at least two supervisors, are formed after this event. 

  • Shaping up the Project

    October-December

    At the Annual Industry Showcase (AIS), students pitch their nascent projects to external partners, which can join project teams and steer proposals.

    Proposal preparations will continue with cohort-wide feedback sessions taking place regularly until project teams submit their final proposals for validation by the Management Committee, which oversees feedback sessions, quality checks, and offers support to settle participants within the university and city, including introductions to homophilic communities.

Training Programme

Embark on a transformative four-year journey with DiveIn’s comprehensive learning framework, designed to uplift your research and personal development.

Our model, spanning four core dimensions, seamlessly integrates didactic, self-directed, empirical, and peer learning, ensuring a holistic training experience over the four years without compromising your research success.

Every dimension is a step toward academic excellence, personal growth, and a thriving research community.

DiveIn and discover your potential!

It is a graph which depicts the timeline of the PhD training programme. The graph includes 6 columns with heading: Diving In, Year A, Year B, Year C, Year C, Year D and The Deep End. The following information is given in the Diving In column: Empowerment, Scoping, Supervisors as first stage; Innovation, Team, Project as second stage; Proposal Pitch, Externals, Feedback as third stage, leading to PhD proposal submission and validation, supported by training, mentoring, support, appraisal, quality assurance, to moved to the stage of award of PhD and future career. The following information is given for the Year A column: TRORI Passport, AAC Pitch, AIS, Academic Interviews. The following information is given for the Year B column: TRORI Passport, AAC Poster, Site Visit, AIS, Ehics Café. The following information is given for the Year C column: TRORI Passport, AAC Talk, Site Visit, Placement, AIS, Hackaton, Ethis Comm. The following information is given for the Year D column: AIS, Our Common Language, PhD Journey Video. Columns Yeat B, Year C and Year D end with the common activity of contributions to CDT Leadership, Recruitment, and Flagship Events Organisation. The following information is given in the Deep End column: Peer Support, Mentoring as first stage; Facilitated Writing Retreats, Academic Support, as second stage; Viva Preparation, Network Building and Job Workshops as third stage, which links to the award of the PhD and future career.

DiveIn PhD Journey

  • Interdisciplinarity

    Prioritise interdisciplinary projects, foster collaboration, and engage external partners.

    Dive into a supportive community at the CDT Village and at events, like our annual academic conference, an interdisciplinary research festival.

    Explore success stories through seminars and personal narratives and learn from your peers who are further in their journey.

    We will be learning together how to do interdisciplinary well, and how to pass on that knowledge.

  • Trusted, Responsible & Open Research and Innovation (TRORI)

    Uphold ethics, openness, and responsible research through workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions.

    Maintain a TRORI passport to document your learning journey.

    Engage in the Ethics Café and collaborative communication pieces, promoting integrity and inclusivity in research and innovation.

  • Growth Mindset

    Nurture a growth mindset, empowering you to overcome challenges, refine approaches, and actively transform your environment.

    Participate in the Power of Choice program, co-delivered with Korn Ferry, focusing on personal and professional development.

    Embrace setbacks, learn from experiences, and become mentors to future PGRs.

  • Formalising the Hidden Curriculum

    We want to provide equitable access to essential non-academic skills critical for success.

    Benefit from mentorship, training in effective relationships with supervisors, and community-building techniques.

    Undertake tailored placements, engage in repeated communication training, and access diverse training programs through our Partners’ Personal and Professional Development Programme (3PDP).

Gantt chart of activities and events This gantt chart shows the activities and events of the DiveIn PhD programme, including the dimension to which each activity belongs, its duration and at which stage of the programme these will take place.

DiveIn Gantt Chart of Activities and Events

Mentorship

Our robust support network is tailored to guide, coach, and champion individuals throughout their academic journey.

Through interactive workshops and informal sessions, mentoring, and sponsorship opportunities, we will empower students to effectively navigate challenges and seize academic opportunities.

An academic mentor will guide students through the academic landscape, providing expertise and insights across various disciplines. Meanwhile, an external sponsor with industrial expertise will connect students to real-world contexts, expanding their perspectives beyond academia.

Peer mentoring groups offer a secure environment for knowledge sharing, skill development, and mutual support.

The dedicated Management Committee and International Steering Group, ensure the protection and success of each student’s journey through a formal review process and continuous advocacy.

Part-Time Studentships

At DiveIn, we recognise that full-time study is not an option for everyone.

We would be delighted to discuss alternative, tailored study arrangements that suit personal circumstances at any stage of your application.

Due to funder requirements, part time study is possible with a minimum of 50% full time equivalent.

Because of the nature of our in-depth training, mentoring, and support programs, remote study is not possible.