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EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway scheme

This scheme offers up to two years follow-on funding to EPSRC-funded research students after they have submitted their DPhil.

Purpose

The EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway scheme (formerly known as Doctoral Prize scheme) is intended to help universities retain and recruit the best PhD students receiving EPSRC support to increase the impact of their PhD, and to improve retention of the very best students in research careers. Awards can comprise between three months and two years’ salary (at University salary scale grade 07S.02, including OUW) and research support costs for an EPSRC-funded student following the submission of their DPhil thesis.

Applications should be submitted by the student with support from the proposed supervisor, and will be reviewed by an MPLS panel, chaired by the Associate Head of Division (Research Degrees).

Deadlines

Guidance for the 2025 competition has been issued to academic administrators to forward onto students and supervisors. You can also download the call for applications (PDF), a copy of the MS online application form and the application scoring criteria guidance. 

A text version of the PDF call for applications document is also available.

The deadline to submit an application is midday on Monday 19th May 2025. 
Please note any internal department deadlines for project approval before submitting your application.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, candidates:

  • Must be EPSRC funded students (that is, they must have received fees and/or stipend from an EPSRC training grant, or have been funded on an EPSRC research grant);
  • Should meet the EPSRC's expectation that they are academically in the top 10-15 per cent of their cohort;
  • Must have either already submitted their DPhil thesis or be reasonably expected to do so in advance of the proposed start date of funding (consideration might also be given to starting the award after the candidate has completed their viva).

Departments:

  • should ensure that the nominee's project is a viable one, will further the aim of increasing the impact of the student's doctoral research in terms of publications, KT and outreach, and will be helpful in retaining the student in a research career (EPSRC will ask the University to report at the end of the award period on the use of the awards and the outputs obtained, in terms of these objectives);
  • should ensure that appropriate support/space etc., is available;
  • and that an induction procedure will be followed at the time the awardee commences employment.

Use of funding:

  • Funding may be requested to cover three to twenty-four month’s salary, research support costs and other specific costs, with most awards expected to be of six months duration.
  • Salary shall be at Grade 07S.2 (including OUW) with employer costs of pension and National Insurance allowed for.
  • The panel reserves the right to make awards at a lower level and/or for a shorter time period than that applied for.   

Any queries should be directed to graduate.studies@mpls.ox.ac.uk.

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