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Rocketry, Research, Teaching and Training PhD Hub (R2T2) cohort two (Other)
Apply for funding to develop rocketry PhDs as part of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) Rocketry, Research, Teaching and Training Hub (R2T2), collaborating with STFC as the delivery partner. R2T2 has the purpose of delivering PhDs with both academic and skills-based training elements, providing students with the opportunity to participate in the practical aspects of rocketry and spend time in industry.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for STFC funding.
UKSA has provided funding for cohort one and is now extending the opportunity for cohort two.
The funding for cohort two is to support a four-year PhD.
Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.
For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.
Who is eligible to apply
This initiative will be open to UK academic institutions with rocketry programmes or having the necessary resources and expertise to deliver rocketry PhDs. The institutions will need to demonstrate existing industry engagement and private sector support, assisting them in providing students with industry experience and practical skills.
Your research organisation must be eligible for STFC funding.
The institutions will also need to demonstrate industry commitment to fund for 25% of the PhD(s) cost (£27,458 per PhD and £22,500 per student for consumables) for cohort two.
Academic institutions are welcomed to apply individually or as part of a group as they will be encouraged to collaborate as part of the R2T2 hub. This funding opportunity will not be open to non-UK organisations. You will need to bear any costs incurred in relation to work involved in the pre-notification and the funding opportunity, as well as any liability and risks involved.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
career breaks
support for people with caring responsibilities
flexible working
alternative working patterns
Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.
Aim
UKSA will support the academic sector to develop rocketry PhDs as part of the R2T2 hub, collaborating with STFC as the delivery partner.
The R2T2 initiative has the purpose of reducing the skills shortage in the space launch sector, ensuring the necessary skills are available in the UK to deliver a commercially sustainable launch market. One of the main skills gaps identified for the launch sector is rocketry skills, therefore we welcome proposals from UK academic institutions having the expertise and capability of delivering rocketry PhDs.
Scope
R2T2 has the purpose of delivering PhDs with both academic and skills-based elements, providing students with the opportunity to participate in the practical aspects of rocketry and spend time in industry.
A key aspect to be included in the proposals is industry engagement and support, aiming to demonstrate how students will develop practical skills and experience of directly working with industry partners.
The universities partnering under the R2T2 hub should collaborate and share lessons learned.
For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, go to the Additional information section.
Duration
The duration of this award is to support a four-year PhDs for each cohort.
The start date for cohort two is 1 October 2025.
The academic institutions are expected to commence the R2T2 PhD programme in September 2024, and advertise the programme in a timely manner, in accordance with the starting date.
Funding available
UKSA will fund 75% of 10 PhD studentships for cohort two.
Total funding available for cohort two is £1,498,763 which will cover 75% of the full cost of 10 rocketry PhDs (£823,763) and 75% of the full cost of consumables (£675,000).
This initiative also aims to boost industry investment in skills and requires the applicant to demonstrate commitment of industry funding for 25% of the PhD(s) cost (£27,458 per PhD and £22,500 per student for consumables).
Minimum amount per application
The minimum amount per application for cohort two is £149,876, including:
£82,376 for 1 PhD, covering 75% of the full life-cost of the PhD including tuition fees, annual stipend, and bench fees
£67,500 for 75% of the cost of consumables for 1 PhD student
Maximum amount per application
The maximum amount per application for cohort two is £1,498,763 (10 PhDs plus consumables).
Supporting skills and talent
We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.
As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
See further guidance and information about TR&I – including where applicants can find additional support.
Assessment process
We will assess your application using the following process.
Interview
An expert interview panel will conduct interviews with applicants after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.
We expect interviews to be held in autumn 2024.
UKSA will make the final funding decision.
Feedback
We will give feedback with the outcome of your application.
Principles of assessment
We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.
Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.
Sharing data with co-funders
We will need to share the application (including any personal information that it contains) with UKSA so that they can participate in the assessment process.
Find out more information on how UKSA uses personal information.
We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.
Assessment areas
The assessment areas we will use are:
Vision
Approach
Student experience and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Partnerships and governance
Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.
Click here to start application on the UKRI Funding Service:
https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP688/apply/713
We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.
Confirm you are the project lead.
Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.orgPlease allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this funding opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. You should:
use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
insert each new image onto a new line
provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
ensure files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References
Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. Applicants should use their discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019).
You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.
Deadline
STFC must receive your application by 2 October 2024 at 4:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
STFC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
STFC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with UKSA so that they can participate in the assessment process. Find out more information on how UKSA uses personal information.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
opinion-formers
policymakers
the public
the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
context
the challenge the project addresses
aims and objectives
potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
project lead (PL)
project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
grant manager
Only list one individual as project lead.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 500
What is the training grant going to achieve and why is it important for UKSA to support it?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed training grant:
has a clear vision and objectives with tracking measures
is grounded in a model of a highly skilled, doctoral graduate employable across a range of sectors and careers
outlines the organisation’s or partnership’s research and innovation expertise in designated disciplines to provide training and address skills and capacity challenges
describes its anticipated outcomes and impact for society and/or the economy, outlines the strategies to achieve them
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
References may be included within this section.
Approach
Word limit: 2,000
How will your doctoral training programme support your vision, and align with UKSA’s ambitions for its doctoral investments?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your training programme will:
deliver the vision outlined for this doctoral training programme
deliver the outcomes to:
embed a holistic approach to doctoral training and development that delivers high quality doctoral research, integrating in-depth subject knowledge, research and methodological skills, and wider skills development opportunities
prepare researchers to operate across interdisciplinary, collaborative and challenge-led environments
develop globally competitive researchers, able to use their skills to thrive across a range of sectors and careers
maintain links with doctoral graduates to track career pathways and to benefit current and future student cohorts
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
References may be included within this section.
Student experience and equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
Word limit: 2,000
How will you create and maintain an inclusive and supportive culture and environment for all those involved in the training grant?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
You should demonstrate how:
you will create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff, including those with diverse needs
you will champion EDI across all aspects of the training grant, including recruitment, supervision and flexible student support
you will provide evidence for proposed EDI activities, including baseline and subsequent updates across the lifetime of the award
you will develop the quality of the research training environment, and cohort approach to training focused on the student experience. For example, how specific training on techniques and innovation will be delivered on a cohort basis
Capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,650
Who will lead and deliver the training grant?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide evidence that you and your team collectively have:
relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to lead the training grant
appropriate skills, including project management, leadership, stakeholder management, administrative skills, supervisory and research skills and pastoral capacity to support the number of studentships you are applying for
a good track record of contributing to a positive research culture and wider community
a good track record of supporting the training and development of others, particularly previous involvement in successfully delivering doctoral training
a clear plan for the management and delivery of the training grant, including the suitability and commitment of the project lead and senior management team
a clear plan for obtaining independent strategic oversight and the involvement of students in the management process
clear plan for any impacts which arise as a result of the hub’s success, both in terms of academic or scientific benefit, and wider economic/societal benefit.
a good track record of supporting and delivering responsible research and innovation
Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and your team have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.
Upload CV information for the lead applicant who would be the Director of the training grant and for every team member. Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:
contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
contributions to the wider research and innovation community
contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit
Additions
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them). Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
References may be included within this section.
UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new Funding Service
For full details, see Eligibility as an individual.
Partnerships and governance
Word limit: 1,500
How will the training grant be governed, including collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and non-academic partners?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide evidence that HEIs and their non-academic partners collectively:
are committed to working together and contributing to the delivery of the training grant award
have a strategy for managing partnerships between and within organisations
have established a clear governance structure for the training grant award, with responsibilities outlined, and processes in place to ensure the training grant is well governed and all relevant partners as well as the student community are engaged
have established an approach to risk management, continuous improvement, monitoring and evaluation
have established a clear commitment from non-academic and industry partners to cover 25% of the PhD funding (£27,458 per student) and 25% of the consumables cost (£22,500 per student) for cohort two of the R2T2 hub
have a clear plan to match students to placements and monitor their progress
have established existing engagement with the industry sector and industry interest to support PhD students develop practical experience and industry skills
The word count for this section is 1,500 words: 1,000 for the narrative about governance and 500 for a joint partnership letter.
Therefore, please upload a joint Project Partners Letter of Support signed by each of the non-HEI partners listed in the Project Partner section of your application. The letter should be max 500 words long.
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.
Add the following project partner details:
the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
the project partner contact name and email address
the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Data management and sharing
Word limit: 500
How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 500
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
how you will manage these considerations
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
Word limit: 100
Does the proposed work involve international collaboration in a sensitive research or technology area?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate how your proposed international collaboration relates to Trusted Research and Innovation, including:
list the countries your international project co-leads, project partners and visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in
if international collaboration is involved, explain whether this project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act
if one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act are involved list the areas
If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration, answer ‘n/a’ here.
We may ask you to provide additional information about how your proposed project will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help manage these risks.
Background
This funding opportunity builds on the previous R2T2 funding and has the purpose of reducing the skills shortage in the space launch sector, ensuring the necessary skills are available in the UK to deliver a commercially sustainable launch market. One of the main skills gaps identified for the launch sector are rocketry skills, therefore we welcome proposals from UK academic institutions having the expertise and capability of delivering rocketry PhDs. A key aspect to be included in the proposals is industry engagement and support, aiming to demonstrate how students will develop practical skills and experience of directly working with industry partners.
Additional disability and accessibility adjustments
UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process if required.
Research disruption due to COVID-19
We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:
breaks and delays
disruptive working patterns and conditions
the loss of ongoing work
role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic
Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.
Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.
Supporting documents
R2T2 Guidance Document (PDF, 27KB)
Related content
Related opportunities
Get help with your application
If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page
Important note: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of an opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.
Contact details
For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.
For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact studentships@stfc.ac.uk
Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.
Email: support@funding-service.ukri.orgPhone: 01793 547490
Our phone lines are open:
Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.
See further information on submitting an application.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email studentships@stfc.ac.uk
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
declaration of interest
additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
