Schedule driven manufacturing
Modular assembly, additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, sensor-driven build processes and metrology.
EPSRC & UKRI Doctoral Focal Award
Engineering the next generation of nuclear talent.
STAND-UP is a four year Engineering Doctorate programme bringing together seven UK universities, industry leaders and the SEARCH centre to upskill the engineers who will design, build, maintain and decommission the nation's nuclear defence assets.
The programme
A national mission to upskill nuclear engineering.
STAND-UP, Skills & Training driving Availability of National Defence assets, is a UKRI Doctoral Focal Award delivered by a consortium of seven leading UK universities led by the University of Strathclyde.
Over four years, each STAND-UP Engineering Doctorate combines a 12 month multi-disciplinary taught programme with extended placements alongside industry, working on the schedule, cost and quality challenges shaping nuclear design, manufacture, through-life operation and decommissioning.
The programme is funded by EPSRC and UKRI and hosted by the SEARCH centre, the Sensor Enabled Automation Robotics and Control Hub at Strathclyde.
By the numbers
Built to scale, designed for impact.
80+
Engineering Doctorates funded across the consortium
7
Partner universities led by Strathclyde
5
Three-week residential courses at major industry locations
20
EngD@Work places for industry employees studying part-time
Research themes
Four interconnected fronts for the nuclear defence enterprise.
STAND-UP projects cluster around four research themes, all aligned to schedule, cost and quality outcomes for the nuclear defence enterprise.
Maximising in-service availability
Inspection, non-destructive evaluation, structural integrity, industrial AI and design for through-life uptime.
Responsible & sustainable disposal
Automated cutting, circular economy and material recovery, waste management and environmental monitoring.
Advanced materials & physics
Materials chemistry and ageing, nuclear physics modelling, electrical instrumentation, superconductivity, lasers and accelerators.
For prospective doctoral researchers
Engineering doctorates that put you at the centre of national priorities.
Every STAND-UP studentship is a four year, fully funded Engineering Doctorate with 24 to 36 months embedded with an industry partner. You will work on live challenges, alongside leading academics and industry mentors, on the technologies that keep critical national infrastructure available.
- Four year, fully funded EngD with tax-free stipend
- 24 to 36 months on placement with a UK industry partner
- 12 month cohort taught programme across seven universities
- Five three-week residentials at key nuclear engineering sites
A national consortium
Seven universities, one mission.
Led by the University of Strathclyde, in partnership with six leading UK institutions.
Latest
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News & events
Announcement · Spring 2026
STAND-UP Doctoral Focal Award launches with EPSRC and UKRI funding
The STAND-UP consortium announces its inaugural cohort of Engineering Doctorates, supported by industry partners across the defence nuclear enterprise.
Opportunity · Summer 2026
First studentships open for October 2026 starts
Eleven funded EngD projects across robotics, inspection, advanced manufacturing and digital engineering are now accepting applications.
Event · Autumn 2026
Cohort residential week one, University of Strathclyde
The inaugural cohort gathers in Glasgow for the first of five three-week residentials across the four year programme.
Ready to shape the future of nuclear engineering?
Apply for a fully funded Engineering Doctorate or get in touch with the programme team to discuss your research interests.