The Programme

The Oxford DTP in Environmental Research will offer a world class, multidisciplinary training environment for the next generation of researchers working at the frontiers of Environmental Science.  The annual cohort will comprise roughly 30 students, 24 of whom will be Research Council funded, with the remainder supported by university and college scholarships and non-academic Partners.  

Students will be admitted to one of the three streams of the DTP, and will develop their research project in any relevant area during their first 2-3 months of study.   During this period they will receive intensive, cohort-wide training which will include a 3-day residential field course, development of a common skills toolkit through a series of core cross-cohort courses, training in research and transferable skills, seminar and discussion groups and a termly public lecture programme.

Students will receive support as they develop their research proposal during the first term, months 1-3.  During months 4-12 students embark on their research projects.  By the end of year 1 students will complete a review of the state-of-the-art in their chosen research area and will present their research and a research plan at the end of year conference.  Students will  carry out their research projects in a chosen department. They will gain their D.Phil from this department, although the DTP will continue to provide support, training, career development and networking opportunities. 


Training Methods


The DTP will use a student-centred approach to teaching delivery. Training will progress in three phases, developing from core skills sets to those specific to the student's projects.  In the first term, students will be trained as a single cohort, and all students will participate across the full breadth of training activities.  Students will each be supported by a Course Tutor who will act as an independant advisor throughout their first year of study.  During this time students will work on their research proposal, the outline of which should be complete by the end of month 3.

Thereafter training will be both cross-cohort and in streams. Students will also be able to sign up for classes on the GAP academic programme to provide an individually tailored training programme for each student.  


Details of the course structure and modules taken are given in the following sections:
Throughout the course, the University's code of conduct relating to Academic Integrity is enforced.