Programme Overview

Our training programme spans four years, consisting of an MRes foundation year followed by a three-year period of study leading to a PhD. Successful students will complete the programme with two separate qualifications of an MRes and PhD. You will additionally develop vital transferable skills including teamwork, leadership and management skills.

During your first year you will undertake a Master's of Research in which collaborative and co-operative work will play an important part. Subject to satisfactory completion of the MRes, you will spend the remaining three years working on your PhD project guided by your supervisory team. Most of our PhD projects include an industrial sponsor and joint supervision with an industrial collaborator. Some focus on methodological innovation at the STOR interface, with industrial involvement where appropriate.

The STOR-i programme will provide you with:

• The skills and methods required to conduct research within academia and industry;
• A grounding in STOR's mathematical core;
• Development, during your MRes foundation year, of a formal research proposal for your PhD;
• High quality supervision of your PhD project;
• The opportunity to attend relevant conferences and build academic and industrial networks;
• Experience of modelling and problem solving for scientific and industrial applications;
• An overview of thriving research areas within STOR methodology and applications;
• An understanding of how STOR is fundamental to research in many industrial and scientific applications.

How to Apply

We are now accepting applications for October 2025 entry.

To apply please send the following information in an email to stor-i@lancaster.ac.uk :

1. a current copy of your CV
2. a covering letter explaining your motivation for applying to the programme
3. an up-to-date copy of the degree courses you have studied including marks awarded
4. your current fees status (UK or non-UK)

As places on the programme are limited, we would encourage all UK (including Republic of Ireland) applicants to apply by 31 March 2025.

Non-UK applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by 31 January 2025. Applicants with alternative secured funding are welcome to apply after this date, but no later than 31 March 2025.

Before applying, please read our information on prerequisites and funding.

Prerequisites

If you have demonstrated excellence in your studies and you are committed to playing an active role in an innovative programme where collaboration and integration are key skills, STOR-i could be for you.

We welcome applications from students with a strong quantitative background. By this, we mean expecting to hold, or already holding, a first class honours degree or master’s course with substantial mathematical content, for example, mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science or engineering.

Those with relevant industrial experience who completed their undergraduate degree in the past are also very welcome to apply. If you wish to discuss your personal experience with us, then please contact us.

You do not require expertise in both statistics and operational research but holding a degree which includes a substantial content of either one would be an advantage.

English Language Requirements

If your previous education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be required to sit an approved English Language test to a required level. These are either:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test conducted by the British Council, and achieve a balanced overall score of at least 7.0; or
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and achieve a score of at least 600, a CBTOEFL of at least 250 and a iBTOEFL of at least 100.

Funding

For October 2025 entry, funding includes a tax-free stipend and fees as well as supporting travel and equipment costs. A fully funded studentship consists of full fees and stipend of approximately £21,237 for the MRes year. On successful completion of the MRes this will rise to approximately £22,237/£24,237 per year dependent on whether you do an industry funded PhD.

Due to constraints from our funding agencies, there are different rules for funding depending on your fee status:

• Home students (UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man): Full funding (fees and stipend) is available.
• Overseas (including EU): Applications from within the EU and globally are encouraged. Strong applicants will be considered for a restricted number of fully-funded places.

Visiting STOR-i

All applicants who progress to interview stage will be invited to visit STOR-i. This gives you a chance to see where STOR-i is based, meet students who are currently studying at STOR-i, and to explore the Lancaster University campus. Typically, the visit timetable includes:

• Dinner with STOR-i students and overnight accommodation in Lancaster.
• Refreshments upon arrival and a welcome chat with key members of the STOR-i team.
• An interview and/or informal one-to-one chats with key members of the STOR-i team.
• Lunch with STOR-i students.
• Tour of campus and STOR-i facilities.

For those invited to a STOR-i interview, we can reimburse reasonable travel costs within the UK (e.g. standard rail fare).