AgriFoRwArdS Students first conduct one year of study for the MSc in Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the University of Lincoln, followed by three years of PhD study at one of the three partner institutions.

The programme structure

Year 1: Students are required to complete the MSc programme in Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the University of Lincoln (delivered at the School of Computer Science on the Brayford Campus in Lincoln City Centre). This is supported by guest lectures, seminars and workshops from supervisors at the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia, plus training activities alongside other CDT students.

Years 2-4: Students undertake their PhD research. Students benefit from internationally leading supervisory expertise from across the consortium, with academic supervisors from two of our partner Universities, and an advisor from one of our Industry Partners. Twenty PhD students are be based at the University of Lincoln, twenty at the University of Cambridge, and ten at the University of East Anglia.

Associated Training: Students benefit from an ongoing, integrated, research training programme throughout the MSc and PhD phases, often delivered at the centrally located NCFM.

The programme enables students to receive training within four possible career routes, with activities tailored to each of these directions: 1) Academic researcher, 2) Engineer, 3) Entrepreneur, 4) Executive.

Those following career path 1 are likely to become researchers or professors, paths 2 and 4 usually lead people to industry, and path 3 is for those interested in starting a business or working in a small enterprise. Applicants are asked to identify the two career paths which interest them the most. There is no correct answer to this question, but it helps us to design the training to meet your needs. All students receive ongoing training in software engineering and systems development for agri-food robotics.

Key Features and Benefits of the programme

• Fully funded studentship, covering tuition fees and maintenance, along with funding for travel and consumables
• Supervision by academic experts from the Universities of Lincoln, Cambridge and East Anglia.
• Working with Industry Partners
• Excellent training opportunities, include master level courses in year one, supplemented by training in additional areas
• Group project work to encourage publishable, multi-disciplinary projects and develop team-working skills

For further details on the research areas, groups and facilities available to students at the different partner institutes in the CDT, see the University Consortium page.