The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills is an exciting new £18.5M initiative in Postgraduate research hosted between Swansea University’s Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials and the University of Leeds and will recruit at least 50 students over 5 annual cohorts between the two sites.
Anchored by £74M of new infrastructure investment in the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) and the Bragg Nanotechnology Cleanroom and co-created with over 24 national and multinational industry partners, the CDT is uniquely positioned to deliver technically rigorous, industry-relevant, and inclusive doctoral training from October 2026. UK-SIFS will create a vibrant, multi-disciplinary cohort experience for all students and provide highly practical training of substantial value to those interested in careers in the semiconductor and related sectors such as optoelectronics and clean energy.
Semiconductors are fundamental to every pillar of modern society – communications, energy, transport, security, and healthcare – yet the UK faces a significant shortage of specialist skills across the supply chain. UK-SIFS directly addresses this challenge by providing advanced doctoral training that blends hands-on technical expertise with interdisciplinary research and strong industrial engagement. Our graduates will not only contribute immediately to semiconductor manufacturing and R&D, but will also become the future academic, industrial, and civic leaders of the sector.
Distinctive features and benefits of the CDT include:
- Cohort approach providing peer to peer support.
- Multi-disciplinary projects with a broad range of semiconductor industry engagement opportunities.
- Bespoke professional development (e.g. communication skills, commercialisation, project management), technical training (e.g. cleanroom fabrication skills, advanced characterisation, technology translation) and consortium events.
- Dedicated academic team at Swansea to support you.
- Be part of Swansea University’s new £55M flagship Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM), where manufacturing meets research and development. Opened in 2025, the facility provides state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication cleanrooms, associated experimental laboratories and device design, testing and characterisation.
- Access to a suite of specialist materials experimental facilities at Swansea and at our partner site in Leeds, which includes equipment unique to the UK and Europe.
If you want to undertake cutting edge research in world-class facilities closely linked to the rapidly expanding UK semiconductor sector, then we are the CDT for you.
We would particularly welcome appropriately qualified applicants with experience from other industry sectors looking to embark on a new career journey in semiconductors.
Contact uksifs@swansea.ac.uk for further information.
