The UK government has announced the renewal of funding for the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Cyber Security at Royal Holloway, University of London. Since 2013 the university has hosted one of the two UK CDTs in Cyber Security, with an original grant of approximately £3.8M from the EPSRC and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. The grant has now been renewed, at the level of £3.45M, to provide funding for three further cohorts of PhD students in cyber security.

This is one of the initiatives in the new National Cyber Security Strategy, which was launched this week by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon. Philip Hammond MP. The five-year strategy will see an investment of £1.9 billion into defending UK cyber systems and infrastructure, deterring adversaries, and developing national cyber security capacity. The new strategy also confirms the long-term commitment of the government to supporting the UK’s cyber security academic sector.

Professor Carlos Cid, the CDT Director said, “the renewal of our grant comes on the back of a very positive 2015 evaluation of the CDT’s progress, and we are delighted with the new award. We have worked hard at Royal Holloway to build a vibrant and successful cohort of CDT students, which we think have already started to make a valuable contribution to the UK cyber security sector. Overall, we are proud to have again been recognised as a trusted centre for training the next generation of UK cyber security leaders.”

Royal Holloway’s CDT in Cyber Security has currently 37 students, working on a wide range of cyber security topics. Students follow a dedicated four-year programme of training and research in cyber security, with strong business engagement. The first cohort of CDT students is expected to graduate in 2018.

The CDT is currently recruiting for the 2017/18 cohort, with 10-12 four-year CDT studentships to be awarded to qualified and eligible candidates, to start their PhD studies in September 2017.