Why should you apply to STOR-i?

The STOR-i training programme covers four years, starting with an MRes foundation year followed by three years of PhD study. Successful graduates will receive both MRes and PhD qualifications, with guidance from expert academics and industry partners.

Throughout the programme, you'll also gain valuable transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, and management, preparing you for success in your future career.

Before applying, visit our STOR-i Programme page to learn more about the structure and benefits of completing your MRes and PhD with STOR-i.

Prerequisites

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
• Engineering

This list is not exhaustive, and those with relevant industrial experience who completed their undergraduate degree in the past are also very welcome to apply. You do not require expertise in both statistics and operational research, but holding a degree which includes substantial content of either one would be an advantage.

If you wish to discuss your personal experience with us, then please contact us.

Funding

Funding includes a tax-free stipend and fees as well as supporting travel and equipment costs.

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

• Home fee status students: STOR-i is part of the TechExpert pilot*, through which we expect to offer stipends of approximately £31,000 for students eligible for home fee status and starting in October 2026.
• International: We have a limited number of studentships available for international fee status students. These studentships consist of full fees and a minimum stipend of approximately £22,780 for the MRes year. On successful completion of the MRes this will rise to approximately £23,780/£25,780 per year dependent on whether you do an industry funded PhD.

* - TechExpert students will be asked to take part in additional TechExpert activities for up to 10 days each year including outreach to promote tech careers, networking with the TechFirst community and engagement with the tech industry.

How to apply

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)
5. information on where you found out about the STOR-i programme

As places on the programme are limited, we would encourage all UK (including Republic of Ireland) applicants to apply by 31 March 2026.

Non-UK applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by 31 January 2026. Applicants with alternative secured funding are welcome to apply after this date, but no later than 31 March 2026.

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

Interview stage

All applications are carefully considered, and those that are successful will progress through to an interview stage.

Successful UK applicants will be invited to visit STOR-i in person. 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. In these cases, we can reimburse reasonable travel costs within the UK (e.g. standard rail fare). 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, followed by a tour of campus and STOR-i facilities.

Successful non-UK applicants will still be interviewed ahead of an offer being made, however this is generally conducted virtually.