University of Northampton - Doctoral boost

A post-1992 university has made its biggest investment yet in PhD studentships. The University of Northampton will spend £1.1 million on 24 new doctoral studentships in subjects ranging from the politics of choreography to Tesco's growth strategy. The university received research degree-awarding powers in 2005 and was awarded £5 million after the 2008 research assessment exercise. In 2008-09, it won more than £10 million in research and knowledge-transfer contracts. Nick Petford, Northampton's vice-chancellor, said the studentships will have a "huge" impact on the local economy.