Thousands of postgraduate students will be backed by a £500m government fund to study biological, engineering and environmental sciences at 45 UK universities.

Today (13 November) is National Engineering Day, which raises public awareness of how engineers make a difference in the world and celebrates how they shape the future.

It is no coincidence that science and technology secretary Peter Kyle chose today to announce the new £500m fund that will help in the government’s pursuit of “driving long-term economic growth”. Over 4,700 postgraduate engineering and science university places will be made available through the fund.

The Doctoral Landscape and Doctoral Focal Awards, provided by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation), will allow these students to study projects in biological, engineering, physical, natural and environmental sciences at universities across the UK.

The government says prospective students will apply for places covered by the fund in the coming months.

Kyle said: “Backing...