CreaTech Frontiers Collaborative Doctoral Award

The College of Arts and Law invites applications to two Collaborative Doctoral Awards commencing in the 2026/7 academic year. These four-year, full-time studentships, co-hosted between the University of Birmingham and a Creative Sector project partner, are funded by UKRI via CreaTech Frontiers

One project, Shaping Space: Integrating Immersive Audio into Creative and Production Pipelines is in partnership with Birmingham Open Media (BOM). 

One project,  Digital Transformation in UK Performing Arts, is in partnership with Stan’s Cafe Theatre. 

Each studentship includes a stipend at the UKRI rate (£21,805) and a tuition fee waiver.

Informal enquiries about the “Shaping Space” project should be directed to Professor Annie Mahtani a.j.mahtani@bham.ac.uk

Informal enquiries about the “Digital Transformation in UK Performing Arts” project should be directed to Dr Erin Sullivan e.sullivan@bham.ac.uk

Who can apply?

• These studentships are open to Home and International students for full-time, campus-based doctoral research commencing study at the start of the 2026/27 academic year.
• Applicants must meet all requirements for doctoral study at the University of Birmingham, including, where relevant, English language proficiency.
• Candidates should have, or be completing, a master’s degree in a relevant subject.
•  Experience of working with industry partners, or the demonstrable potential to do so successfully, would be an advantage.
• The studentships will be awarded to outstanding candidates who demonstrate the potential to make a scholarly impact aligned with both the CreaTech Frontiers project and the College of Arts and Law’s strategic research priorities

Which countries and nationalities are eligible?

Open to anybody from any country and any nationality.

How to Apply

Please submit your application via email to calscholarshipprizes@contacts.bham.ac.uk. It should include:

• A CV (max 2 pages). This must cover your academic record (including degree classifications), relevant work experience, and any other information that indicates your preparedness and suitability for collaborative doctoral study;
• A Research Proposal (max 3 pages) that explains how you would respond to the relevant project.
• The names, affiliations and email addresses of two referees. Please ensure that you have contacted your referees in advance, and that they are willing to supply references on request.

Following shortlisting and interview, the successful candidate will need to apply for, and be offered, a place on the relevant programme of doctoral study at the University of Birmingham. You do not need to apply to a programme of study in advance.

The deadline for receipt of applications is midday UK time on 27th May 2026.