# Doctoral Focal Award Plus: Innovating in Data-Driven Research

**Funder:** ESRC
**Budget:** Up to £5.75M
**Consortium:** No
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/doctoral-focal-award-plus-innovating-in-data-driven-research/
**Last verified:** 20 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Open to UK research organisations eligible for ESRC funding. Single-institution or multi-institution consortia welcome; no size/geography stipulation. Funds one doctoral focal award plus for data-driven social science research, combining doctoral training (up to 8 studentships/year for 3 years) with training and capacity building for mid-career and senior researchers. Partnerships with business, public, and VCSE sectors encouraged.

## Summary

The ESRC Doctoral Focal Award Plus funds up to £5.75M for a single data-driven social science doctoral training programme combining PhD studentships (up to 8 per year over three years) with mid-career and senior researcher upskilling. Eligible applicants are UK research organisations, including single institutions or multi-institution consortia, with partners from business, public, and voluntary sectors encouraged. This is a one-off competition with cohort start dates in October 2027.

## Who should apply

- UK universities or research organisations eligible for ESRC funding
- Single institutions or multi-institution consortia
- Programmes focused on data-driven social science research
- Partners with business, public, VCSE sector collaborators

## Key dates

- October 2027 expected student start date
- Full funding opportunity and deadline details to be published separately
- Three-year studentship programme duration

## Tips for applicants

- This is a preannouncement; watch for the full opportunity release on the ESRC website, which will carry the formal deadline and submission portal.
- Frame capacity-building elements alongside doctoral training; the funder explicitly links PhD cohort development with mid-career/senior researcher upskilling.
- Consortia applications are welcome; articulate the added value of multi-institutional collaboration, especially in data-science infrastructure or sector partnerships.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the ESRC Doctoral Focal Award Plus?

It funds a single doctoral training programme combining PhD studentships (up to 8 per year, for three years) with training and capacity building for mid-career and senior researchers in data-driven social science.

### How much is the ESRC Doctoral Focal Award Plus?

Up to £5.75 million total for the three-year programme.

### Who can apply for the ESRC Doctoral Focal Award Plus?

UK research organisations eligible for ESRC funding, as single institutions or multi-institution consortia.

### When do students start under the ESRC Doctoral Focal Award Plus?

October 2027 is the expected cohort start date.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/esrc-doctoral-focal-award-plus-innovating-in-data-drive-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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