ESRC
Doctoral Focal Award Plus: Innovating in Data-Driven Research
Preannouncement only; full funding opportunity to be published separately. Students expected to start October 2027.
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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.
Details
| Funder | ESRC |
| Budget | Up to £5.75M |
| Consortium | No |
| Frequency | One-off |
| Eligible countries | GB |
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.
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.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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