This page lists currently funded doctoral focal award investments, including centres for doctoral training (CDTs) and CDT-type national capability awards.
Organisations seeking open or upcoming focal award opportunities can search for opportunities. Prospective doctoral students should read our studentships guidance for students.
Focal awards are one of two types of doctoral training investment under the collective talent funding scheme. They are theme-based, strategic and often cross-council. All programmes include cohort-based, multi-year doctoral training opportunities.
Entries include cross-council strategic awards and council-specific training investments.
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) focal awards
Current focal award investments.
A Golden Thread: Crafting the Creative Economy from Scotland’s Highlands, Lowlands and Islands
Lead university: Glasgow School of Art
Final cohort starts: 2029
A Golden Thread (Gateway to Research)
AD[A]PT: Architectural Design and Humanities Promoting Transformation
Lead university: Oxford Brookes University.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
ADAPT-AI: Analysing and Diversifying Audience Participation with Creative Technologies and AI
Lead university: King’s College London.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Celtic Crescent: Creative Economy
Lead university: Bangor University.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Consortium for Researching Inclusive Cultures in the Arts (CRICA)
Lead university: University of Roehampton.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Crafting Care for People, Place and Planet
Lead university: University of Liverpool
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Crafting Care (Gateway to Research)
Creative Bridges: Connecting Diversity and Sustainability for UK Screen Industries
Lead university: University of Leeds.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
East Midlands SLAM: Sustainable Living and Mental Well-Being
Lead university: Loughborough University.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
East Midlands SLAM (Gateway to Research)
Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life
Lead university: Durham University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space
Lead university: University of Leicester (Leverhulme Centre).
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Leverhulme Centre for Research on Slavery in War
Lead university: King’s College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Living Well with Water: fully funded doctoral opportunities in water and wellbeing research
Funding councils: AHRC (lead) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
Lead university: University of Hull.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
LLes: a Welsh Hub for Well-Being through the Humanities
Lead university: Swansea University.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) focal awards
See also:
- Soc-B Centre for Doctoral Training in Biosocial Research (Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) led)
- Engineering Biology Centre for Doctoral Training (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) led)
- Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (EPSRC-led)
- Net2Zero (EPSRC-led)
- OneZoo: Tackling Zoonoses (Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) led)
Current focal award investments.
Advanced AI for Multi-modal Spatial Biology
Lead university: Queen Mary University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Advanced AI for Multi-modal Spatial Biology
BioAid: AI-driven Industrial Biocatalysis
Funding councils: BBSRC (lead), EPSRC and NERC.
Lead university: Queens University Belfast.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Code-M: the control and design of bioengineered microbial cells and systems
Funding councils: BBSRC (lead), with EPSRC and NERC
Lead university: The University of Manchester.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Enabling Next-generation AI for a Bioscience Led Economy (ENAIBLE)
Lead university: University of Oxford.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Engineering Biology for Biomedicine
Funding councils: BBSRC and MRC
Lead university: King’s College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Plant Biodesign: Engineering plants for a sustainable future
Lead university: University of York.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Training the next generation of Engineering Biologists to deliver green bio-based production (EngBio4GBP)
Lead university: Royal Holloway University of London
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) focal awards
Current focal award investments.
Centre-UB: Understanding Human Behaviour
Lead university: University of Birmingham
Final cohort starts: 2026
Data Analytics and Society Centre for Doctoral Training
Lead university: University of Leeds
Final cohort starts: 2023
Data analytics and society website
Soc‑B Centre for Doctoral Training in Biosocial Research
Funding councils: ESRC (lead) and BBSRC
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort started: 2023.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) focal awards
EPSRC invested in over 70 CDTs in 2018. These CDTs are no longer recruiting but some grants still have enrolled students undertaking cutting edge research and development. You can find out more on Gateway to Research.
Current centres for doctoral training (CDTs) are grouped by broad theme.
Advanced materials and physical sciences
2D Materials of Tomorrow (2DMoT)
Lead university: The University of Manchester.
Final cohort starts: 2029
Aerosol Science: harnessing aerosol science for improved security, resilience and global health
Lead university: University of Bristol.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Chemical Biology: Empowering UK BioTech Innovation
Lead university: Imperial College London
Final cohort starts: 2028
Chemical Synthesis for a Healthy Planet
Lead university: University of Oxford.
Final cohort starts: 2028
Digital and Automated Materials Chemistry
Lead university: University of Liverpool.
Final cohort starts: 2028
Digital and Automated Materials Chemistry CDT
Inorganic Materials for Advanced Manufacturing (IMAT)
Lead university: University of Oxford
Final cohort starts: 2028
Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (HetSys II)
Lead university: University of Warwick
Final cohort starts: 2028
HetSys CDT and HetSys II (Gateway to Research)
Resilient Chemistry: feedstock to function (CDT-F2F)
Lead university: University of Nottingham.
Final cohort starts: 2028
Superconductivity: enabling transformative technologies
Lead university: University of Bristol
Final cohort starts: 2028
Sustainable Chemical Technologies: a systems approach
Lead university: University of Bath
Final cohort starts: 2028
Sustainable Chemical Technologies CDT
Technology-Enhanced Chemical Synthesis (TECS)
Lead university: University of Bristol
Final cohort starts: 2028
Use-Inspired Photonic Sensing and Metrology
Lead university: Heriot-Watt University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Use-Inspired Photonic Sensing and Metrology CDT
Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital security and resilience
See also UKRI Artificial Intelligence Centres for Doctoral Training, which are awarded by EPSRC but involve multiple councils.
Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security (EPSRC and MOD)
Lead university: University of Southampton.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Cyber Secure Everywhere: resilience in a world of disappearing system boundaries
Lead university: University of Bristol.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Cyber-Physical Risk
Lead university: University College London
Final cohort starts: 2029
Machine Learning System
Lead university: The University of Edinburgh
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security (SPADS)
Lead university: The University of Edinburgh.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Energy and decarbonisation
Aura Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience
Lead university: University of Durham
Final cohort starts: 2028
Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero
Lead university: Loughborough University.
Final cohort starts: 2028
Fusion Power
Lead university: University of York.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Green Industrial Futures
Lead university: Heriot-Watt University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions (N0MES)
Lead university: University of Liverpool.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE) (Industrial CDT)
Lead university: The University of Edinburgh
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU+)
Lead university: Northumbria University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Skills and Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN)
Lead university: The University of Manchester.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Engineering
Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0 with the Henry Royce Institute
Lead university: The University of Manchester.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Diversity-led, mission-driven research (DiveIn)
Lead university: University of Glasgow.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Engineering Biology (EngBio) Centre for Doctoral Training
Funding councils: EPSRC (lead) and BBSRC
Lead university: University of Bristol.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance
Funding councils: EPSRC (lead) and BBSRC
Lead university: University College London
Final cohort starts: 2028
Future Fluid Dynamics
Lead university: University of Leeds.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: unlocking net zero (FIBE3 CDT)
Lead university: University of Cambridge.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Net Zero Aviation
Lead university: Cranfield University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Process Industries: net zero (PINZ)
Lead university: Newcastle University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Robotics and AI for Net Zero (RAINZ)
Lead university: The University of Manchester.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World (Sensor)
Lead university: University of Cambridge
Final cohort starts: 2029
Sustainable Sound Futures
Lead university: Universities of Salford.
Final cohort starts: 2029
Water Infrastructure and Resilience II (WIRe II)
Lead university: Cranfield University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Health technologies
Accelerated Medicines Design and Development
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Accelerated Medicines Design and Development CDT
Advanced Engineering for Personalised Surgery and Intervention (PSI)
Lead university: King’s College London
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Data-Driven Health (DRIVE-Health)
Lead university: King’s College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Digital Health Technologies (ENGAGE)
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Healthcare Data Science
Lead university: University of Oxford.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT)
Lead university: Queen Mary University of London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Information and communication technologies
Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems (AIMS)
Lead university: University of Oxford.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
CDT-FORT: Shaping the Future of Open, Secure and Resilient Networks
Lead university: University of Surrey.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Collaborative Computational Modelling at the Interface (CCMI)
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Diversity in Data Visualization
Lead university: University of London.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Photonic and Electronic Systems (PES)
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills (UK-SIFS)
Lead university: Swansea University.
Final cohort starts: 2030.
Manufacturing and the circular economy
Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing (CSM)
Lead university: Cardiff University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Cyber-physical systems for Medicines Development and Manufacturing (CEDAR)
Lead university: University of Strathclyde.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Digital Transformation of Metals Industry
Lead university: University of Leicester.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Formulation Engineering for Net Zero
Lead university: University of Birmingham.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering
Lead university: University of Bristol.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering CDT
Machining, Assembly, and Digital Engineering for Manufacturing (MADE4Manufacturing)
Lead university: University of Sheffield.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Net2Zero: Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero
Funding councils: EPSRC (lead) and BBSRC
Lead university: Aston University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Mathematical sciences
Algebra, Geometry and Quantum Fields (AGQ)
Lead university: University of Glasgow.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
SAMBa: Statistical Applied Mathematics at Bath
Lead university: University of Bath.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Statistics and Machine Learning (StatML)
Lead university: Imperial College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Statistics and Operational Research in Partnership with Industry (STOR-i)
Lead university: Lancaster University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
The Mathematics for our Future Climate (MFC): Theory, Data and Simulation
Lead university: Imperial College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Quantum technologies
Applied Quantum Technologies (AQT)
Lead university: University of Strathclyde.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Quantum Computation and Quantum Communications (QC2)
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Quantum Information Science and Technologies (QIST)
Lead university: University of Bristol.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Quantum Informatics
Lead university: The University of Edinburgh.
Final cohort starts: 2029.
Quantum Technology Engineering
Lead university: University of Southampton.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Quantum Technology Engineering CDT
Medical Research Council (MRC) focal awards
MRC co-funds the following focal award investments led by other councils:
- Engineering Biology for Biomedicine (BBSRC-led)
- OneZoo: Tackling Zoonoses (NERC-led)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) focal awards
Current centres for doctoral training.
Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment Towards Sustainable Chemical Use (ECORISC)
Lead university: University of York.
Final cohort starts: 2023.
ECOWILD: Centre for Ecologically Relevant Multiple Stressor effects on Wetland Wildscapes
Lead university: Heriot-Watt University.
Final cohort starts: 2026.
EngBio4Env: Engineering Biology for Environmental Applications
Lead university: Cranfield University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
Freshwater Bioscience & Sustainability (FRESH)
Lead university: Cardiff University.
Final cohort started: 2020.
OneZoo: Tackling Zoonoses
Funding councils: NERC (lead), BBSRC and MRC
Lead university: Cardiff University.
Quantitative and Modelling Skills in Ecology and Evolution (QMEE)
Lead university: Imperial College London.
Final cohort started: 2019.
Real-Time Digital Water-Based Systems for Environmental Health (Red-ALERT
Lead university: University of Bath.
Final cohort starts: 2026.
Resilient Flood Futures
Lead university: University of Southampton.
Final cohort starts: 2026.
Satellite Data in Environmental Science (SENSE)
Lead universities: The University of Edinburgh and University of Leeds.
Final cohort started: 2023.
Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources (SuMMeR)
Lead university: University of Plymouth.
Final cohort started: 2024.
Training and Research Group for Energy Transition Mineral Resources (TARGET)
Lead university: University of Leicester.
Final cohort starts: 2026.
Other NERC doctoral focal awards include the following.
AI-INTERVENE: AI for Unlocking Datasets for Biodiversity Assessment and Prediction
Lead university: University of Reading.
Final cohort starts: 2027.
ECOSOLUTIONS: Shape the future of a non-toxic environment
Lead university: University of Sheffield.
Final cohort starts: 2027.
Informatics for Multi-hazard Risk Resilience (i-Risk)
Lead university: Loughborough University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
NETGAIN: developing the science and practice of nature markets for a net positive future
Lead university: University of St Andrews.
Final cohort starts: 2027.
Net Zero Polar Science (NZPS)
Lead university: Northumbria University.
Final cohort starts: 2028.
UNRISK: Understanding Uncertainty to Reduce Climate Risks
Lead university: University of Leeds.
Final cohort starts: 2027.
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) focal awards
Current centres for doctoral training (and their lead institutions).
Data Intensive Science
Lead university: University of Cambridge.
Final cohort started: 2024.
Data Intensive Science & Industry (DISI)
Lead university: University College London.
Final cohort started: 2024.
Data Intensive Science Centre in the South East Physics Network (DISCnet)
Lead university: University of Sussex.
Final cohort started: 2024.
Liverpool Centre for Doctoral Training for Innovation in Data Intensive Science (LIV.INNO)
Lead university: University of Liverpool.
Final cohort started: 2024.
NUdata: CDT in Data Intensive Science
Lead university: Northumbria University.
Final cohort started: 2024.