Doctoral Training Partnerships 2 (DTP2)

Note to prospective students interested in applying for studentship or funding:

Please note there is no route for prospective students to apply directly to AHRC for a studentship. AHRC provides UK universities and consortia of Research Organisations with doctoral training grants to support AHRC-funded studentships.

The advertisement of opportunities and recruitment of studentships is managed by the Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) or Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP). Any students interested in AHRC-funded doctoral studentships should contact the research organisation, university or consortium at which they wish to study directly to obtain information on how to apply and eligibility.

Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP) are block grant awards made to either individual research organisations (ROs), or consortia of ROs. They support postgraduate studentships across the breadth of AHRC’s subject remit and complement the Centres for Doctoral Training. DTPs provide innovative training environments for doctoral-level research. They include opportunities for PhD students to undertake broader training or development, such as language learning, overseas research visits, or placements with non-academic partners.

Doctoral Training Partnerships 2 (DTP2) are following a similar process to DTP1 awards. These are block grant awards made to a consortia of Research Organisations. DTP2 awards include seven cohorts of students:

  • the first cohort of students commenced October 2019
  • the second cohort of students commenced October 2020
  • the third cohort of students commenced October 2021
  • the fourth cohort of students will commence October 2022
  • the fifth cohort of students will commence October 2023
  • the sixth cohort of students will commence October 2024
  • the seventh cohort of students will commence October 2025

The studentship places have been advertised by the individual DTP2 consortium on an annual basis, and studentships have been awarded in an open competition. AHRC plays no part in the assessment and selection of students. If you are a student, please contact the DTP directly to find out about their selection process.

List of contacts for all DTP2 consortia.

Any amendments to the list should be emailed to AHRC DTP enquiries inbox: dtp@ahrc.ukri.org

DTP 2 Consortia

South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Consortium 2 (SWW2)

AHRC-funded SWW2 is committed to creative approaches across disciplinary and interdisciplinary research that will develop scholars, researchers and professionals who are flexible and able to respond to both fast-moving research and industry environments.

We provide flexible, student-centred training that nurtures disciplinary expertise in conjunction with interdisciplinary perspectives, enriched by the world-class expertise and state-of-the-art resources available at the nine leading universities that are part of SWW2 and the DTP’s prestigious sector partners.

Led by the University of Bristol (consortium of Aberystwyth University, Amgueddfa Cymru), National Museum Wales, Bath Spa University, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, Cranfield University, University of Exeter, University of Reading, University of Southampton, and the University of the West of England.

In partnership with:

    • Arts Council South West
    • Bristol Music Trust
    • Aardman Animations
    • Spike Island
    • British School of Rome
    • Historic England
    • Bristol Culture
    • Cornwall Museum Partnership
    • Czech National Library
    • French National Archives
    • Bristol Old Vic
    • Exeter Northcott Theatre
    • Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
    • Watershed
    • Cotswold Archaeology
    • National Trust South West
    • British Library
    • Czech National Archives
    • Fondazione Feltrinelli
    • London Metropolitan Archives

Consortium for Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE)

CHASE supports discipline-based projects, but also specialises in interdisciplinary research and research in emerging fields of study and creative practice. CHASE’s research and training environment encourages doctoral researchers to develop new methodologies. In addition, the CHASE’s network of partnerships with leading organisations in the creative and public sectors provide an outstanding resource for future CHASE scholars.

Led by the University of Sussex, in collaboration with: Birkbeck College, Courtauld Institute Of Art, Goldsmiths College, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University of Kent.

In partnership with:

  • Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Canterbury Cathedral
  • The British Library
  • BBC
  • National Portrait Gallery
  • Vitae
  • Institute of Contemporary Arts
  • Arts Council England
  • Learning On Screen
  • Victoria and Albert Museum

London Arts & Humanities Partnership (LAHP)

AHRC’s vision for its postgraduate support is to provide the strongest possible foundation for capacity, quality and creativity in the Arts and Humanities. LAHP realises this vision by supporting students to become experts in their chosen fields and to develop a wide range of skills as researchers and leaders in a digital and global world, and uses the resources and opportunities of the capital city to create civically-minded, globally-aware, socially-engaged, impactful and ethically-informed scholars.

Led by UCL, in consortium with: King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London, Royal College of Music, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal College of Art, London School of Economics & Pol Sci, University of London.

In partnership with:

  • Museum of London
  • Live Art Development Agency
  • Victoria and Albert Museum
  • National Archives
  • Google
  • Wellcome Trust

Northern Bridge

Northern Bridge students are part of a thriving cohort, and are fully integrated into the DTP’s vibrant, outward-looking research culture. With its exciting portfolio of partnerships and unique resources, Northern Bridge offers an outstanding level of research support. Northern Bridge students benefit not just from flourishing groups and clusters at subject level, but from high-profile research centres and institutes in all seven universities that promote interdisciplinary inquiry.

Led by Newcastle University, collaborating with: Durham University, Northumbria University, Queen’s University of Belfast, University of Sunderland, Teesside University, University of Ulster.

In partnership with:

  • The North East Local Enterprise Partnership and the Tees Valley Combined Authority
  • British School at Rome
  • Newcastle Gateshead Cultural Venues (NGVC): BALTIC, Centre for Life, Dance City, Live Theatre, Northern Stage, Sage Gateshead, Seven Stories (The National Centre for Children’s Books), Theatre Royal and City Hall, Tyneside Cinema and Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM)
  • BBC Northern Ireland
  • Historic England
  • The North East Culture Partnership (NECP)

Techne

Techne understands that graduate training in the arts and humanities today has entered a new phase of rapid and dynamic change, offering students complex new opportunities and challenges with far-reaching implications for what they will require, and should expect, of their supervision and training. We confront a crucial challenge – how to preserve the profound scholarly resources, skills and capacities of the arts and humanities while at the same time securing their relevance and importance for the future? This question opens pathways along which, as much as we hope to lead our students, we also expect to be led by them.

Led by Royal Holloway University of London, collaborating with: University of the Arts London, University of Brighton, Brunel University London, Loughborough University, Roehampton University, University of Surrey, University of Westminster, Kingston University.

In partnership with:

  • Crafts Council
  • Focal Point Gallery
  • Historic Royal Palaces
  • Kew Gardens
  • Natural History Museum
  • National Theatre and Archive
  • PACT – Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television
  • Science Museum
  • Surrey Hills Arts
  • Culture Mile (The City of London Corporation, together with the Barbican, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London)
  • Heathrow Airport Holdings
  • Institute of Contemporary Arts
  • The National Archives
  • National Maritime Museum
  • UNICEF
  • Watts Gallery

The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH)

WRoCAH aims to respond to the agendas of a new generation of researchers, capitalise on combined strengths, and promote Arts and Humanities, including their interfaces with Social Sciences and STEM subjects. WROCAH wants to enrich the doctoral researcher experience through opportunities for interaction across disciplines, across institutions, and with national and international partners and collaborators outside the university sector. WRoCAH works with AHRC in building research capacity in subject areas of strategic importance and ensuring that resources are distributed in such a way as reflects both the maintenance of the highest academic standards and the needs of the relevant disciplines.

Led by University of York, collaborating with: University of Leeds, University of Sheffield.

In partnership with:

  • The National Archives
  • The British Library
  • Opera North
  • Historic England
  • V&A
  • Ideas Group
  • Routledge, Taylor and Francis
  • Human Studio
  • Henry Moore Foundation
  • Revolution Games
  • Natural History Museum of Denmark
  • Moesgaard Museum, Midtjylland, Denmark
  • Arts Council England
  • National Railway Museum
  • Royal Armouries
  • The Marks and Spencer Archive
  • Reel Solutions
  • Sheffield Health and Social Care
  • Wellcome Collection
  • Leeds Museum and Galleries
  • National Trust
  • Sheffield Doc Fest
  • Museums Sheffield
  • Zoo Digital

Midlands4Cities

Our vision is for Midlands4Cities (M4C) to be a major catalyst for arts and humanities postgraduate research in the Midlands and beyond, delivering benefits to students, academic institutions, cultural and creative sectors, government and the public. M4C builds on the track record of excellence in collaborative postgraduate research, training, joint supervision and non-university partner engagement established by its predecessor, the Midlands3Cities (M3C) consortium.

Led by the University of Nottingham, collaborating with: University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Coventry University, De Montfort University, University of Leicester, Nottingham Trent University, University of Warwick.

In partnership with:

  • Birmingham Museums Trust
  • Boots Archives
  • British Film Institute
  • British School at Rome
  • China Cultural Visiting Hub
  • Creative Leicestershire
  • Derby Museums
  • Duncan McCauly
  • Journey to Justice
  • Leicester Cureve
  • National Theatre
  • National Videogame Museum
  • Nottingham Museums and Galleries
  • Phoenix
  • Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
  • Warwick Arts Centre
  • Bird&Gorton
  • The Brilliant Club
  • The British Museum
  • Broadway Media Centre
  • Crafts Council
  • Culture Coventry
  • Derbyshire County Council
  • Historic England
  • Leicester Arts and Museums Service
  • National Holocaust Centre and Museum
  • National Trust
  • Nottingham Contemporary
  • Nottingham Playhouse
  • Royal Literary Fund
  • Sampad
  • Vivid Projects

North West Consortium NWC DTP

The focus of the NWC DTP is to promote the disciplinary capability and international research excellence necessary to underwriting the regional delivery of world-class PhD supervision and training in the arts and humanities. The equips postgraduates in the arts and humanities with subject specific, interdisciplinary and transferable knowledge and skills of immediate relevance to both their academic studies and future employability. Students are able to engage in the innovative opportunities enabled by NWC DTP’s cross-institutional arrangements. The NWC DTP provides internationally excellent training in both academic and non-academic environments at home and abroad. NWC DTP aims to enhance existing knowledge exchange (KE) relationships by expanding its use of regional, national and international cross-sector partnerships. To this end, the NWC DTP has optimised the mutually beneficial exchanges with non-HEI partners in a manner which both enhances the academic experience of its students and contributes to the socio-economic activity of private, public and third-sector organisations.

Led by the University of Manchester, collaborating with: Keele University, Lancaster University, University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University, Royal Northern College of Music, University of Salford.

In partnership with:

  • BBC
  • Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT)
  • National Trust
  • Science and Industry Museum
  • HOME
  • TATE Liverpool
  • The British Library
  • Manchester City Council
  • Opera North
  • FutureEverything
  • Staffordshire Archives

Open-Oxford-Cambridge

The three universities share extensive expertise in delivering successful doctoral training, developed in collaboration with our students and a wide range of non-HEI partners. The Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP believes that the exceptional breadth, depth, diversity, and, above all, quality of its arts and humanities provision creates a unique environment for creative collaboration and innovation that will promote exciting, ambitious doctoral research and training for the twenty-first century. Blending our diverse strengths also allows us to provide stronger and broader coverage in practice-based subjects such as creative writing, music, art and design.

Led by the University of Oxford, collaborating with: University of Cambridge, Open University.

In partnership with:

  • BBC World Service
  • National Trust
  • BT

Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities DTP (SGSAH)

The DTP for Scotland is delivered and managed by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities, the world’s first national graduate school in the Arts and Humanities. The SGSAH mission is to work in partnership to offer unparalleled training and support to all doctoral researchers in Scotland. Working together, SGSAH aims to nurture and inspire a future generation of enlightened leaders committed to generating and mobilising new insights across scholarly, professional and public communities.

The DTP is led by the University of Glasgow, collaborating with: University of Aberdeen, University of Dundee, University of Edinburgh, Glasgow School of Art, University of St Andrews, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Stirling, University of Strathclyde, University of the Highlands and Islands.

Working with supporters in the arts, culture, creative and heritage sectors, SGSAH supports positive connections and productive networks locally, regionally and globally to provide outstanding opportunities for doctoral researchers in Scotland.

With more than 100 active industry collaborations, the key strategic partners for SGSAH DTP2 (2019-2023) are:

  • BBC Scotland
  • British Council Scotland
  • Scottish Cultural Heritage Consortium (National Galleries of Scotland, National Library of Scotland, National Museums Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Historic Environment Scotland)
  • Scottish Parliament
  • V&A (London)

Last updated: 4 March 2024

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