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Ready to get
started?
Join AD[A]PT, an AHRC funded doctoral programme bringing together architecture, design, sustainability and cultural research. We are looking for creative, critical thinkers from a wide range of backgrounds who want to develop research with real-world impact.
COHORT 2 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 13TH JANUARY 2027 - 5pm
Key Information for Applicants
We invite proposals from prospective candidates who wish to study with us and welcome applicants from a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds, skills and research interests.
The Information below applies for applicants applying for an October 2027 start.
There are six studentships on offer for Cohort 2.
When completing your application, you can choose one or more institutions where you would like your application to be considered.
Some studentships we are offering will be supported by a Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA), which involves co-supervision and a placement with one of our CDA Partners for up to half of the candidature. Possible CDA topics are outlined in the call document, but you can also propose your own.
Two Ways to Apply
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Developing your own research project proposal that addresses our overall research brief, topic themes and research priorities, as outlined in detail in the AD[A]PT Call for Proposals document, which can be found and downloaded in “Step 1” below.
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Respond to a set research brief that has been developed by the academic team with input and feedback from our 13 partner organisations, and in some cases, a potential CDA partner.
Who Should Apply?
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Candidates applying for PhD programs have usually undertaken both an undergraduate and a master’s course, typically from a recognised UK university (HEI) or equivalent international institution. For information on what qualifications from outside the UK are accepted at each of our host institutions please see the relevant webpages to help determine your academic eligibility. For any non-English language transcripts and certificates, certified official translations must be provided alongside the originals.
Please refer to weblinks below if you require additional information relevant to your proposed Host Institution (first preference), before you complete this section.
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University Entry Requirements
Oxford Brookes University English Language Requirement
Cardiff University
Cardiff University Entry Requirements
Cardiff University English Language Requirement
Falmouth University
Falmouth University Entry Requirements
Falmouth University English Language RequirementIf in doubt as to whether you have sufficient credentials to meet the application requirements, please email the relevant institutions’ administrative contact to check before submitting.
Please note that according to UKRI funding rules, students who have already commenced their doctoral studies are not eligible for studentship awards and should not apply.
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This call is open to both Home students and International candidates.
To be classed as a Home student for the purposes of fees, candidates must meet one of the following criteria, and the associated residency requirements (generally three years residency prior to the start of the course):
be a UK National
have settled status
have pre-settled status
have permanent residency, such as indefinite leave to remain or enter
be an Irish national (Irish nationals’ eligibility is derived from the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area Agreement).
If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International Student. For further information, please see below:
While international applications are welcome, please also note that due to UKRI funding rules, we are limited as to the number of total awards that can be awarded to international students (capped at 30% of the total number of studentships within our program). Studentships will only be funded up to the Home fees amount for all students; therefore, international students will have to cover the shortfall in fees either themselves or through a separate grant, if applying to Falmouth University or Oxford Brookes University; Cardiff University may offer a fee waiver for the difference in fees for international students funded through the UKRI. To find out more, please see below:
Please also note the place of tenure requirements of the grant if awarded: both Home and International Students must be resident in the UK for the majority of their studies. The Student must live within a reasonable travel time of their Research Organisation or collaborative organisation to ensure that they are able to maintain regular contact with their department and their Supervisor. This is to ensure that students are not isolated and receive the full support, mentoring, training and access to facilities required to complete their research successfully and to a high standard. The only exceptions to these requirements are to cover periods of absence that are an essential part of their study e.g. fieldwork, study visits or conference attendance. There should be appropriate flexibility within the training grant to support periods of study overseas subject to adhering to UKRI guidance.
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For your project to be eligible for AHRC funding, it needs to sit within their funding remit. In terms of mixed methods projects, your project needs to use primarily arts and humanities methods and methodologies on AHRC funded subjects/disciplines.
In the AD[A]PT proposal form, you will be asked to state under which subjects your project is eligible. Please refer to the following website for the full list of fundable research areas to check prior to submission: https://www.ukri.org/publications/ahrc-research-funding-guide/ahrc-research-funding-guide-for-applicants/#section-annex-a:-ahrc-disciplines
For interdisciplinary proposals, please additionally refer to the following guidance
https://www.ukri.org/councils/ahrc/remit-programmes-and-priorities/
Funding Package
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A studentship awarded under this programme will provide each studentship holder with:
University fees for doctoral studies, paid at the standard UKRI home rate (£5,238 in 2026/27, exact rate for 2027/28 subject to confirmation from UKRI).
A stipend to cover living expenses (£21,805 from Oct 2026, exact rate for 2027/28 subject to confirmation from UKRI).
Research Training Support Grant for reimbursement of research-related expenses (such as training, fieldwork, materials for models and prototypes etc).
The above figures are given for full-time students. Part-time study is available and will be offered pro-rated amounts. For more information on what support is available for UKRI-funded students, see here:
https://www.ukri.org/manage-your-award/support-for-ukri-funded-students/
The standard length of awards will be three years and six months at full-time study. A longer period of funding may be available for those students where justified; such as those who are collaborating with a partner organisation (e.g. through a Collaborative Doctoral Award or a placement), or those requiring specialist or advanced training that necessitates a longer candidature. These cases should be made clear in the application through the research proposal. Research projects should be designed to fit within the funded period being applied for.
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Students who require reasonable adjustments may be eligible to receive additional support through the UKRI Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) Framework (note, this scheme is different from the UK Government’s DSA provision for undergraduates). To make sure such measures are in place well ahead of commencing studies, students who are awarded funding will be encouraged to start the process to access this support allowance as soon as possible. Details on how to apply will be provided in funding offer letters when successful, but if you wish to view the provision, more information can be found below:
In addition to the above support, AD[A]PT will run an Equitable Access Fund (EAF) to provide further support towards removing barriers to attending in person training opportunities based upon an individual’s circumstances and needs. More details on this fund, what it covers, and how to apply for it, will be provided in the offer letter.
Step 1
Before you begin, take some time to explore the resources below. They will help you understand what we’re looking for in a successful proposal.
You can choose to apply through either an Open Call or a Set Brief. Both routes offer an equal opportunity to be considered for an AD[A]PT studentship, there is no advantage to choosing one route over the other. The key is to select the route that best suits your research interests, experience and proposed project.
Step 2
Want to find out more about AD[A]PT before applying?
Our applicant webinars offer helpful guidance on the programme, the application process and how to develop a strong proposal.
Please join our webinars online, OR review the recordings which will be made available below after they take place.
Please note that if you join a webinar, and either a) have your camera on, or b) ask a question, your presence will form part of the recording, and be posted on this public website.
Upcoming Webinars
Information Webinar
03 November 2026 - 11:30-12:30
Register Here
Collaborative Doctoral Award Webinar
17 November 2026 - 12:00-13:00
Register Here
Q&A Webinar
07 January 2027 - 17:00-16:00
Register Here
Step 3
Fill in the Application Form, including ticking the checklist and confirming the declarations at the end of the document. The EDI Monitoring Survey also needs to be completed, press the button below to be taken to the survey.
To ensure you submit a complete application, please refer to the application checklist at the end of the Application Form.
If you have any issues accessing either form, please email adapt-phd@brookes.ac.uk as soon as possible and wherever possible, in advance of the deadline.
Step 4
You need to submit your completed application form to your proposed (first choice) host institution upon completion, along with any supporting documentation required.
For any technical issues uploading to the respective institutional portals, please contact the following administrators who can help you with submitting your application documents in the correct way for their institution:
For Oxford Brookes University, please email: adapt-phd@brookes.ac.uk
For Cardiff University, please email: ARCHI-Research@cardiff.ac.uk
For Falmouth University, please email: PGR@falmouth.ac.uk
Please note that some of the portals have both file size and document upload limits, please ensure you check these limits well before the deadline to ensure you have enough time to bundle documents accordingly.
It is your responsibility to ensure that all required supporting documents have been successfully uploaded. Please allow ample time before the due date to check this.
Alternatively, if you are having trouble submitting any files, please send any extra documents you are not able to upload directly to the relevant administrators on the email above before the deadline.
DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 13TH JANUARY 2027 - 5PM