CAM-Doctoral Training Partnership ESRC-funded PhD studentships

CAM-Doctoral Training Partnership is offering opportunities for ESRC-funded PhD studentships at Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Cambridge starting in October 2026.

CAM Doctoral Training Partnership (CAM-DTP) is an Economic and Social Research Council funded (ESRC) consortium between Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Cambridge.

Our collective environment of excellent research and impact is an ideal complement for the interdisciplinary training of diverse social scientists. CAM-DTP PhD students will join a hub for regional change addressing key societal challenges; to fulfil that mission, we are keen to attract talented doctoral researchers from a wide range of backgrounds. We particularly encourage high potential applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds or educational disadvantage.

About the studentship

An ESRC-funded PhD studentship through CAM-DTP supports 3.5 - 4.5 years of full-time study. We particularly encourage applications from students wishing to study on a part-time basis (minimum 50% of full-time).

The studentship provides:

• Tuition fees up to the value of the national UKRI rate for Home students; international students are welcome to apply but will need additional scholarships, from alternative sources, to fund the remainder of their fees and any immigration costs;
• An annual tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 in 2025-26 for full time students), and a contribution towards research and training costs;
• A personalised training programme, to develop research, communication, employability and personal skills;
• Support to carry out a required three-month placement, known as an Innovation Fellowship, with an academic or non-academic partner during the course of the studentship.

Successful candidates will be required to submit their PhD within the duration of the studentship award.

Studentships will start in October 2026 for both full-time and part-time applicants.

Routes to funding

CAM-DTP offers two studentship routes

Route 1: Supervisor-Led Topics

The first is within one of our advertised topics. We have more than 40 diverse topics within the five ESRC research priority areas (behaviour, digital society, environment, health/social care, security/risk), ranging from UPF overconsumption to managing grassland in urban green spaces, conspiratorial thinking in adolescence to AI and free will, and many more.

For more information about our research topics please visit our website: https://www.cam-dtp.ac.uk/students/current-opportunities/ 

If you are interested in one of these topics, please contact the supervisory team directly to find out more and discuss a project proposal before making an application to the lead university. You should indicate clearly on your application which project or projects you are interested in.

If you are made an offer of admission, you may then be put forward for CAM-DTP funding. Acceptance for study does not guarantee funding; we advertise a range of topics to encourage talented social scientists into our consortium, providing ESRC funding for at least 32 students each year.

Route 2: Student-led

The second route is via departmental nomination. You will need to apply for a PhD place at your preferred CAM-DTP university and indicate that you wish to be considered for ESRC funding. If you are made an offer of admission, your department will decide whether to nominate you for CAM-DTP funding.

Please note there is no direct application to the CAM-DTP in either route; you should follow the standard application process for your preferred University.

Further Information

• For further information about the projects and application process, please visit: https://www.cam-dtp.ac.uk/students/routes-to-funding/
• For more information about doing a research degree at UoC, please visit: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/
• You may find it helpful to watch our support video and view other materials from our website https://www.cam-dtp.ac.uk/students/
• You can contact CAM-DTP at cam-dtp@admin.cam.ac.uk