The Leverhulme Unit for the Design of Cities of the Future (LUDeC) at Manchester Metropolitan University offers a transdisciplinary doctoral programme that integrates the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to address contemporary urban challenges. The programme encourages collaboration across disciplines, such as artists working with sociologists, historians with designers, and literary scholars with geographers, to foster a co-creative approach to urban design. LUDeC aims to promote a more humanistic and just urbanism, providing students with opportunities to engage in experimental research and real-world problem-solving. Each student is supported by transdisciplinary supervisory teams and external partners, focusing on playful and innovative research to create more liveable cities.

The Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships scheme funds up to 30 doctoral scholarships in priority interdisciplinary research areas, with additional support for underrepresented groups through a master's plus PhD route. Funding covers maintenance, tuition fees, research and training expenses, cohort-building activities, and postdoctoral support. Eligibility requirements include UK university admission criteria, with specific provisions for UK domiciled students from low-income and Black or mixed ethnic backgrounds for the master's plus PhD route. International students are eligible for a limited number of scholarships.

The application deadline is March 2026, and applications must be submitted through the university, not directly to the Leverhulme Trust. For more information, applicants should consult the university's programme lead and visit the provided links.