Fully Funded PhD Positions in Futures Thinking, Future Literacy, and Interdisciplinary Research at Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s University Belfast in United Kingdom

Queen’s University Belfast is recruiting 20 fully funded PhD positions through the FORESIGHTERS Doctoral Training Network. This is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme focused on Futures Thinking and Future Literacy, designed to prepare the next generation of research leaders to address complex societal challenges.

Researchers will work in interdisciplinary supervisory teams and collaborate with non-academic partners, with opportunities for research secondments across sectors. The programme spans five themes: Health, Technology, Energy, Future Cities, and Creativity. Projects are based across academic units in engineering, humanities, social science, and the arts, making this a strong fit for candidates with diverse backgrounds and broad research interests.

Funding is excellent: successful applicants receive a 42-month full-time employment contract, a competitive salary package of up to £37,734, an additional family allowance of £6,600 if eligible, full tuition fee coverage, dedicated research and travel funding, staff benefits, and access to staff development opportunities not routinely available to doctoral researchers.

Eligibility follows MSCA requirements. Applicants must satisfy the mobility rule (not having resided in the UK or carried out their main activity in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the deadline) and must not already hold a doctoral degree by the deadline.

The application deadline is 29 June 2026. Queen’s University Belfast encourages applications from under-represented groups and supports reasonable adjustments during selection and the role. Interested candidates should review the recruitment page, check the key eligibility criteria, and apply through the FORESIGHTERS recruitment information provided by the university.