Leverhulme Doctoral Programme for Regenerative Innovation (Regnr8-i) – Fully Funded PhD Scholarships University of Dundee in United Kingdom

[Four fully-funded PhD scholarships are available, covering tuition and stipend for 48 to 60 months. Both UK Doctoral and International Doctoral scholarships are offered, as well as a UK Master’s Plus pathway. All scholars undertake a three-month placement with the Eden Trust.]

The Leverhulme Doctoral Programme for Regenerative Innovation (Regnr8-i) at the University of Dundee is now recruiting four fully-funded PhD scholars for its third annual intake. This prestigious programme is designed to foster a vibrant, cross-institutional community of postgraduate researchers, with a vision to advance the emerging field of regenerative innovation and practice. By 2027, the Regnr8-i community will comprise 24 full-time researchers, all contributing to a new paradigm that seeks to go beyond sustainability and address the global polycrisis through transdisciplinary research.

Regnr8-i is closely aligned with the University of Dundee’s commitment to research excellence and impact. The programme is unique in its collaboration with the Eden Trust, a renowned conservation charity, and the Eden Project Dundee, which received planning permission in 2024. This partnership supports research in regenerative agriculture, clean energy, circularity, and social inclusion, and offers all scholars a three-month placement with the Eden Trust, either in Dundee or within its international network of ‘New Edens’.

The research themes are broad and ambitious, encompassing nature-based solutions (NbS), place-based actions (PBA), and the development of positive feedback loops between ecological and social systems. The programme encourages productive imagining (Futuring) to empower society to envision alternative futures, unconstrained by current limitations. Projects span a wide range of topics, including carbon-negative construction materials, regenerative craft and place-based innovation, novel catalysts for carbon capture and green hydrogen, accounting for regenerative organising, microplastics in rivers, AI for peatland rewetting, regenerative finance, non-invasive optical imaging for oral health, healthcare pathway regeneration, climate crisis and policing, watershed restoration, energy retrofit tools, and therapeutic space design.

Applicants may choose from UK Doctoral, International Doctoral, or UK Master’s Plus Scholarships, with each pathway offering 48 to 60 months of funding. The standard doctoral route requires a First or Upper Second Class Honours and a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. The Master’s Plus pathway includes a one-year research master’s (MSc/MRes) before the PhD. Scholarships are open to UK home fee status applicants and those from underrepresented backgrounds. English language proficiency is required (IELTS 6.5 overall, with minimum sub-scores), with alternative qualifications accepted.

The application process is two-stage: first, prospective candidates should contact the lead supervisor for their chosen project to discuss suitability and shared research interests. Formal applications are then submitted via the online Scholarship Application Form by 9 January 2026. The programme is especially welcoming to candidates from under-represented groups, offering mentoring and guaranteed interviews. Final selection is by interview in late January 2026, with successful candidates starting in October 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit the official application page. Full details of English language requirements can be found here.