PhD Studentship: Master's Plus PhD in Sustainability Life Sciences University of Essex in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship with home tuition fee waiver, annual living costs stipend at the UKRI recommended level (£21,805 for 2026-27), and a £10,000 research allowance in total for authorised research costs; additional access to £2,500 via Proficio for training courses.]

PhD Studentship: Master’s Plus PhD in Sustainability Life Sciences at the University of Essex

This opportunity offers a fully funded Master’s degree followed by an interdisciplinary PhD under the Sustainable Transitions – Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme at the University of Essex. The studentship is designed for applicants interested in environment and sustainability research within the life sciences, with a strong emphasis on training the next generation of scholars working on sustainable transitions at local, national, and international levels.

The programme begins with a Master’s phase in January 2027, during which the successful applicant will undertake an MSc Biotechnology and further develop their research proposal. The project call is deliberately broad, allowing applicants to shape their own topic within life sciences and sustainability before progressing to the PhD phase. During both stages, the scholar will receive close support from the supervisory team, the Sustainable Transitions management team, and the wider training programme.

Applicants are asked to submit a 1000-word maximum project area proposal describing the area they wish to research. A key requirement is that the proposal integrates one interdisciplinary discipline from the following list: Law, Government/Political Science, Business, or Sociology. No prior background in the additional discipline is required, as training will be provided when the PhD begins.

The funding package is substantial. It includes a home tuition fee waiver, an annual living costs stipend at the UK Research and Innovation recommended level, and a £10,000 research allowance for approved research costs such as supplies, equipment, and fieldwork. Doctoral scholars also have access to £2,500 via Proficio for training courses and additional development. Scholars can also join the University of Essex’s Centre for Environment and Society, gaining access to events and networking opportunities.

Eligibility is limited to UK domiciled applicants who do not already hold a Master’s degree. Candidates should be from a low-income household background and/or belong to one of the specified underrepresented ethnicity categories. The project is therefore aimed at supporting talented researchers who can contribute to interdisciplinary work on sustainability transitions.

The application deadline is 11:59 pm BST on Monday 14 September 2026. Interested applicants should use the University of Essex application page and prepare a clear, academically grounded proposal that demonstrates how life sciences research can contribute to sustainable transitions.