PhD Studentship: The AD[A]PT (Architectural Design and Humanities Promoting Transformation) Consortium AHRC Doctoral Focal Award — Oxford Brookes School of Architecture Oxford Brookes University in United Kingdom

[Funding/stipend of £21,805 per annum. Tuition fees covered up to the home student rate; international students must pay the difference between home and international fees. Bench fees are covered. Visas and associated costs are not covered.]

PhD studentship opportunity at Oxford Brookes University in the School of Architecture through the AD[A]PT (Architectural Design And Humanities Promoting Transformation) Consortium AHRC Doctoral Focal Award.

This is a 3.5–4 year full-time PhD studentship supporting research in the arts and humanities for healthier people, places, and planet. The award is hosted at Oxford Brookes School of Architecture and is open to home, EU, and international students.

Funding: £21,805 per annum. Tuition fees and bench fees are covered up to the home student rate. International students who are successful will need to fund the difference between home and international fees for the full duration of the studentship. Visa costs and associated expenses are not included.

Research themes include generational differences, inclusion and justice, healthy urban places, green spaces, cultural heritage, regenerative practice, built-environment professions, homes and housing, governance, life and fire safety, healthy buildings, and healthcare environments. The project should align with AD[A]PT’s vision of identifying barriers to creating healthy places, developing strategies to overcome them, and using design-led arts and humanities methods to support UN SDGs, net-zero goals, safety standards, and inclusive, biodiverse environments.

Partnerships and collaborative opportunities are central to the award, with possible involvement from organisations including RIBA, RTPI, RICS, CIOB, Historic England, Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Cadw, RCAHMW, CIBSE, Design Commission for Wales, Landscape Institute, and Circus Eruption. Some projects may be developed as Collaborative Doctoral Awards, allowing the student to be partly based within a partner organisation.

Application routes: applicants can apply via either an Open Call or a Set Brief. Both routes are equally considered; the best choice depends on the applicant’s research interests, experience, and proposed project. Set Briefs are supported by partner organisations, while Open Call proposals should clearly connect to the AD[A]PT research vision.

Eligibility: applicants should normally hold a first or upper second-class honours degree from a UK Higher Education Institution, or an acceptable equivalent qualification. International/EU applicants must meet the English language requirement of IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no score below 5.5 (or equivalent), with the certificate issued within the last two years by an approved test centre.

Key dates: application deadline is 13 January 2027, 5pm GMT. Interviews are expected in early March (online), and the start date is 1 October 2027.

For queries and applications, contact [email protected]. Applicants are advised to read the full application guidance and FAQs before submitting.