£21,805 Leeds Digital Futures PhD Scholarship
- Organization: University of Leeds (Leeds University Business School, ESRC Digital Futures at Work Research Centre)
- Type: Scholarship
- Location: Global
- Deadline: October 31, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
The University of Leeds is offering one fully funded PhD place inside the ESRC Research Centre for Digital Futures at Work (Digit), based at Leeds University Business School. This is a single advertised studentship on a set project, 'Building good work and digital skills within a regional digital eco-system', looking at how local authorities and regional agencies can build an inclusive digital and skills ecosystem. It is open to UK and international applicants of any nationality and starts on 1 February 2027. **What you get:** - Full academic fees for 3 years of full-time study - A tax-free maintenance grant of £21,805 in 2026/27 for 3.5 years, rising each year in line with the UKRI rate - Additional support for consumables, training and conference attendance - Supervision by Professor Mark Stuart (Co-Director, Digit) and Professor Charles Umney - Membership of the Digit doctoral and early career researcher networks, and of Leeds University Business School's People, Work and Employment department **What you'll do:** - Research how local authorities and regional agencies can develop an inclusive digital and skills ecosystem in a regional labour market - Combine qualitative and, where relevant, quantitative methods, including interviews with local policy actors, employers and workers - Collaborate with, and complete an internship with, key local actors **Key dates:** - Scholarship deadline: 31 October 2026, 17:00 (UK time) - Award must be taken up by 1 February 2027 - Outcomes emailed within 6 to 8 weeks of the deadline **More information:** - You first apply for a PhD place through the University of Leeds online application, naming 'The ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work centre scholarship' as the funding and Professor Mark Stuart as proposed supervisor - Your research proposal must be no longer than six pages and sit within the advertised topic; proposals clearly written by AI will be desk rejected - Selection is on academic merit only; financial hardship is not taken into account - Admissions contact: phd@lubs.leeds.ac.uk

