The AHRC ‘Crafting Care for People, Place and Planet’ Doctoral Focal College runs an annual competition for PhD funding.
Every prospective student who applies to the college must be proposing a research project that fits within one of the college’s four Interdisciplinary Themes.
A full AHRC ‘Crafting Care’ Doctoral Focal College Studentship will include:
- payment of tuition fees for the duration of the studentship – typically three and a half years – at the home tuition fee rate
- an annual maintenance stipend (£21,805 in 2026/27)
- reimbursement of research expenses via the Research Training Support Grant
The AHRC ‘Crafting’ studentship competition is a two stage process:
Recruitment for the second cohort of AHRC ‘Crafting Care’ Doctoral Focal College PhD students launched on the 15th September 2026:
If potential candidates require large print versions of these documents, or versions that are more screen reader friendly, please do get in touch at craftingcare@liverpool.ac.uk.
1. Expression of Interest Phase
Candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest form by the 1st December 2026. On the Expression of Interest form candidates are asked to outline their preliminary ideas for a PhD project and detail their ‘Preparedness for Postgraduate Research’. An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form should also be submitted at this stage.
- AHRC ‘Crafting Care’ Expression of Interest Form
- AHRC ‘Crafting Care’ Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
2. Research Proposal Phase
Candidates who are shortlisted at the Expression of Interest phase will be contacted in early January and invited to submit a full Research Proposal by the 1st April 2027. In addition to the full Research Proposal itself, candidates will be asked to reflect on ethical considerations, additional funding needs, and – if invited to apply for a Collaborative Doctoral Award – the plans with the non-HEI Partner.
Support for Prospective Applicants
Please direct any queries about the application process to craftingcare@liverpool.ac.uk
If you wish to discuss your preliminary ideas for a research project, please contact the Institutional Lead for your chosen university. If you specifically need help ascertaining which of the interdisciplinary themes are the best fit your proposed research project, please contact the relevant interdisciplinary theme lead – details can be found here.
An applicant workshop offering guidance on applying for an AHRC ‘Crafting Care’ Studentship will take place on the 5th November. Booking details will be made available here shortly.
AHRC 'Crafting Care for People, Place and Planet' Doctoral Focal College 