Nottingham’s universities invite local residents to apply for final round of fully funded PhD opportunities tackling real community challenges
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Nottingham (UoN) are inviting people from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to apply for a unique opportunity to undertake fully funded PhD research designed to create positive change within local communities.
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 14 October 2026
Categories: Press office;
Applications are now open for the final round of Collaboratory-funded PhD studentships, offering prospective researchers the chance to work alongside community organisations, local stakeholders and academics on projects addressing some of the region's most pressing social, environmental and economic challenges.
The Collaboratory Research Hub programme is an ambitious partnership between NTU, UoN and universities across Leicestershire, which brings together academic expertise and community knowledge to develop research that delivers tangible benefits for local people, organisations and places.
Since launching in 2022, Collaboratory has supported a new generation of researchers working on projects that empower communities, improve wellbeing and help address inequality.
This final recruitment round represents a significant opportunity for people who want to use research to make a difference to their own futures, and that of local communities. The programme is particularly keen to attract applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, including individuals who may not have previously considered PhD study, those from underrepresented backgrounds such as working class and Black and minority ethnicity groups, and people whose expertise has been developed through professional practice, employment, volunteering and lived experience.
Successful applicants will undertake a fully funded three-year PhD, receiving training, support and mentorship while working closely with community partners to generate research that has meaningful impact beyond in the community.
The 2027 Nottinghamshire-based PhD projects available for application include:
- Circular Cooking: Co-designing Food, Energy, and Resource Resilience with Nottingham Communities (CIRCoN)
- Connecting Older Communities Through Digital Heritage, Storytelling, and Co-Creation
- Creative Futures Mansfield: Neurodivergent Young People, Aspiration Rising and Civic Cultural Opportunity
- Engaging Muslim Communities in Local Climate Action: Exploring the Role of Faith-Based Community Partnerships in Nottingham
- Tackling local health inequalities in Clifton and Mansfield through community-based exercise social prescribing interventions
- Nutritional Vulnerability: Modelling Population Risk During Food Supply Disruptions
- Making STEM More Inclusive Through Playful Robotics
- Rooted Pathways: Community-Led Routes into STEM Apprenticeships and Careers for Nottingham's Black and Racially Minoritised Communities
- Strategies for Equipping the Next Generation for the Low-Carbon Future
- Supporting People and Pets: Food Banks, Food Insecurity, and Wellbeing in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Understanding the link between air quality and health outcomes in Nottingham
Professor Sarah Earle, Strategic Lead for the Collaboratory Research Hub, said:"Collaboratory demonstrates the powerful difference that can be made when communities and universities work together to tackle real challenges. These projects are designed to create positive change, generating knowledge that directly benefits local people, organisations and places while giving researchers the opportunity to develop new skills and make a meaningful contribution to society."
"We are particularly keen to hear from people who may not see themselves as a traditional PhD candidate. Whether your expertise comes from professional practice, volunteering, community leadership or lived experience, your knowledge and insight could help shape research that delivers lasting impact."
Further information, full project details and application guidance can be found on the Collaboratory website.
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Sarah McLeod, Corporate Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8735, or via email.
About Universities for Nottingham
The Universities for Nottingham initiative is a pioneering collaboration which brings together the combined strength and civic missions of 11 anchor institutions from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Working with local communities and partners we aim to improve levels of economic prosperity, educational opportunity, environmental sustainability and health and wellbeing for the benefit of our people and place.
As part of the response to the challenges we collectively face, the Universities for Nottingham Civic Agreement sets out our joint plans for the future working as a partnership.
Find out more at www.universitiesfornottingham.ac.uk #UnisForNottingham
Universities Partnership
This Civic Agreement is a commitment between De Montfort University, Loughborough University, University of Leicester, and the city and counties of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to work together for the benefit of local people and the prosperity of our places. ‘Universities Partnership’ combines the collective strengths of our universities and civic institutions to make a greater impact through collaboration for, with and among our communities. This Civic Agreement marks the beginning of a journey, signalling a commitment by the partners to bring together our collective skills, expertise and social capital and collaborate in the long-term interests of our communities.