De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), Loughborough University, and the University of Leicester and De Montfort University are inviting people from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to apply for a unique opportunity to undertake fully funded PhD research designed to create positive change within local communities.
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, economic, environmental and health challenges.
The Collaboratory Research Hub programme is an ambitious partnership between universities across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland that 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 groups such as working class and Black and minority ethnicity backgrounds, 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 Leicestershire and Rutland-based PhD projects available for application include:
- ‘Brotherhood’: Community Participation, Belonging, Mental Wellbeing and Positive Futures for Boys and Young Men
- Beyond the Foodbank: A Systems Thinking Approach to Strengthening Community Support Services
- Cultivating Trusted Adults: Co-Designing a Sustainable Mentoring Framework to Mitigate Youth Climate Distress Across Leicester's Urban Commons
- How Unpaid Caring Shapes Working Lives: Employment Trajectories, Personal Costs and Support Needs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
- Local News in Leicester and Leicestershire: A Civic Identity Balance Sheet to Guide Future Action
- SOAR: Social Occasions of Access and Resilience: An Interactional Analysis of Cultural Heritage Benefits across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
- Reframing Urban Nature: How Can Stakeholder Collaboration Enable Public Acceptance of Biodiversity Transitions in Local Places?
- Young People's Aspirations and Structural Disadvantage in a Changing Local Labour Market
- Growing Futures: Co-designing Nature-Based Pathways to Wellbeing, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Employability for Young Adults
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-world 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."
Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 29 November.
To support prospective applicants, Collaboratory is hosting a series of events where individuals can learn more about the programme, explore the projects, meet members of the team and receive guidance on the application process.
Information webinars:
5pm-6pm, Wednesday 28 October
Drop-in sessions:
Leicester (The Gresham Aparthotel), 12pm-6pm, Thursday 5 November
Loughborough (Emmanuel Church Hall), 12pm-6pm, Wednesday 11 November
PhDs Demystified webinars:
12pm-1pm, Tuesday 3 November
5pm-6pm, Thursday 12 November
5pm-6pm, Wednesday 18 November
Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to attend one of the webinars or drop-in sessions to find out more about the Collaboratory programme, the available research projects, the application process and the support available to students.
Further information, full project details and application guidance can be found on the Collaboratory website.
Posted on Sunday 25 October 2026