WRDTP Collaborative Awards:  Information for academic colleagues submitting a project proposal to the WRDTP

The WRDTP Collaborative Awards support our strong commitment to collaborative research with partners in the private, public or third sectors by involving these partners in a programme of doctoral research.

Our Collaborative Award scheme is supervisor-led.  To be able to apply for a Collaborative Award, the applicant, i.e. the primary supervisor, must hold an academic position in an eligible school or department.  A full list of eligible schools and departments is here. 

Supervisors are invited to submit proposals for cutting-edge research projects that are underpinned by strong links with a non-academic partner. Collaboration is defined as follows: 

• Collaborations must be with a non-academic organisation in the public, private or civil society/third sector
• Collaborations must include substantive knowledge exchange and not just one-way engagement (e.g. not only data collection)
• Collaborating organisations should be involved in the development of the project

These links do not have to involve funding and could be internships, placements or other forms of meaningful collaboration (see in particular the ‘Research in Practice’ placements section of our WRDTP Collaborative Awards – Guidance for Applicants). Nevertheless, we expect that the project partner will meet any travel, subsistence and accommodation costs incurred by the student associated with visits made to the non-academic organisation.

Proposals are submitted by academic colleagues who are then responsible for recruiting a student to carry out the project, nominating the student to the WRDTP for final approval, and once the student is appointed, acting as their main supervisor.  Awards must align with one of the seven WRDTP interdisciplinary pathways.  

Please note: Only ONE proposal can be submitted by the Principal Supervisor.

Each application must include a minimum of two supervisors with appropriate academic expertise.  Early career academic colleagues can act as primary and second supervisors (subject to compliance with institutional policies).  Where neither the primary or second supervisor have supervised a PhD student to completion as a primary supervisor, we require the team to include a third supervisor from the host institution with appropriate experience and relevant expertise.

Please note: All partner universities will run an internal process of peer review for the Collaborative Awards scheme, given the highly competitive nature of this competition. Details of the internal review process will be announced locally by each university. When submitting a collaborative award application, you will be required to confirm that your application has been subjected to internal peer review at your own university. Failure to engage with the internal peer review process may result in the disqualification of your application.