General Information
Collaborative Doctoral Awards
The following guidance is for CDA Open Call proposals. For proposals being submitted after selection by a CDP organisation please follow the guidance as for the CDA Open proposals unless indicated otherwise.
The aim of the AHRC’s CDA scheme is to promote partnerships and research collaboration between HEI researchers in the arts and humanities and other non-HEI bodies. It also enables doctoral students to conduct their research in collaboration with a non-HEI organisation, and to gain experience of work outside the university environment.
Applications to the scheme are made annually by the relevant university department in partnership with a collaborating organisation. Those partnerships successful in being allocated one or more collaborative studentships will then be responsible for appointing appropriately qualified research students.
A lead applicant from both the HEI and the non-university organisation must be identified and both must have the permission of their Head of Department and their respective organisations to enter into a collaborative working arrangement.
The person designated as the lead applicant from the HEI will be deemed by the AHRC to accept the overall responsibility for the progress, management and leadership of the project.
Completion of the form will require information from the non-HEI collaborating partner and should be completed in conjunction with them. The form asks for a lot of detailed information about the project, the partners involved and how the project will be supervised and managed. This information is essential in enabling the reviewers to judge the quality and feasibility of the collaboration and project and the commitment to it by the partners.
International Placements Scheme
The AHRC and ESRC run an annual International Placement Scheme (IPS), to provide funded research fellowships for early career researchers, doctoral-level research assistants and AHRC/ESRC*-funded doctoral students, at world-class international research institutions. IPS fellowships are available at:
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, USA
Library of Congress, Washington D.C., USA
National Institutes for the Humanities, Japan
National Museum Institute, New Delhi, India
Shanghai Theatre Academy, China
Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., USA
Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
*ESRC candidates are eligible to apply to the Library of Congress only.
The IPS scheme is open to early career researchers, including research assistants and AHRC/ESRC-funded postgraduate students. The eligibility rules vary according to the IPS host, so please refer to the 'Eligibility' section of the call guidance document available on the main AHRC IPS webpage: https://ahrc.ukri.org/funding/apply-for-funding/current-opportunities/international-placement-scheme-2019/
Successful applicants receive an award from the AHRC/ESRC to contribute towards their travel and visa costs and a monthly allowance. This is paid in addition to any stipend/salary paid as part of any existing AHRC/ESRC funding.
Applicants can apply to up to six months at their IPS host institution and enjoy dedicated access to their world-class research facilities, expertise and networking opportunities.
Further information about each of the host institutions and application guidance (which applicants must refer to when submitting this application) can be found at the link above.
Before completing a BBSRC studentship proposal applicants must read the Je-S help text associated with the scheme to which they are applying. In addition applicants must read all information at http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/studentships/studentships-index.aspx which includes information on the calls and the following documents:
BBSRC Postgraduate Studentships Guide
Training Grants: Terms and Conditions
Training Grants: Frequently Asked Questions
BBSRC Guide to Studentship Eligibility
Before completing a NERC studentship proposal applicants must read:
The Je-S help text associated with the scheme to which they are applying;
The information in the call documentation, which can be found on the NERC website at http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/currentopportunities/
The Terms and Conditions of Research Council Training Grants and guidance https://www.ukri.org/funding/information-for-award-holders/grant-terms-and-conditions/
Closing Dates
Studentship proposals can only be submitted in response to specific calls. There will be strict closing dates for each call that will be detailed on the call documentation.
Please be aware that for all calls, proposals can be submitted to NERC up to 16:00 (4PM) on the closing date and the Je-S System allows no further submissions after that time.
Please remember to allow plenty of time – the onward submission to NERC also requires one or two approver/submitter steps within your Research Organisation.