The Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP offers at least 77 doctoral studentships each year for postgraduate research in the arts and humanities across our three consortium universities: the Open University, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. There are two routes to apply for doctoral studentship funding.
1. Standard route competition
The standard route competition opens each year in early September. Deadlines vary depending on the university via which you are applying for studentship funding (see How to Apply). Applicants must design and propose a doctoral research project to be supervised by faculty members at one of the consortium universities. Approximately 85% of the DTP's awards are made via this route.
2. Collaborative Doctoral Award competition
Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs) support postgraduate research in collaboration with a partner organisation. CDA projects are jointly developed by consortium university faculty members and an external partner. The CDA competition opens to student applicants each year in mid-September, with projects advertised on the OOC DTP website. Applicants are invited to define their approach to the advertised outline project in discussion with the supervisors. CDAs comprise approximately 15% of the DTP's awards.
Value and benefits of an award
A full award through the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP offers:
- Payment of university fees throughout the funded period;
- A tax-free maintenance grant for your living costs at the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) minimum rate, which increases each year in line with inflation (£19,237 for 2024/25);
- An additional stipend of £600 per annum for CDA students, as a contribution towards costs incurred by working with the partner organisation;
- The opportunity to apply for an extension to your studentship on the basis of individual training and research needs or to support a professional placement;
- Additional support for research expenses, individual skills training and/or development opportunities, e.g. conference participation, language training, research visits, professional placements;
- Other benefits including Disability Support Allowance (DSA), maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave, and funded extensions to cover sick leave (up to 13 weeks in any 12 month period).
Funding is adjusted on a pro-rata basis for part-time students and where the award is for a period of less than 12 months in any year. We also offer students training and researcher development opportunities, and access to the resources and training offered by our consortium universities.
