Funding opportunity: ADR UK PhD Studentships
Categories: PhD studentships, Funding opportunities, ADR UK Partnership
28 April 2026
ADR UK is inviting applications from Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) to host a cohort of PhD studentships using ADR UK linked administrative data.
This funding opportunity is for PhD Supervisors. The successful studentships will be announced in January 2027, and following recruitment, the PhD students will start in October 2027.
The DTP deadline for applications is 16:00 on 15 September 2026.
Applicant webinars
An applicant webinar on 12 May 2026 will provide more information about the opportunity, along with the chance to ask questions:
Dataset briefings
Online briefings on the following, newer ADR UK flagship datasets are also open for registration. These sessions will give applicants the chance to find out more about the structure and research potential of these datasets, and to ask any questions:
- Scottish Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) University extract – 21 May, 11:00 - 12:00. Register now.
- Administrative Data | Agricultural Research Collection (AD|ARC) 2011: - Northern Ireland – 27 May, 14:00 – 15:00. To register, email rsu@nisra.gov.uk.
- Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to Census 2021 – Northern Ireland – 28 May, 10:00 – 11:00. To register, email rsu@nisra.gov.uk.
This opportunity is aimed at supporting the next generation of researchers to work confidently and safely with public sector data for the public good. It will build on our current community of doctoral students funded in 2023, contributing to the growing movement of administrative data researchers across the UK.
About the opportunity
ADR UK is offering funding for up to 30 PhD studentships (1+3.5, 3.5, or 4.5-year structures depending on pathway) that will offer the chance to address priority policy questions using ADR UK’s growing portfolio of flagship datasets spanning education, justice, employment, health, and more.
Every studentship application must propose the use of at least one existing ADR UK flagship dataset:
Applicants can additionally choose to draw on other administrative datasets, including up-and-coming flagship datasets which are expected to be available to accredited researchers by the start of the programme.
Find out more about up-and-coming datasets.
Interdisciplinary applications are welcome, incorporating at least 50% social science.
Successful supervisors and students will participate in ADR UK’s established PhD programme, including community activities and priority access to training, resources and support.
What we're looking for
Assessment of the PhD studentship proposals will focus on:
- Alignment to the ADR UK mission to enable vital research that realises the potential of administrative data to lead to better informed policy decisions and more effective public services across various disciplines.
- Alignment to the ADR UK Training & Capacity Building Strategy to support researchers trained to analyse complex linked administrative datasets.
- The quality of the research environment and training provision to support the use of administrative data.
- Supervisory arrangements, including supervisor expertise and capacity to host studentship focused on quantitative research using linked administrative data.
- How studentships will contribute to the growing community of administrative data researchers.
How to apply
You must be based in an institution that is part of an existing ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership to apply for this opportunity.
Supervisors’ applications must be submitted through their DTP Directors. Individual supervisors may lead multiple proposed studentships, provided each proposal addresses a distinct research topic or question.
To apply:
- Read through the call specification
- Read through the applicant guidance
- The DTP Director must complete Form A
- The PhD Supervisor must complete Form B (one copy for each PhD studentship opportunity).
Each ESRC DTP can apply to host up to five studentships across their partnership.
Completed application packages must be sent by the DTP Director to adrstudentships@esrc.ukri.org by 16:00 on 15 September 2026.
Supporting your application
Peer support
Through the ADR UK Peer Support Programme, supervisors intending to apply for this opportunity can book a one-to-one session (up to one hour) with a current or former ADR UK researcher who has experience of using a specific flagship dataset. These informal sessions offer advice and feedback to support proposal development.
To request peer‑to‑peer support, please complete this form.
ADR UK website
Read more about the available ADR UK flagship linked administrative datasets from across all four UK nations with information about the data, including the types of questions it could answer and the breadth of related relevant topics. The Learning Hub also provides explainer videos, training information, synthetic data resources, and user networks to connect with existing data users.
Key dates
- 28 April: Opportunity opens for applications
- 12 May: Applicant webinar
- 21-28 May: Dataset briefings
- 15 September: Applications close
- January 2027: Funding decisions communicated to DTPs.
- October 2027: Studentships commence (unless agreed otherwise).
Key links and documents
- Call specification
- Applicant guidance
- Form A (for DTP Directors)
- Form B (for PhD supervisors)
- Existing ADR UK flagship datasets
- Up-and-coming flagship datasets.
Find out more
Sign up to our mailing list to get updates about new and emerging datasets, research findings, funding opportunities, and more.
Please contact ADRStudentships@esrc.ukri.org for any queries or to request a meeting to introduce you to ADR UK.
