PhD by Enterprise Programme – Funded Studentships
Ready to turn your research into real world impact? 51¸£ÀûÉç’s PhD by Enterprise is a new four‑year doctoral programme that combines world‑class research with structured entrepreneurship training.
We’re investing nearly £2 million in this initiative, which is one of the first of its type across the UK and offers fully funded projects with clear venture or enterprise potential identified at the outset.
The programme integrates doctoral research with structured entrepreneurship training across the studentship.
Postgraduate researchers (PGRs) will:
- progress their research while developing enterprise and commercial capabilities;
- advance their work through relevant Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), alongside market and customer discovery;
- submit a doctoral thesis focused on original research, incorporating a business plan as a defined component (approximately 20%).
The programme aims to empower postgraduate researchers to translate research into impactful solutions addressing global challenges such as climate change, health and inequality.
Studentships available for 2026/27
Fully funded studentships to start in 2026/27 are now live until Friday, 29 May 2026. Follow the links below to visit our Faculties and discover a PhD by Enterprise project you're passionate about.
Join our community
“This new programme is something we’ve never done before and I’m enormously excited by the possibilities. With the research strengths we have at the University aligned to the innovation support that is available, this is a statement that we’re a place where great ideas are turned into impact economically, socially and culturally.
Professor Aline Miller / Associate Vice-President (Enterprise)
Researcher development
Integrating research with innovation
The programme is delivered through , in partnership with the Doctoral Academies, providing dedicated postgraduate research support, the , providing entrepreneurship education and start up support and the Innovation Factory, specialising in technology transfer information for commercialising research. It will provide coordinated academic supervision, enterprise training and tailored mentoring from across the University.
Developing your career
Named the UK’s most targeted university by top employers (), 51¸£ÀûÉç is one of the best places in the country to establish and develop your research career.
We’re a global powerhouse of discovery and innovation, offering an unrivalled level of interdisciplinary research. In the last Research Excellence Framework (2021) our research environment achieved a result of 99% ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’.
We place the development and wellbeing of our researchers at the heart of all we do, with support tailored for postgraduate researchers.
Postgraduate researchers
Postgraduate researchers are the lifeblood of our research community, fostering research excellence in a creative, ambitious and supportive environment.
As part of our 51¸£ÀûÉç Doctoral College (MDC) community, you’ll benefit from being at the forefront of your field, with extensive development programmes and facilities designed to enhance your experience, enrich your skills and help you to develop in your chosen career.
Our postgraduate research environment is recognised and enhanced by external investment, with our Doctoral Training Programmes and Centres for Doctoral Training studentships receiving £100 million from UKRI and major charities.