Application Dates for Research Degrees

This page is updated on a rolling basis as opportunities become available. You should note that recruitment closing dates vary due to a variety of factors, including level of demand, funding availability, and external stakeholder requirements.

The following abbreviations are used on this page:

FASS - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
FBL - Faculty of Business and Law
KMi - Knowledge Media Institute
STEM - Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
WELS - Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies

More information about the applications process can be found on the research degrees prospectus.

February 2027 intake (27B)

FBL-SOLILA-27B Co-creation and the Adoption of Innovation in Mission-Oriented Ecosystems Closes 25 November 2026

All other opportunities now closed.

October 2027 intake (27J)

Funded studentships

Recruitment for funded studentships opens in late October/early November and this section is in the process of being updated.

Full details of funded studentships, including detailed project descriptions and applicant requirements, can be found on the relevant advertisement on our studentships page. Please note that XX is a placeholder value used to indicate that there are multiple, named projects available. You should quote the reference for the particular project(s) you are interested in e.g. CENTA-01-27J. This information can be found on the relevant advertisement.

Some calls require that you submit your own project proposal. Where this is the case, please ensure you also provide information about any OU staff you have corresponded with when you make your application (including any proposed supervisors). This will help us process your application more efficiently.

Internal ref.	Description	Faculty	Closes
AHRC-FA-27J	AHRC Doctoral Focal Award	Various	28 Feb 2027
AHRC-LA-27J	AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award	Various	28 Feb 2027
CC-F-27J	Funded studentships in Computing and Communications	STEM	17 Jan 2027
CENTA-XX-27J	CENTA studentships in Environment, Earth and Ecosystems Sciences	STEM	6 Jan 2027
DAF-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the Department of Accounting and Finance	FBL	31 Jan 2027
DPO-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the Department of People and Organisations	FBL	31 Jan 2027
DSM-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the Department of Strategy and Marketing	FBL	31 Jan 2027
EI-XX-27J	Funded studentships in Engineering and Innovation	STEM	TBC
GU-27J	Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership	Various	6 Jan 2027
ILESLA	Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award	STEM	6 Jan 2027
KMI-F-27J	Funded studentships in the Knowledge Media Institute	KMi	TBC
LAW-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the Law School	FBL	31 Jan 2027
LHCS-XX-27J	Funded studentships in Life, Health and Chemical Sciences	STEM	TBC
MS-F-27J	Funded studentships in Mathematics and Statistics	STEM	TBC
SPS-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the School of Physical Sciences	STEM	TBC
PULSE-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the Department for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise	FBL	31 Jan 2027
WELS-XX-27J	Funded studentships in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies	WELS	31 Jan 2027

Self-funded opportunities

Self-funded opportunities open in early November 2026 and this section is in the process of being updated.

Please ensure that you also provide information about any OU staff you have corresponded with when you make your application (including any proposed supervisors). This will help us process your application more efficiently.

Internal ref.	Unit/Discipline	Faculty	Closes
AH-SF-27J	Art History	FASS	28 Feb 2027
CC-SF-27J	School of Computing and Communications	STEM	TBC
CL-SF-27K	Classical Studies	FASS	28 Feb 2027
DAF-SF-27J	Department of Accounting and Finance	FBL	31 Jan 2027
DPO-SF-27J	Department of People and Organisations	FBL	31 Jan 2027
DPP-SF-27J	Development, Policy and Practice	FASS	28 Feb 2027
DSM-SF-27J	Department of Strategy and Marketing	FBL	31 Jan 2027
ECO-SF-27J	Economics	FASS	28 Feb 2027
ECW-SF-27J	English and Creative Writing	FASS	28 Feb 2027
ECYS-SF-27J	Education, Childcare, Youth and Sport	WELS	28 Feb 2027
EEES-SF-27J	School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems Sciences	STEM	TBC
EI-SF-27J	School of Engineering and Innovation	STEM	TBC
GEO-SF-27J	Geography and Environmental Studies	FASS	28 Feb 2027
HIS-SF-27J	History	FASS	28 Feb 2027
HWCS-SF-27J	Health, Wellbeing, and Social Care	WELS	28 Feb 2027
IET-SF-27J	Institute of Educational Technology	WELS	28 Feb 2027
KMI-SF-27J	Knowledge Media Institute	KMi	TBC
LAL-SF-27J	Languages and Applied Linguistics	WELS	28 Feb 2027
LAW-SF-27J	Law School	FBL	31 Jan 2027
LHCS-SF-27J	School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences	STEM	TBC
MS-SF-27J	School of Mathematics and Statistics	STEM	TBC
MU-SF-27J	Music	FASS	28 Feb 2027
PC-SF-27J	Psychology and Counselling	FASS	28 Feb 2027
PHI-SF-27J	Philosophy	FASS	28 Feb 2027
PIS-SF-27J	Politics and International Studies	FASS	28 Feb 2027
PULSE-SF-27J	Department for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise	FBL	31 Jan 2027
RS-SF-27J	Religious Studies	FASS	28 Feb 2027
SOC-SF-27J	Sociology	FASS	28 Feb 2027
SPC-SF-27J	Social Policy and Criminology	FASS	28 Feb 2027
SPS-SF-27J	School of Physical Sciences	STEM	TBC