Administrative Data Research (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 now open for PhD Supervisors to propose projects. Individual students may not apply. The successful projects will be announced in January 2027 and, following recruitment, the PhD student cohort will start in October 2027.

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: Flagship datasets – ADR UK

Further information, including the Call Specification, Applicant Guidance and Application Form (Form B) can be found on the ADR UK website here: https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/news-blogs/funding-opportunity-adr-uk-phd-studentships/ Form A will be for the NWSSDTP to complete.

This is a two-stage process:

Firstly, interested supervisors must submit a copy of Form B to the NWSSDTP at nwssdtp@liverpool.ac.uk by the 15^th July.

Secondly, the NWSSDTP will assess all applications received and up to five shortlisted projects will be submitted to ADR UK by the 15^th September. ADR UK will then select the final projects for funding.

ADR UK Support for Applicants

ADR UK will provide a series of sessions and resources to support supervisors considering applying to this scheme:

Applicant webinars

An applicant webinar on 12 May 2026 will provide more information about the opportunity, along with the chance to ask questions:

• Register for the applicant webinar 

Dataset Briefings

Online briefings on 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.

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’s PhD call Peer Support Programme

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.

Find out more about ADR UK

Sign up to the 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.