RNCM announces new AHRC-funded Doctoral Focal College to fund and train 30 PhD researchers
The RNCM is excited to announce the launch of a new AHRC-funded Crafting Care for a Healthy People, Place and Planet Doctoral Focal College (DFC), which will fund and train 30 PhD researchers between 2026 and 2029.
The Crafting Care DFC is a consortium of three universities in the North West of England: the University of Liverpool, the University of Lancashire, and the RNCM.
Project Areas
Recruitment of the first cohort of PhD researchers will be shaped around the following four project areas:
- Catalysing Care through Creative Arts/Practices
- Communicating and Curating Care
- Nourishing Care
- Spaces and Places for Care
Further information about each of these project areas can be found here.
Expression of Interest
The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 1 December 2025 and the deadline for all PhD applications to the RNCM is 14 January 2026. Promising candidates will be supported to work with prospective PhD supervisors to develop a full PhD proposal by 1 April 2026. Two RNCM applicants will then be selected to join the first cohort of Crafting Care PhD students in October 2026 and receive a full AHRC studentship, including:
- payment of tuition fees for the duration of the studentship – typically three and a half years – at the home tuition fee rate
- an annual maintenance stipend (£20,780 in 2025/26 – 2026/27 rate TBC)
- reimbursement of research expenses via the Research Training Support Grant
- opportunities to apply for additional funding e.g. for placements and fieldwork
Please note that up to 30% of Crafting Care DFC awards can be offered to international candidates. In such cases, the difference between the home and international fee will be covered by the RNCM.
RNCM Studentship
In addition, the DFC has funding for one full RNCM Studentship (covering UK fees and stipend at UKRI rate), available for 2026 Entry. Applicants wishing to be considered for this funding should state this explicitly in their application for PhD study at the RNCM
Partner HEIs
The Crafting Care DFC will be delivered in partnership with 10 non-HEI Partners who represent a range of health, environment, and arts/culture organisations:
- Liverpool Philharmonic
- National Museums Liverpool
- DadaFest
- Liverpool Biennial
- The Mersey Forest
- Canal and River Trust
- Mersey Care
- Wirral Public Health
- Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
- Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
A small number of prospective PhD researchers will be invited to work with one of these non-HEI partners throughout their doctoral project, with formal co-supervision from the partner throughout the programme. All PhD researchers recruited to the college will have the opportunity to work with one of more of these partners through a placement during the course of their programme or by working alongside them in training and networking events.
Contact Us
If you are interested in applying for a Crafting Care DFC studentship through the RNCM, please visit the Meet Our Staff pages to identify a potential supervisor, and make contact. Please direct any general queries about the Crafting Care DFC to [email protected].
Key Deadlines
1 December 2025: Crafting Care DFC Expressions of Interest
14 January 2026: All RNCM PhD applications
29 October 2025
