Funded PhD Opportunities

Fully-funded PhD studentships (home fees + stipend) will be available for applicants starting in October 2027.

A globally outstanding centre of postgraduate research excellence, a warm and friendly place to study, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to study for a PhD. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people’s lives.

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our research postgraduates are a major part of our community. We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

PhD studentships offer exciting opportunities to study as part of a larger scholarly community in The Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life, whilst providing excellent opportunities for to develop your career through specialist training. The Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life is a 10 year and £10 million investment by the Leverhulme Trust. It aims to transform how we understand and study the relationship between human life and machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms. Algorithmic life involves an emerging cultural, social, and technological way of knowing and engaging with the world, a paradigm whose form and consequences are not yet well understood. Two overarching fundamental questions underpin the Centre’s research: What are the novel paradigms of knowledge, perception, and action that emerge with contemporary algorithmic technologies? How do ideas and concepts of what it means to be human transform and adapt in collaboration with the different life-worlds of algorithms?

We welcome potential applicants to contact the Centre with expressions of interest and any questions they may have. Potential applicants may also wish to contact specific members of staff who would be suitable supervisors for their proposed projects.

Timetable for 2027 applicants:

End of October 2026 – studentships be advertised and full application documentation available (this page will be updated when full application documentation is available)
Early January 2027 – deadline for receipt of applications (to include a project proposal)
February / early March 2027 – interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held (can be held over Teams for candidates not currently based in Durham)
25 March 2027 – offers will be made by this date
October 2027 – PhDs start.

For further information, please contact [email protected].