Creative Bridges - Connecting Diversity and Sustainability for UK Screen Industries

Four Arts and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Focal Awards are available in the School of Media and Communication for 2026/27 through the Creative Bridges - Connecting Diversity and Sustainability for UK Screen Industries doctoral training centre led by the University of Leeds and University of Warwick. <br /> <br /> We are offering an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a cutting-edge field that brings together the twin challenges of Diversity and Sustainability for the UK Screen industries (broadly defined as film, television, gaming and immersive media). <br /> <br /> At Leeds, we especially welcome applications that connect to the School of Media Communication's core research areas of film, television, photography, journalism, communication, media industries, visual and digital media. We also welcome applicants who would like co-supervision with other schools at the University of Leeds or with the University of Warwick.

<p><strong>Closing Date for Applications 17:00 (UK time) Monday 20 April 2026</strong></p> <p>The award provides:</p> <ul> <li>A maintenance grant (£20,780 in Session 2025/26 for full-time study, part-time will be pro-rata at 50%). This amount increases per annum in line with the Research Council UK rate.</li> <li>Full-time awards provide full fees and maintenance for 3.5 years (part-time awards are pro-rata).</li> <li>A research training support grant</li> <li>Please be aware that any expenses related to the relocation of international students to the UK (visa, insurance, NHS fees, flights, etc) would be their responsibility and is not covered by this award.</li> <li>You can apply for both a Project Studentship and a Themed Studentship, but they should be two distinct applications.</li> </ul> <p>These awards are open to all applicants, whether Home or International (including EU). </p> <p>Other conditions:</p> <ul> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2026</li> <li>Applicants who have previously been awarded a PhD or are currently registered on a PhD are excluded from applying.  Those who were previously studying for a PhD but did not complete may be considered.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this studentship.</li> <li>All students are expected to take part in our training programme which consists of an annual summer symposium at Leeds and an annual winter symposium at Warwick. </li> </ul> <p>Creative Bridges is an <a href="https://www.ukri.org/news/ahrc-doctoral-focal-awards-support-world-class-doctoral-training/">AHRC funded Doctoral Focal Award</a> led by the University of Leeds with the University of Warwick and will train PhD students in the latest knowledge, methods and skills for diversity and inclusion in the UK screen industries in ecologically safe ways. Creative Bridges - Connecting Diversity and Sustainability for UK Screen Industries focuses on the changes and innovations in film, television, gaming and immersive media, addressing industry demands for a vibrant ecosystem of creative livelihoods, developed through skills and research for sustainability and diversity. You will be part of a cohort of PhD researchers who will bridge expertise from Media, Communication, Creative and Cultural Industries, Design, Performance, Immersive Technologies and Interdisciplinary Methodologies (within and across two universities) alongside our industry partners. The training programme aligns with previous UK investment in CoStar, XR Stories, XR Artists, Creative Catalyst, Creative Clusters, and is informed by Creative Radar, Geographies of the Creative Industries, Creative PEC and InGame. You will participate in long-term, flexible, diverse and contextualised doctoral training focused on the UK creative economy. Students will benefit from a training programme that meets the following objectives:</p> <ul> <li>nurture a new generation of researcher-practitioners to address current and future challenges for UK screen industries production and distribution, </li> <li>build co-supervision across UK regions to support diversity and sustainability R&D for the UK creative economy, </li> <li>research diversity and sustainability as inter-related open challenges through partnerships, placements, pure research and policy projects that redefine the PhD experience, </li> <li>develop skills and techniques for doctoral students based on experiential learning, creative and digital methods, practical experience, and communities of practice professional learning, </li> <li>create a legacy of training pathways in sustainability and diversity research that attracts high calibre researchers from the UK and beyond.  </li> </ul> <p><strong>Themed Studentships Session 2026/27 </strong></p> <p>Three Themed Studentships are available. PhD proposals must focus on one or both of the main research themes of sustainability and diversity. In addition, at least one of the following sub-themes must be included:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Creative economy – </strong>Projects under this theme might address issues relating to the regional/national and inclusive growth of the screen sector in the UK, for example, questions of infrastructure, content delivery, operations, transport, place-making, clusters and corridors, networks. Research could consider the creative economy for screen industry freelancers, SMEs or large organisations</li> <li><strong>Screen sector work and freelancers – </strong>Projects under this theme might address the precarity of the work, the diversity of the workers, the sustainability of the workforce, the support they need and the challenges/opportunities they face from automation and artificial intelligence in terms of time, speed or production, creativity and intellectual property</li> <li><strong>Diversity and serving diverse audiences – </strong>Projects under this theme might analyse policy and practices around race, ethnicity, gender, disability, class, how are these being addressed in screen, gaming and immersive industries production, distribution through data, creativity, accessibility, automation and AI, to better serve diverse audiences, players or end-users</li> <li><strong>Sustainable screen gaming and immersive production and distribution </strong>– Projects under this theme might address policy and practice on green transition, computing power, energy, carbon, water, recycling, waste and the circular economy in studios, on location or in virtual environments. Research could consider new (creative) methods for researching risk, adaptation and a changing environment.</li> </ol> <p>PhDs could be Practice-as-Research based. Throughout the programme training and support opportunities will be provided that will focus on your academic and professional development. The schools, doctoral colleges and postgraduate support teams at Leeds or Warwick will provide year-round training and guidance via inductions, mentorship and supervision meetings. Out annual one-day summer and winter symposia will contain bespoke opportunities, including workshops, academic or industrial keynote speakers, hands-on tech demonstrations, networking, work in progress seminars, training courses and peer presentations. Placements of up to two weeks with an industry partner are also available, offering chances for learning, shadowing or exposure to real-world media-diversity-sustainability challenges. Industry partners may also mentor you as you progress.</p> <p><strong>Project Studentship Session 2026/27 at the University of Leeds</strong></p> <p><strong>Blueprint for the Screen Industries:</strong> Where are creative workers living, working and playing in the UK today? Please find link to further information in the Linked project opportunities section at the end of this page.</p>

<p>Please see the <a href="https://creativebridges-cdt.ac.uk/">Creative Bridges</a> website for instructions on how to apply for one of the themed projects at the University of Warwick.</p> <p><strong>Stage 1 – application for a place of study </strong><br /> First of all apply for a research programme of study by completing the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/130206/applying/91/applying_for_research_degrees" target="_blank">application form</a>. <strong>You should make sure you do this ahead of the deadline in case you encounter any technical issues or need to provide additional documents, as you need your Student Application ID number to complete the application for funding.</strong></p> <p>In order to be considered for the scholarship you must submit all the required <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media-research-degrees/doc/apply-13">supporting documents for your application for study</a>.</p> <p>Please note that applicants to the Project Studentship are not required to provide a research proposal. Instead, you are asked to provide a research statement describing in your own words in language accessible to a lay reader your suitability for this intended PhD Project. Please see <a href="https://creativebridges-cdt.ac.uk/guidance-for-applicants/applying-for-a-studentship/">Applying for a Studentship – Creative Bridges</a> for more information.</p> <p>Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the scholarship deadline will not be considered for the award.  Please note that <strong>we require a higher English Language requirement </strong>for this programme of study, further details are provided below.<br /> An unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds.</p> <p><strong>Stage 2 – apply for Creative Bridges funding</strong><br /> Once you are in receipt of your 9 digit Student Application ID complete the <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/warwick-creativebridges-2026">funding application form</a>. </p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline and either a Masters degree with distinction or merit or equivalent creative industries experience, ideally in the screen or digital sector in the UK or abroad. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the Creative Bridges directors: Professor Joanne Garde-Hansen (J.Garde-Hansen@leeds.ac.uk) and Professor Anamik Saha prior to making an application.

The minimum English language requirements for these scholarships is IELTS of 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. <br /> Applicants whose first language is not English must have already met the University's English Language requirements by Monday 20 April 2026 or be a current undergraduate student in their final year or a current postgraduate student at a University in an English speaking country.

<p>Please visit the <a href="https://creativebridges-cdt.ac.uk">Creative Bridges website</a> for more information or contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Admissions Team <a href="mailto:ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk?subject=Creative%20Bridges%20Doctoral%20Focal%20Award">ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk</a></p>