University of Birmingham Launches Fully Funded CreaTech Frontiers Collaborative Doctoral Awards

The University of Birmingham has announced the launch of the CreaTech Frontiers Collaborative Doctoral Awards for the 2026/27 academic year, offering fully funded PhD opportunities at the intersection of creativity, technology, and innovation.

Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the programme is part of the wider CreaTech Frontiers initiative — a major £ 7.2 million regional collaboration designed to strengthen the creative industries ecosystem across the West Midlands. The initiative brings together Birmingham City University, the University of Birmingham, Coventry University, the University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The doctoral awards provide four years of full-time funded study, including a full tuition fee waiver and an annual stipend of £ 21,805. Two collaborative projects are currently available: “Shaping Space: Integrating Immersive Audio into Creative and Production Pipelines,” in partnership with Birmingham Open Media (BOM), and “Digital Transformation in UK Performing Arts,” in collaboration with Stan’s Cafe Theatre.

The programme aims to support emerging researchers working across creative technologies, immersive media, performance, digital culture, and innovation in the arts. Applicants will have the opportunity to work directly with industry partners while contributing to research that connects academia with the creative sector.

CreaTech Frontiers is expected to play a significant role in developing the region’s creative economy through research funding, innovation grants, internships, and collaborative projects involving immersive technologies, AI, gaming, performance, and digital production.

Applications for the Collaborative Doctoral Awards are open to both Home and International students, with the deadline set for 27 May 2026.  

More information can be found here.