Fully Funded Doctoral Landscape Award: Creative & Caring Communities (CCC) 25/26

Doctoral Landscape Award: Creative & Caring Communities (CCC) 2025/2026 - A Deep Dive for Aspiring Doctoral Candidates

The Royal College of Art (RCA), in a prestigious collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), presents a truly exceptional opportunity for aspiring doctoral researchers: the Creative & Caring Communities (CCC) Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA). This fully funded studentship represents a significant investment in the future of interdisciplinary, socially engaged research, and we're delighted to provide a comprehensive review to help you navigate this exciting prospect.

What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out?

This award is not just another PhD program; it's a curated pathway designed to foster groundbreaking research with tangible societal impact. Here are the key advantages for potential candidates:

• Fully Funded Excellence: This is a cornerstone of the CCC DLA. It covers all your tuition fees, regardless of your student status (UK, EU, or International). Furthermore, you will receive a generous annual stipend of £23,121.70 (full-time equivalent), allowing you to dedicate your full focus to your research without financial strain.
• Pioneering Interdisciplinary Focus: The CCC DLA is at the forefront of research innovation. It actively encourages hybrid, interdisciplinary approaches that bridge the traditional boundaries between art and humanities, architecture, design, and communication. If you have a research idea that transcends a single discipline and seeks to explore complex spatial, social, cultural, and technological challenges through a practice-based lens, this is the ideal environment.
• Emphasis on Care and Social Impact: A defining characteristic of this award is its commitment to placing 'care at the centre of resilience'. This means your research will be encouraged to address real-world issues and contribute meaningfully to cultural and societal well-being. The program actively seeks to nurture research that generates new ways of knowing and creates meaningful impact.
• World-Class Institution: The Royal College of Art is a globally recognized leader in art and design education. Being part of this institution means access to unparalleled resources, a vibrant academic community, and a network of distinguished academics and practitioners.
• Diverse Research Schools: You have the flexibility to anchor your doctoral journey within one of the RCA's esteemed schools:
  • School of Arts and Humanities
  • School of Design
  • School of Communication
  • School of Architecture
  This allows you to align your research with a specific disciplinary home while still benefiting from the program's interdisciplinary ethos.
• Inclusive and Experience-Led Environment: The CCC DLA fosters an experience-led and inclusive research environment. This suggests a supportive atmosphere where experimentation, methodological innovation, and diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but actively encouraged.
• Global Reach: The funding is open to UK, EU, and International students, reflecting a commitment to fostering a diverse and global research community.

Key Considerations for Your Application Journey

To make the most of this remarkable opportunity, here are some crucial points to keep in mind as you prepare your application:

• Clear Articulation of Your Research Vision: Given the interdisciplinary nature of the CCC DLA, it is paramount that you clearly articulate how your proposed research aligns with the program's themes of "Creative & Caring Communities." Be prepared to demonstrate how your work will contribute to new ways of knowing and generate meaningful cultural and societal impact.
• Highlight Practice Research: The description explicitly states "with practice research at the core." Ensure your proposal details your approach to practice-based research and how it will be integral to your doctoral inquiry.
• Emphasize Interdisciplinary Connections: If your research spans multiple disciplines, clearly explain these connections and how you will navigate them effectively within the CCC framework. Demonstrate your understanding of the synergies between the RCA's diverse schools.
• Demonstrate an Understanding of 'Care': The emphasis on 'care' is a central tenet. Consider how your research engages with concepts of care, well-being, and resilience, and how this will be a guiding principle in your methodology and outcomes.
• Application Specificity: When applying, it is crucial to "make it clear that you are applying for the Creative & Caring Communities Doctoral Landscape Award." This ensures your application is directed to the correct selection process.
• Mode of Study Flexibility: The program offers both Full-time and Part-time modes of study, providing flexibility to accommodate different personal and professional circumstances.
• Fair Access and Widening Participation: The RCA actively encourages applications from students from groups currently under-represented in postgraduate study. If you identify with these groups, particularly if you are a UK-based candidate, highlighting your unique perspective and experiences could be beneficial.

Career Path Guidance

Undertaking a doctoral degree through the CCC DLA is a significant step that can propel your career in numerous directions:

• Academia and Research: This award provides an exceptional foundation for a career in academic research, leading to roles as a university lecturer, senior researcher, or professor.
• Creative Industries: The interdisciplinary and practice-based nature of the program is highly relevant to roles in advanced creative practice, curatorial work, design strategy, and innovation leadership within the creative industries.
• Policy and Social Impact: Research focused on social engagement and resilience can lead to impactful roles in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, government advisory bodies, and community development initiatives.
• Entrepreneurship: The innovative and experimental approach fostered by the CCC DLA can equip you with the skills and mindset to launch your own ventures, whether in the creative, social, or technological sectors.

The application deadline is Monday 19 January 2026, with a start date in September 2026. This provides ample time to craft a compelling application that showcases your research potential and alignment with the vision of the Creative & Caring Communities Doctoral Landscape Award.

For detailed application guidance, information about upcoming webinars, and further program specifics, please refer to the dedicated CCC DLA Webpage on the Royal College of Art website.