ADR Project Proposal Call for October 2027

Entry – deadline: 5pm, 15 July 2026

LISS DTP is inviting academic staff in partner institutions to submit expressions of interest to take part in the Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK) studentship competition to host supervisor-led PhD studentships focused on quantitative research using linked administrative data.

Up to 30 fully funded PhD studentships are available nationally, and LISS DTP can submit up to five supervisor-led studentship proposals to the competition. These awards form part of an established ADR UK PhD programme and aim to build a strong, connected community of administrative data researchers contributing to better-informed policy decisions and more effective public services across a range of disciplines.

The studentships will support interdisciplinary, predominantly social science research, with a minimum of 50% social science content that makes use of ADR UK flagship linked administrative datasets. These datasets span key areas such as education, health, employment, family justice, and criminal justice, and are made available through secure Trusted Research Environments across the UK. Applicants must specify at least one established ADR UK flagship dataset in their proposal.

The award start date is October 2027. Awards cover standard UKRI home tuition fees and a stipend of £23,805 per annum (at the 2026-27 rate) and may be offered either 1+3.5 awards (covering a Master’s year + PhD) or +3.5 awards (covering the PhD only). Awards may be held full-time or part-time and include a Research in Practice placement of up to three months. This opportunity is available to applicants with ‘home’ fee status only.

This opportunity is aimed at academic supervisors within LISS DTP partner institutions who:

• have expertise or a strong interest in quantitative methods and administrative data;
• are able to support PhD research using large, complex datasets; and
• wish to contribute to a national cohort and community of administrative data researchers.

Supervisors may submit more than one proposal, provided that each proposal addresses a distinct research topic.

Please submit the Expression of Interest form by 5pm, Wednesday 15^th July 2026.

PDF version of the form is available here (for information only). Only submission made through the JISC portal will be considered.

Assessment Criteria

• Project proposals must be at least 50% social science.
• Primary supervisor must be based within one of the LISS DTP partner institutions (KCL, QMUL, Imperial).
• In addition to the ADR UK assessment criteria, the LISS DTP shortlisting panel will consider the extent to which each expression of interest aligns with the LISS DTP vision and strategic priorities. More information on the LISS DTP vision is available here.

Outcome Notification: Supervisors will be informed of the outcome of their proposal during the week commencing 20^th July 2026. LISS DTP can support up to five submissions. Shortlisted project supervisors will be asked to submit ADR UK Form B to LISS DTP by 24^th August 2026.

ADR UK Successful Projects Announcement: ADR UK will announce the successful projects in January 2027. At that time, further details on the recruitment process and next steps will be shared with supervisors of projects supported by LISS DTP. However, responsibility for recruiting a student rest with the supervisor within their home department.

ADR UK Call Documents

• ADR UK PhD Studentships Call Specification
• ADR UK PhD Studentships Applicant Guidance

Please read the call specification and applicant guidance documents in full before applying.