Collaborative Doctoral Awards (also known as CASE awards) are intended to encourage and develop collaboration and partnerships between Higher Education Institution (HEI) departments and non-academic organisations and businesses.
These awards provide opportunities for doctoral students to gain first hand experience of work outside an academic environment. The support provided by both an academic and non-academic supervisor enhances the employment-related skills and training a research student gains during the course of their award.
The studentships also encourage and establish links that can have long-term benefits for both collaborating partners, providing access to resources and materials, knowledge and expertise that may not otherwise have been available and also provide social, cultural and economic benefits to wider society.
The AHRC are keen to see innovative applications that build diverse relationships with the non-academic sectors. There have been many CDA awards made for collaborations with larger museums and organisations however the AHRC would like to encourage further proposals to work with businesses, regional museums, regional arts organisations and community groups.
Changes to the scheme for 2012
Please note that there have been some updates to the scheme guidance for this round, the main points to note are:
- Single applications can now be submitted for up to 4 studentships to work on related projects. The AHRC are keen to encourage applications for multiple studentships that are interlinked and build larger collaborations between HEIs and Project Partners.
- If you wish the application to be considered for one of the additional awards potentially available to address the aims of the Connected Communities Programme (see below) you will need to add a small additional paragraph in the Case for Support using the heading ‘Highlight Call’ at the beginning of the document. This will be taken into account when the panel(s) allocate the additional awards. The application should sit significantly within the AHRC remit and also address the themes of the Connected Communities programme.
This scheme is now closed. The closing date for proposals starting in October 2012 was 17th November 2011.
Please note that the CDA scheme is not affected by the introduction in 2009 of the Block Grant Partnerships and Studentship Competition. It remains as a separate annual competition open to all eligible HEIs in the UK.
Applications are to be made via the Research Council's Joint Electronic Submission - (JE-S) System. If you need any assistance to use the system, please contact the Je-s Helpdesk on 01793 444164 or on JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk.
Please refer to the following scheme guide in conjunction with the JeS helptext before submitting your application. Please note that this guidance has been updated since the last round of applications.
CDA scheme guidance notes (pdf 179kb)
Collaborative Doctoral Awards 2011
210 eligible applications were received by the deadline of 4 November 2010. 84 projects totalling 80 studentships were awarded to begin in the 2011/12 academic year. This includes the highlight call under the Connected Communities programme.
Projects funded in previous rounds of the Collaborative Doctoral Awards
The AHRC launched the Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDA) scheme in October 2004. 64 applications were received in the first round and 41 successful projects which commenced in October 2005. The second round of the scheme saw 86 applications and 49 awards, the third round saw 125 applications and 58 awards, the fourth round had 111 applications and 60 awards and the fifth round received 175 applications with 67 projects awarded.
Research Training Framework
In 2004 the AHRC introduced a framework of research training requirements for its doctoral award holders.
Documents for current award holders
Guide to Student Funding 2011 (pdf 471kb)
Guide to Student Funding 2010 (pdf 329kb)
Guildines for Use of Research Training Support Grant (pdf 78kb)
Postgraduate Funding Opportunities FAQs (pdf 78kb)
Doctoral Studentship CDA Final Report Form (474kb)
Doctoral Studentship CDA Supervisor Final Report Form (203kb) (to be completed by both supervisors)
Doctoral Supervisor Final Report Form (141kb)
The AHRC work with the RCUK Shared Services Centre (SSC) to deliver all of our funding activities. All queries regarding eligibility for funding and applications in progress and also queries regarding current awards, should be directed to the SSC team dealing with your subject area using the contacts page.