This vision is located within RCA’s strategic research priorities of Climate Crisis and the Circular Economy, and Design & AI, as well as the priority to enhance our doctoral research culture by attracting PhD candidates in fields directly aligned to RCA’s strategic research priorities.

The RCA has a track record of STEAM teaching and research, fostering an environment where staff and doctoral researchers with backgrounds in art, design, and STEM disciplines, particularly engineering, collaborate. Our community utilises design-led approaches to generate new insights and human-centred solutions for the major challenges of the 21st century. It is in this culture that we will locate our doctoral landscape candidates.

Please apply to the host Research Areas and make it clear that you are applying for this studentship:

• The Materials Science Research Centre (MSRC)
• The RCA Robotics Laboratory
• Ecological Digital Citizenship / School of Design

• Apply for RCA Round 3 : Open: Wednesday 18 March 2026
• Deadline: Wednesday 3 June 2026, 12 noon (UK time)
• Notification of outcome: by 30 June 2026

Project start date: September 2026

Mode of study: Full time/Part time

Funding Details: Fees fully funded, Stipend £23,805.00 per annum (Full time)

For further information about the award, how to apply and for the information webinar, please visit:

https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-to-study/funding-your-studies/funding-for-mphil-and-phd-students/doctoral-landscape-sch-net-zero-futures/

Fair Access and Widening Participation

RCA is encouraging home students from under-representation of particular groups within postgraduate study to apply.