Postgraduate students helping to deliver Manchester 2035
15 May 2026
Research and innovation have come together in our first-of-its-kind programme, PhD by Enterprise.
The University has announced the first cohort of projects for its new PhD by Enterprise programme – the first of its kind in the Russell Group and one of only a few globally – with applications now open to prospective doctoral researchers.
The four-year programme brings together academic research and structured enterprise training, supporting postgraduate researchers to explore how their work can be developed into real-world applications.
It is designed to sit alongside traditional doctoral study, giving researchers the opportunity to develop their ideas beyond the lab. Alongside their research, participants will work with mentors to build entrepreneurial skills and gain practical experience, exploring areas such as technology readiness, market need and venture development.
The PhD remains rooted in original research, culminating in a doctoral thesis, but also includes a business plan as part of the final submission, supporting the aspiration that new commercial or social enterprises may be launched during or following the PhD.
Associate Vice-President for Enterprise, Professor Aline Miller said: “This is something new for us, and it’s been really encouraging to see the range of ideas that have come forward.
“These projects show how much potential there is to take research in new directions and think about how it can be used beyond academia.
“We’re looking forward to working with the students who join the programme and supporting them as they develop both their research and the wider impact possibilities around it.”
Following an internal call for proposals from academic supervisors, 11 projects have been selected, spanning healthcare, artificial intelligence, sustainability and advanced materials. Five fully funded studentships will be available for 2026/27, with a further cohort planned for 2027/28.
For details of the 11 inaugural projects, visit:
To find out more about the programme, the projects on offer and see how to apply, visit: