Applications are now officially open for the highly prestigious FORESIGHTERS Doctoral Training Programme 2026 at Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom. The programme is offering 20 fully funded PhD positions for early-stage researchers interested in interdisciplinary, future-focused research designed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing societal challenges.

Funded by Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND and the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland), FORESIGHTERS provides a unique doctoral training experience that combines world-class academic research, interdisciplinary collaboration, Futures Thinking, and engagement with non-academic partners across multiple sectors.

Successful candidates will receive full tuition coverage, a highly competitive salary package, staff employment benefits, research and travel funding, international collaboration opportunities, and advanced training designed to prepare the next generation of global research leaders.

The application deadline is Monday, 29th June 2026.

What is the FORESIGHTERS Programme?

FORESIGHTERS stands for:

Future ORiEnted Skills, Innovation for Governance for Health, Technology, EneRgy, citieS and creativity

The programme has been developed to train researchers capable of understanding and responding to complex global changes through interdisciplinary and future-oriented research.

Unlike traditional PhD programmes, FORESIGHTERS is centered around:

Futures Thinking
Futures Literacy
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Societal impact
Innovation and governance
Sustainability and resilience

Researchers will learn how to critically explore multiple possible futures and apply future-focused methodologies to today’s societal, technological, environmental, and governance challenges.

Number of Fully Funded Positions

Queen’s University Belfast is recruiting:

20 Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs)
42-month full-time funded doctoral positions

There are:

5 research themes
4 vacancies available within each research theme

Applicants apply directly to one of the research themes and compete within that applicant pool.

Research Themes Available

Applicants can apply under one of the following interdisciplinary research themes:

1. Health Research Theme

Focused on healthcare innovation, governance, wellbeing, public health, health systems, and future healthcare solutions.

2. Technology Research Theme

Exploring artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital transformation, governance, ethics, and technological futures.

3. Energy Research Theme

Research involving sustainability, climate transitions, renewable energy systems, resilience, and future energy solutions.

4. Future Cities Research Theme

Projects addressing smart cities, urban planning, infrastructure, sustainability, resilience, and future urban development.

5. Creativity Research Theme

Connecting arts, culture, humanities, innovation, storytelling, and creative futures.

Salary and Financial Benefits

The FORESIGHTERS programme offers an exceptional financial package for doctoral researchers.

Successful applicants will receive:

Competitive Salary Package

Salary package up to £37,734
Additional family allowance of £6,600 for eligible researchers

Full Tuition Fee Coverage

Complete PhD tuition funding
Access to advanced doctoral training resources

Research and Development Funding

Researchers will also receive:

Dedicated research funding
Travel funding
Opportunities for secondments with external organizations
International networking opportunities

Employment Benefits

Researchers are appointed on full-time employment contracts and receive:

Staff employment benefits
Access to university staff development programmes
Professional skills training
Career development support

Why the FORESIGHTERS Programme is Unique

FORESIGHTERS goes beyond conventional doctoral research.

The programme combines:

Academic excellence
Futures Thinking methodologies
Interdisciplinary supervision
Real-world collaboration
Policy and societal engagement

Researchers will work with:

Academic supervisors
Industry partners
Public sector organizations
Non-academic collaborators

The programme encourages co-designed research projects that create real-world impact beyond academia.

Open Research Call Structure

One of the most unique aspects of the programme is that it operates as an open call.

Applicants may:

Select from suggested project ideas
Develop and propose their own research ideas

This gives researchers significant intellectual independence while ensuring their ideas align with the broader aims of the FORESIGHTERS programme.

Applicants are encouraged to:

Highlight interdisciplinary links
Demonstrate originality
Show societal relevance
Connect their proposal to future-oriented thinking

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for MSCA funding, applicants must answer “No” to BOTH of the following questions:

Mobility Rule

Applicants must NOT have:

Resided in the UK
Carried out their main education
Or undertaken employment activity in the UK

for more than 12 months within the 36 months before the application deadline (29th June 2026).

Doctoral Degree Rule

Applicants must NOT:

Already possess a doctoral degree
Be in the process of being awarded one before the application deadline

Applicants who do not meet these requirements will be considered ineligible.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment

Queen’s University Belfast strongly emphasizes equality of opportunity and inclusive recruitment practices.

The university is internationally recognized for:

Gender equality leadership
Diversity and inclusion initiatives
Disability inclusion
Equitable employment practices

FORESIGHTERS specifically commits to:

Diverse selection panels
Inclusive recruitment strategies
Accessible interview processes
Recognition of cultural and language differences
Fair assessment of applicants with career breaks, parental leave, or non-traditional pathways

The programme explicitly encourages applications from underrepresented groups in academia.

Detailed Recruitment Timeline

Recruitment Opens

18th May 2026

Information Webinars

10th June 2026

Application Deadline

29th June 2026

Eligibility Screening

Expected within 2 weeks after applications close

Shortlisting Notifications

Expected by end of July 2026

Online Research Theme Sandpits

Expected in early September 2026

Interviews

Expected in early October 2026

Final Appointment Decisions

Expected by November 2026

Programme Start Date

January 2027

Step-by-Step Application Process

Stage 1: Online Application Submission

Applications must be submitted through the Research section of the Queen’s University Belfast Career Opportunities portal.

Applicants must complete:

Personal information
Contact details
Employment history
References
Equal opportunities section
Declaration forms

Required Application Documents

Applicants must upload a single combined file containing:

1. Curriculum Vitae (Maximum 2 Pages)

The CV should include:

Academic qualifications
Universities attended
Degrees awarded
Grades and courses
Professional qualifications
Employment experience
Research and voluntary experience
Publications (if any)

2. Supporting Statement (Maximum 2 Pages)

Applicants should explain:

How they meet the essential and desirable criteria
Motivation for joining FORESIGHTERS
Interest in interdisciplinary doctoral research

3. Outline Research Proposal (Maximum 1 Page)

The proposal should:

Describe research interests
Align with the chosen research theme
Highlight interdisciplinary links where relevant
Demonstrate originality and future-focused thinking

Applicants can apply to multiple themes, but a separate application must be submitted for each theme.

Stage 2: Eligibility Screening and Shortlisting

Applications are reviewed for:

MSCA eligibility compliance
Academic suitability
Research potential
Quality of supporting documents
Strength of research proposal

Each application is reviewed by at least two panel members using a structured scoring rubric.

Approximately:

6–8 applicants per theme
will be shortlisted for interview.

Stage 3: Online Sandpits and Interview Assessment

Shortlisted applicants will participate in:

Online Research Theme Information Sandpits

These sessions are designed to:

Introduce potential supervisors
Explore interdisciplinary collaboration
Encourage co-design with non-academic partners
Help applicants refine their research ideas

Importantly:
Candidates are NOT assessed during the Sandpit sessions.

Final Research Proposal

Before interviews, shortlisted applicants must submit a more detailed research proposal demonstrating:

Originality
Research impact
Interdisciplinary thinking
Methodology and feasibility
Evidence of refinement after Sandpit participation

Interview Structure

All interviews last approximately one hour.

Interview Components

Welcome and Introductions

14 minutes

Research Proposal Presentation

3 slides
3-minute presentation

Futures Thinking Task

Candidates receive a special interdisciplinary task 60 minutes before the interview and present:

3-minute presentation
No PowerPoint allowed

Panel Questions

40 minutes

Assessment criteria include:

Excellence
Interdisciplinarity
Impact
Research potential
Communication skills

Stage 4: Final Appointment

Following interviews:

The top 4 candidates in each research theme will receive offers
Additional appointable candidates may be placed on reserve lists

Successful applicants will:

Finalize their research projects
Confirm supervisory teams
Receive support for UK visa applications if required

The university will assist international researchers with:

Global Talent Visa support
Relocation processes
UK work authorization requirements

Why Study at Queen’s University Belfast?

Queen’s University Belfast is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities and a member of the prestigious Russell Group.

The university is recognized globally for:

Academic excellence
Research impact
Sustainability leadership
Diversity and inclusion
Doctoral training quality

Global Recognition

Queen’s University Belfast is:

Ranked among the world’s top 200 universities
Recognized in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026
Holder of the Athena Swan Gold Award
Recognized as a University of Sanctuary

Living in Belfast

Belfast offers:

Affordable living costs compared to many UK cities
Strong international student community
Vibrant arts and culture
Excellent quality of life
Rich history and modern innovation ecosystem

Final Thoughts

The FORESIGHTERS Doctoral Training Programme 2026 represents one of the most exciting fully funded interdisciplinary PhD opportunities currently available in Europe.

With generous funding, strong institutional support, interdisciplinary collaboration, Futures Thinking training, and global research engagement, the programme is designed to prepare researchers to become leaders capable of shaping a more sustainable, innovative, and resilient future.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply through the official application portal HERE.

Click HERE for more information about the Belfast FORESIGHTERS Fully Funded PhD Programme.

Explore more global job opportunities on OFY here.

Fully Funded PhD Positions @Queen’s University Belfast