PhD Studentship: Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship in AI-Enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA) at University of Surrey
University of Surrey
University of Surrey
About the Company
The University of Surrey is a UK-based research-intensive institution committed to interdisciplinary innovation and global impact. This doctoral scholarship is part of the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship programme focused on AI-Enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA).
Job Summary
The Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship in AI-Enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA) is a fully funded 4-year PhD studentship starting in October 2026.
The programme aims to develop doctoral researchers capable of leveraging Artificial Intelligence to improve digital accessibility across language, sound, and vision modalities. Scholars will work across disciplines including language, translation, media accessibility, engineering, computer science, cognitive science, and social science to develop human-centric AI solutions.
The studentship is designed to equip graduates with the skills to build AI-enabled accessibility solutions that preserve accuracy, narrative coherence, and quality in digital media.
Research Focus
Doctoral researchers will:
- Develop a research project within the ADA network
- Explore translation across modalities (e.g., speech-to-subtitles, sign language, text simplification, visual-to-verbal descriptions)
- Combine AI advancements with human expertise
- Deliver personalised digital accessibility solutions
- Work within interdisciplinary teams
Supervision Team
- Professor Sabine Braun
- Professor Philip Jackson
- Dr Elena Davitti
- Professor Constantin Orasan
- Professor Christine Hine
Entry Requirements
- Open to UK and international candidates
- Must meet University of Surrey PhD entry requirements
- Start date: October 2026
Funding
Fully funded 4-year studentship (48 months full-time study) including:
- Home or international tuition fees covered
- Maintenance stipend at UKRI base rate (£20,780 for 2025/26)
- £10,000 research and training support fund
Application Process
Step 1: Online Application
Complete the University of Surrey online PhD application form.
Step 2: Email Submission
Email the following documents to [email protected]
Subject line: “ADA expression of interest – Your Name”
Research Proposal (1,000 words)
Structure:
- Research theme number
- Your interpretation of the theme
- Research questions
- Theoretical framework
- Methodologies
- Significance
File name format:
YourLastName_YourFirstName_RP
Motivation Letter (500 words)
- Demonstrate project fit
- Outline career development aims
File name format:
YourLastName_YourFirstName_ML
CV (Maximum 2 pages)
Include academic qualifications
File name format:
YourLastName_YourFirstName_CV
Selection Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online recruitment workshop (April/May 2025).
The workshop will assess applicants for cohort balance, interdisciplinary potential, and suitability for ADA training.
How to Apply
Submit the online PhD application and email required documents as outlined above.