This call for proposals invites applications for PhD study within the inaugural cohort of the UKRI AHRC-funded Doctoral Focal Award programme, A Golden Thread. The programme is led by The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) in partnership with The Open University (OU) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
About the Programme
A Golden Thread is a Scotland-wide doctoral research training and enterprise development programme. It aims to provide cross-institutional training for 20 doctoral students. Six fully funded PhD places are available through this first call, offered on either a full-time (3.5 years) or part-time (6 years) basis, commencing in October 2026 DFA Call for Proposals.
The programme begins with a six-week induction focused on self-care, wellbeing, life and financial administration, and preparedness for study. This will take place in July and August 2026. An optional industry placement will be offered post-completion DFA Call for Proposals.
Key Themes
Craft is a central theme of the programme. All proposals must demonstrate a strong craft foundation or focus. Applicants may identify as having a craft practice, including but not limited to materials, textiles, ceramics, and printmaking, or work across artistic disciplines such as visual arts, design, and sound DFA Call for Proposals.
Proposals may be practice-led or thesis-based. Applicants are encouraged to develop research at the intersection of arts and humanities disciplines and scientific fields. Suggested areas include, but are not limited to:
- Biomaterials and regenerative design
- Planetary and space sciences, astrophysics, and cosmology
- Agriculture, aquaculture, animal sciences, and animal care
- Environmental sciences and nature-based solutions
- AI and emerging technologies
- Rural geography, sociology, and/or economies DFA Call for Proposals
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The programme is committed to EDI principles and aims to address underrepresentation and marginalisation in Scotland’s doctoral landscape and creative economy. Particular attention is paid to geographic marginalisation, especially among rural and island communities. Candidates should preferably be resident in and/or demonstrate a strong personal, heritage, or practice-led connection to Scotland’s rural and island communities DFA Call for Proposals.
Applications are welcomed from individuals with lived experience of marginalisation and those who face systemic or structural barriers to doctoral study. Professional and lived experience will be considered alongside or instead of formal academic qualifications DFA Call for Proposals.
Programme Framework
The programme is structured around four interconnected strands: research training, enterprise development, cohort training, and mental health and wellbeing support.
- A six-week induction introduces wellbeing, life administration, and study preparedness.
- Year 1 focuses on core research training, including research methods and expert-led skills sessions.
- Year 2 includes a bespoke 12-week enterprise development programme featuring skills masterclasses, industry tasters, and one-to-one mentoring.
- Year 3 focuses on thesis completion and viva preparation, including peer writing groups, coaching, assessor feedback, and optional mock viva sessions.
- Post-completion, students may undertake internships or placements with industry partners.
- Flexible and distance learning options are supported through online access to live and recorded sessions and provision of digital and physical materials.
- Cohort training includes student-led activities, research symposia, seasonal schools, and a cross-cohort research project hosted by GSA Rural Lab DFA Call for Proposals.
Supervision Arrangements
Supervision will be cross-institutional, bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines and partner institutions. Applicants will register either at GSA or the Open University, depending on best fit with the proposed research and institutional requirements. Guidance will be provided on institutional alignment during the application process DFA Call for Proposals.
Consortium Partners
The core academic partners (GSA, OU, SRUC) are joined by a national network of arts, cultural, and community organisations. These include the Bernat Klein Foundation, the Crichton Trust, Skyeknits, Fyne Futures, Shetland Arts Development Agency, and Moray Arts Development Engagement (M:ADE). Strategic support is provided by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) DFA Call for Proposals.
Research Environments
The programme is hosted by GSA Rural Lab at the GSA Highlands and Islands Campus in Moray, offering specialist postgraduate creative facilities, including studios, workshops, exhibition spaces, and advanced research resources DFA Call for Proposals.
Students will also have access to:
- GSA’s Glasgow campus, including its archives and collections
- The Open University’s online learning resources
- SRUC’s Enterprise Academy and Rural Policy Centre
- The Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC) in Inverness
- Library, archive, and student services at the multi-institutional Crichton Campus in Dumfries DFA Call for Proposals.
The programme supports place-based research through a Scotland-wide network of “micro-labs” embedded in rural and island communities, alongside “macro-labs” connecting to regional, national, and international partners DFA Call for Proposals.
Application Process
1. Informal Discussion
Applicants are encouraged to first contact the Programme Lead, Dr Clare Devaney at GSA Rural Lab, for an informal discussion. Requests should be sent to dfa@gsa.ac.uk DFA Call for Proposals.
2. Application Form
Following the initial discussion, applicants will be invited to complete an online application form, which requires:
- A research title and brief abstract
- An outline research proposal (including introduction, context, research questions, methods, and indicative completion plan)
- A statement of professional, lived, and academic experience
- A statement on research environments and programme fit
- A representative portfolio of craft-led creative practice (optional)
- Indication of potential supervisors (to be discussed with the Programme Lead)
- Two referees
Alternative application formats are available upon request DFA Call for Proposals.
3. Support and Guidance
Applicants may attend group webinars, Q&A sessions, and proposal development workshops between November 2025 and January 2026. One-to-one sessions are also available DFA Call for Proposals.
4. Submission Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 12 noon on 13 February 2026. Late applications will not be accepted DFA Call for Proposals.
5. Review, Interview and Outcomes
Applications will be reviewed by a cross-institutional academic and executive panel, overseen by the Programme Steering Group. Longlisted candidates will be considered by institutional postgraduate research committees, with shortlisted candidates invited for interview in March 2026. All applicants will be notified of outcomes by 30 April 2026. Feedback is available on request DFA Call for Proposals.
Key Dates
October 2026: Start of training programme DFA Call for Proposals
4 November 2025: Call for proposals opens
November 2025 to January 2026: Guidance sessions
13 February 2026 (12 noon): Application deadline
March 2026: Candidate interviews
30 April 2026: Applicants informed of outcome
July to August 2026: Six-week induction programme