Kingston University to lead pioneering £5 million doctoral programme exploring neurodiverse futures

Kingston University is set to lead a pioneering £5 million doctoral training programme that aims to transform understanding of neurodiversity and support a new generation of researchers to tackle major global challenges through fresh perspectives and innovative ways of thinking.

Funded by the Leverhulme Trust, the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Programme for Neurodiverse Futures is a partnership between Kingston University and Durham University that provides nine years of funding to recruit 30 PhD students, with the first cohort beginning their studies in October 2027.

The programme will bring together academics from a wide range of disciplines to explore how neurodivergent perspectives, lived experiences and methodologies can contribute to addressing pressing social challenges and creating more equitable futures.

Led by Kingston University Professor Sara Upstone from the Design, Arts and Creative Practice Knowledge Exchange and Research Institute (KERI), the initiative draws on expertise from across all four of the University's KERIs and aligns closely with Kingston's commitment to inclusion and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Professor Upstone said the programme would create significant opportunities to explore the value of neurodivergent methodologies and lived experience in generating new research insights and driving positive change. "One of the most exciting aspects of this programme is its commitment to recognising lived experience as a valuable research asset. We hope to create a research culture that celebrates diverse perspectives and demonstrates how they can contribute to new knowledge and meaningful change," she said.

Researchers will investigate key issues through five thematic areas – neurodiverse cultural histories, neurodiverse lifespans, neurodiversity and inclusive societies, neurodiverse stories, and intersectional neurodiversity. The programme is founded on the principle that neurodivergent ways of thinking can be a powerful intellectual asset, helping to develop new approaches to questions linked to social justice, inequality, sustainability and community wellbeing.

Professor Upstone said the award built on Kingston's established strengths in neurodiversity research and reflected growing recognition of the importance of different ways of understanding and experiencing the world. "Working alongside colleagues at Durham will allow us to create a unique and dynamic research culture with exciting potential for the generation of new knowledge. By bringing lived experience and neurodivergent perspectives into the heart of the research process, we hope to open up innovative ways of thinking about some of the most pressing challenges facing society today," she said.

The programme will work closely with non-academic partners including charities, archives and community organisations, creating opportunities for students to engage with the wider impact of their research through placements, collaboration and access to specialist resources.

Professor Deborah Riby, from Durham University's Department of Psychology and co-director of Durham's Centre for Neurodiversity and Development, said the partnership would combine the complementary strengths of both institutions to advance neurodiversity research and inclusive doctoral training. "By bringing together Durham's strengths in neurodiversity-affirming participatory methods training and interdisciplinary neurodiversity research across psychology and the social sciences with Kingston's expertise in neurodiversity research across the arts, humanities and creative design, this partnership will establish a nationally recognised centre of excellence that will advance inclusive doctoral training and the field of neurodiversity studies," she said.

Alongside direct entry to the PhD programme, up to six UK students from low-income and/or Black ethnic backgrounds will be supported through a masters-to-PhD pathway. The programme will also recruit up to 10 international students and reserve a minimum of six places for candidates with lived experience of neurodivergence, helping to build a diverse and inclusive research community.

Professor Simon Wortham, Director of Research Excellence at Kingston University, said the award represented a significant endorsement of the University's research excellence and its ability to lead ambitious interdisciplinary collaborations. "This award from the Leverhulme Trust recognises the strength, ambition and originality of the research culture we have built at Kingston. It will enable us to support a new generation of doctoral researchers while advancing innovative scholarship in an area of growing national and international importance," he said.

Recruitment will open in autumn 2026, with the first doctoral researchers joining the programme in October 2027.

• Sign up to register your interest and get involved in the Neurodiverse Futures Doctoral Scholarships programme.  
• Find out more about research at Kingston University.