CLS | Our studies

These follow multiple generations of people across the whole of their lives.

We survey cohort members at regular intervals, each time collecting information on the different aspects of their lives. The studies are rich resources, offering researchers a breadth and depth of data that can be used to answer a wide range of questions.

The data are free to access from the UK Data Service and some other trusted research environments.

In addition to our core studies, we work with partner organisations on the scientific leadership and management of several associate cohort studies

Core studies

1958 National Child Development Study

The 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) is following the lives of more than 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1958.

1970 British Cohort Study

The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is following the lives of around 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970.

Next Steps

Next Steps follows the lives of around 16,000 people in England born in 1989-90.

Millennium Cohort Study

The Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) is following the lives of around 19,000 young people born across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2000-02.

Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study

The Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study tested the feasibility of sampling and recruitment for a new UK-wide birth cohort study. It is known to participants as Generation New Era.

Generation New Era

Generation New Era is a new UK-wide birth cohort study aiming to follow the lives of 30,000 children born in 2026, and their families.

Associate studies

COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities Study

The COVID Social Mobility & Opportunities study (COSMO) is a national cohort study of more than 12,000 young people from across England, who were in Year 11 in the academic year 2020-21.