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The SWDTP studentship also offers a range of additional funding to support activities, including:

• overseas fieldwork
• overseas institutional visits
• difficult language training

You'll benefit from access to opportunities such as placements, enhanced training, conference support and other events too.

Overseas study

As an SWDTP-funded student, you’ll also have the opportunity to integrate professional placements, overseas institutional visits, overseas fieldwork, and difficult language training as part of your PhD programme.

This will give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in a professional environment, and/or travel to another country to collaborate with and learn from leading international scholars in your field.

For example, you may want to conduct fieldwork overseas, but don’t have the language skills or funding to support the research. The SWDTP provides funding to support both.

These opportunities are ideal if you want to conduct research that is collaborative, impactful, and with global significance.

Networking and collaboration

The SWDTP offers a wealth of opportunities for higher level research training, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. Through membership of the SWDTP, you’ll have access to all the ESRC’s regional and national levels training events.

The SWDTP also provides funding to support student-led initiatives, including training events, and activities to support collaboration, networking, and impact.

Disciplinary Pathways & Pathway Lead

To apply for a disciplinary pathway, you must have at least two academic supervisors. These are typically from the ¶¹°ü³ÉÈË°æ; however, we would welcome supervisors from other SWDTP institutions. We recommend that you identify a main supervisor and then seek their advice on a suitable second supervisor.

Interdisciplinary Pathways & Pathway Lead

To apply for an interdisciplinary pathway, you must have at least two academic supervisors from separate disciplines. Ideally, these supervisors should also be from different SWDTP Institutions. We recommend that you identify a main supervisor and then seek their advice on a suitable second supervisor.

If you do not already hold a master's degree and your application is successful, the SWDTP is likely to require you to complete a relevant master's course and achieve an overall mark of at least 60% as a condition of your PhD funding.

If you hold a master's degree, or have equivalent professional experience, but do not fully meet the ESRC's training requirements, you may be required to complete additional training during your PhD. Any training needs are identified through an ongoing Development Needs Analysis (DNA), which begins at the application stage.

The standard PhD studentship provides funding for 3 years and 3 months, plus a further 3 months for Research in Practice (excluding any required master's year). You must complete your project and submit your thesis before your funding ends.

Part-time studentships are available on a pro rata basis.

Additional training may extend the length of your funding.

Appropriate master’s level training

Defined as an ESRC-accredited or equivalent research master's with a significant social sciences research design and quantitative and qualitative research methods elements, with average grades of at least Merit (60%) in both the taught units/modules AND the dissertation component.

For further information please see .

If successful, you will benefit from:

• 3.5 to 4 years' tuition fee funding (note: 3 months of this includes a placement)
• an annual Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
• a maintenance stipend of £21,805 each year (2027/28 rate)

This award is open to all applicants (Home and International); however, in line with guidance from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the number of awards available to International students will be limited to 30% of the total.

Find out more about your tuition fee status.

If you are an International student, you must meet the English language requirement for your intended programme before the application deadline in order to be considered. Please check the English language requirements to ensure you meet requirements before you apply.

Studentships available: Approximately 35 across the partnership.

Scheme opens

Thursday 01 October 2026

Deadline for Initial Supervisor Contact

Monday 16 November 2026

This is the date by which you must make initial contact with a prospective supervisor by email. This is to ensure that your prospective supervisor has sufficient time to consider your research proposal and conduct an interview with you, and for you both to complete all relevant paperwork before the application deadline.

Application deadline

Applications close on Tuesday 12 January 2027 at 12:00 Noon GMT.

This is the deadline to submit a complete online PhD application via the relevant ¶¹°ü³ÉÈË°æ application form for your pathway/department.

The application process is competitive. Due to the number of applications likely to be received, only complete applications will be considered.

Any application that is incomplete, late, or where a supervisor has not been contacted in advance, will not be accepted.

We cannot guarantee that all applicants will be successful.