ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentship (Social Anthropology Pathway)

What the ESRC Grand Union DTP Anthropology studentship gives you

You get a tax-free living allowance of about EUR 24,000 per year (£20,780 in 2025-26), plus your full course fees paid. This applies whether you are a UK or international student. Funding runs for 3.5 or 4 years of full-time PhD study in Anthropology at the University of Oxford. On top of the stipend (your yearly living allowance), you can claim extra money for research costs, overseas fieldwork, language training and study visits abroad. The award comes from the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership, a joint scheme of Oxford, Brunel University London and The Open University. Visa costs, the International Health Surcharge and travel for international students are not covered.

Who can apply

• Degree you will do: You apply for the DPhil (PhD) in Anthropology at Oxford. The 4-year route includes a first year of training. The 3.5-year route is for those who already have most of the required research-methods training.
• Field of study: Anthropology, based at Oxford's School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography (social, medical, cognitive, evolutionary, visual and museum anthropology).
• Where you study: Only at the University of Oxford.
• Master's: Not required. All routes have options for students without one, and your training is matched to your prior learning.
• Timing: You must be starting the PhD from scratch. The funding does not cover students who have already begun their PhD. If you are part-way through a Master's, you can still apply for the PhD stage.
• Nationality: UK and international applicants can both apply, and fees are covered for both.

How to apply

Apply to the University of Oxford for the DPhil in Anthropology through its graduate application portal. In the scholarships section, select "ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences" and attach the Grand Union DTP application form. Applications for 2026-27 entry are open. Check Oxford's admissions pages for the exact funding deadline and apply by that date, as late applications are not accepted. There is no interview. The pathway reviews all applications, nominates its strongest candidates, and a cross-university panel makes the final decision. Most offers go out in April.

How realistic are your chances?

The whole partnership awards around 35 studentships a year across 24 subject areas, so each pathway funds only a handful of people and competition is real. Your application is judged on written materials alone, across four equally weighted areas: your academic background, your potential, your research proposal and your plans for real-world impact. A sharp, well-argued Anthropology proposal that fits Oxford's research strengths is what carries the strongest applicants. Apply early and match your project closely to a potential supervisor.