University of Birmingham - Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding

What the ESRC studentship gives you

You will receive a comprehensive scholarship package for a PhD programme in a social science subject at University of Birmingham. It consists of two parts. Firstly, a tax-free living allowance (a maintenance grant) of approximately 24,000 EUR per year (20,780 GBP for the period 2025/26, rising to 21,805 GBP for the period 2026/27). Secondly, your tuition fees will be covered at the UK ‘domestic’ rate. If you are an international student, the University of Birmingham will cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees, so you will not have to bear any additional costs. The funding covers a period of up to 54 months. It may cover either a 3-year PhD programme or a combined programme comprising a 1-year research master’s degree plus 3.5 years of PhD study. Depending on your subject area, you may also receive additional funding for research costs, fieldwork abroad, conferences or language courses. The funding is awarded through the Midlands Graduate School, a consortium of eight universities supported by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a PhD in a social sciences department. You can apply either immediately after completing your Bachelor’s degree (as part of the ‘Master’s plus PhD’ programme) or after completing your Master’s degree.
• Subject: Your research project aligns with one of the University of Birmingham’s key research areas, such as Applied Linguistics, Area Studies, Economic and Social History, Education, Human Geography, Management and Business Administration, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Law, or Sport and Exercise Science. At least 51% of the project must be within the field of social sciences.
• Grades: You must have a good university degree, typically with a ‘First’ or ‘Upper Second Class Honours’ classification, or equivalent professional experience.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Up to 30% places are allocated to international students each year.
• No existing PhD: You are not currently studying for a PhD and have not yet obtained a doctoral degree.
• No other funding: You are not currently receiving any other grant that covers your grant or your fees.
• Study mode: You are studying on campus, either full-time or part-time. Distance learning is not eligible for funding, and part-time students are not permitted to hold a full-time job alongside their studies.
• Supervisors: You have found at least two academics from Birmingham who are willing to supervise you.

How to apply

First, submit an application for admission to a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham for your chosen course. You should then complete a separate online funding application with the Midlands Graduate School. You may only submit one funding application, for one university and one course. For the October 2027 intake, the application period opens on 1 October 2026, and the deadline for the funding application is 13 January at 12:00. Results will be announced around mid-April.

How realistic are your chances?

Competition is fierce. A comprehensive PhD programme at a research-intensive university attracts top-calibre applicants, and international students compete for a limited number of places. The quality of your research proposal and the support you receive from your two supervisors are crucial. It is therefore more important to secure committed supervisors at an early stage and to develop a clear social science research project than to rely solely on your academic grades. If you are a good fit for a particular programme and have already secured supervisors before the application deadline, your prospects are good.