Economic and Social Research Council - ESRC Awards

ESRC PhD studentship

During your PhD in the social sciences, you will receive a living allowance of approximately 24,500 EUR per year (20,780 GBP), and your tuition fees will be covered in full. You will also receive a research grant of approximately 1,100 EUR (940 GBP) per year to cover research costs, a lump sum for fieldwork abroad, and additional funding for your personal development, including a paid three-month placement. If you are studying at a London university, you will also receive approximately 2,300 EUR (2,000 GBP) per year. Depending on your experience, the funding covers up to 4.5 years of full-time study. You may also study part-time for a longer period, for 50% years or more. The funding comes from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK’s largest funder of social science research. It is awarded through university partnerships known as ‘Doctoral Training Partnerships’ (DTPs) and ‘Centres for Doctoral Training’ (CDTs).

Who can apply

• Stage of study: You are just starting your PhD or are in the early stages of your studies. If you are already well advanced, for example in the third year of your full-time PhD, you are not eligible for funding.
• Field of study: At least half of your research relates to the social sciences, for example economics, sociology, political science, anthropology, social work or social policy.
• Nationality: Both UK and international students are eligible to apply. Each partner university may allocate a maximum of 30% of its places to international students (a maximum of 50% in the field of economics). As a rule, only tuition fees at the UK rate are covered for international students.
• Qualifications: You must hold a degree from a UK or equivalent international university, or have comparable professional experience. There is no set minimum grade; your potential and experience are also taken into account.
• Where you live: You live within a reasonable distance of the university where you are a visiting student.
• No double funding: You are not currently receiving any other scholarship covering the same course of study.

How to apply

You do not apply directly to the ESRC. Instead, you apply to one of the accredited university partnerships (a DTP or CDT), with each partnership conducting its own selection process. First, you agree on a research project with a supervisor. You then submit an application for admission to the university and a separate application for funding. Committees at the university and within the partnership will assess your application in several stages.

How realistic are your chances?

As these are competitive scholarships offered by the UK’s leading funding body in the social sciences, the competition is fierce. Your chances depend largely on having a clearly defined project and a supervisor who supports you, as selection is not based on an open competition but takes place through individual partnerships. For international applicants, the chances are even slimmer, as only a limited proportion of places are available to them.