University of Bath - South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP)

What the SWDTP studentship gives you

You will receive a tax-free living allowance of about 24,000 EUR per year (GBP 20,780, 2025/26 rate). In addition, your full PhD tuition fees (5,006 GBP per year) will be covered. The funding covers up to about 4 years: 3 years and 3 months of doctoral funding, as well as a 3-month placement called ‘Research in Practice’, during which you will apply your research findings within a public, private or not-for-profit organisation. If you do not yet hold a suitable Master’s degree, you may be awarded an additional, funded year to complete such a degree first. Furthermore, additional funding is available for research costs, fieldwork abroad, visits to partner institutions abroad, language courses for difficult languages and attendance at conferences. A scholarship is a fully-funded PhD place. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and spans eight universities in the South West of England, including the University of Bath.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a bachelor’s degree. If you are unable to find a suitable master’s programme, you will initially receive funding for one year of master’s study.
• Master's (if you already have one): It should be a research-oriented Master’s degree with sound training in social science methodology, achieving a ‘Merit’ grade or higher (at least 60%) in both the modules and the Master’s thesis.
• Field of study: Your research falls, at least to the extent of 50%, within the field of social sciences. This includes economics, education, psychology, sociology, social policy, social work, political and international studies, as well as management and interdisciplinary topics such as climate change and society, or health and wellbeing.
• Where you study: You are studying for a PhD at the University of Bath or one of the other eight partner universities.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. International students may occupy no more than 30% of the annual study places and will receive funding only at the UK rate.
• English (international applicants): You must meet the language requirements for your degree programme before the deadline.
• Not yet started a PhD: You have not yet started a PhD programme (there are only very few exceptions).

How to apply

First, contact a potential supervisor to discuss your research idea. You cannot apply without a supervisor who is willing to support you; therefore, make sure you do this well in advance of the application deadline. You must then submit your online application, a personal statement and a letter of recommendation from your supervisor by 9 January (12:00 noon GMT). If your supervisor supports your application, you will be invited to an online interview. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-April.

How realistic are your chances?

Each year, only around 34 to 35 scholarships are awarded across the entire network of eight universities; as a result, competition is fierce and the personal statement is scrutinised very closely. Your chances depend heavily on finding a supervisor who genuinely supports your project, as no application will be forwarded without one. If your research clearly falls within the field of social sciences and you are able to secure a supervisor at an early stage, you have a genuine chance. International applicants have fewer chances due to the cap of 30%.