ESRC Studentship Funding 2027: Fully Funded PhD Opportunities in the UK for Social Science Researchers

Overview

The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP), supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), provides fully funded PhD opportunities for social science researchers starting their studies in October 2027. The programme brings together seven partner universities in the UK: the University of Bradford, University of Hull, University of Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, and University of York.

Awards are available across various structures depending on previous academic and research training, including the +3.5 programme, the +3.75 integrated PGCert/PhD route, and the 1+3.5 master's-plus-PhD route. Candidates can apply for student-led Pathway Awards, Advanced Quantitative Methods Awards, Advanced Data Analytics Awards, Collaborative Awards, or specialist schemes such as the WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards.

Eligibility

Open to prospective doctoral researchers planning to undertake eligible social science research within the ESRC remit at a partner university.
Applicants must satisfy both individual university admission requirements and minimum ESRC academic thresholds, typically holding a good honours degree at first or upper-second-class level or equivalent.
International applicants are eligible to apply, subject to an ESRC limit capping international awards at 30% of the total. WRDTP universities cover the international tuition fee gap for successful overseas recipients.
Applicants already undertaking a PhD, those seeking distance-learning arrangements, and international candidates applying for the Stuart Hall Foundation Awards are not eligible.

Benefits

Covers full UK tuition fees alongside a standard UKRI-standard maintenance stipend.
For international recipients, partner universities cover the difference between UK and international tuition fee rates.
Provides additional financial support opportunities for research training, overseas fieldwork, difficult language training, and approved conference or research visits.
Note that the funding does not cover UK visa fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, international flights, or other personal relocation expenses.

How to Apply

Candidates cannot apply directly to the WRDTP. Instead, the application process involves the following steps:

Identify an eligible school or department across one of the seven partner universities and contact potential supervisors.
Submit an application for a PhD study place at the chosen university by its internal deadline.
Complete and submit a separate WRDTP Studentship Application Form.
Successful candidates are nominated by their university department for final partnership-wide assessment by the WRDTP.

Deadline

The application deadline is 17:00 on 20 January 2027 for submitting the PhD study place application and the WRDTP Studentship Application Form. Prospective candidates should verify internal departmental deadlines, which may fall earlier.

Overview

Eligibility

Open to prospective doctoral researchers planning to undertake eligible social science research within the ESRC remit at a partner university.

Applicants must satisfy both individual university admission requirements and minimum ESRC academic thresholds, typically holding a good honours degree at first or upper-second-class level or equivalent.

International applicants are eligible to apply, subject to an ESRC limit capping international awards at 30% of the total. WRDTP universities cover the international tuition fee gap for successful overseas recipients.

Applicants already undertaking a PhD, those seeking distance-learning arrangements, and international candidates applying for the Stuart Hall Foundation Awards are not eligible.

Benefits

Covers full UK tuition fees alongside a standard UKRI-standard maintenance stipend.

For international recipients, partner universities cover the difference between UK and international tuition fee rates.

Provides additional financial support opportunities for research training, overseas fieldwork, difficult language training, and approved conference or research visits.

Note that the funding does not cover UK visa fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, international flights, or other personal relocation expenses.

How to Apply

Candidates cannot apply directly to the WRDTP. Instead, the application process involves the following steps:

Identify an eligible school or department across one of the seven partner universities and contact potential supervisors.

Submit an application for a PhD study place at the chosen university by its internal deadline.

Complete and submit a separate WRDTP Studentship Application Form.

Successful candidates are nominated by their university department for final partnership-wide assessment by the WRDTP.