North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), funded by the ESRC · Application cycle 2027/2028

North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) ESRC PhD Studentships 2027/2028

Applications open Fully funded?

About this scholarship

PhD studentships in the social sciences funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) at Keele, Lancashire, Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester, starting in October 2027. International students can apply, and up to 18 awards a year can go to them.

Funding type

Covers: tuition fees for the length of the award, a yearly stipend of GBP 21,805 at the current rate, and a research training support grant for research costs such as conferences, courses and paying participants. The partnership pays fees at the UK home rate (GBP 5,238 in 2026/27), and all five universities waive the higher international fee, so an international award holder pays no extra tuition. You can also apply for extra funding for fieldwork, overseas institutional visits and placement costs. The 2027/28 rates are not yet confirmed. The guidance gives GBP 21,805 as the 2026/27 stipend, while the How to Apply page labels the same figure 2025/26. The guidance does not mention visa, health surcharge or travel costs.

Tuition fees: Covered
Living costs: Covered
Travel: Not specified
Insurance: Not specified

Eligibility requirements

Nationalities: All nationalities
Residence condition: No residence condition

Home and international applicants, including EU students. The partnership may give at most 30 percent of its studentships, a maximum of 18, to international students each year An offer on an eligible programme in one of the 21 NWSSDTP pathways at Keele, Lancashire, Lancaster, Liverpool or Manchester. You can apply before the offer arrives, but it must be made by 14 April 2027 PhD only funding usually needs a bachelor's and a master's degree. Master's plus PhD funding usually needs a bachelor's degree. Degrees from outside the UK are accepted and compared using the British Council's NARIC guide There is no funding for a master's on its own Applicants from Global Majority backgrounds, British or international, are encouraged, and at least 20 percent of awards are meant to go to them Pathways include Development and Humanitarianism in an Unequal World, Politics, Economics, Language Based Area Studies, Psychology, Sociology and Socio-legal Studies

Minimum grade: Not stated
Work experience asked for: Not stated
Return condition: Return condition not stated
How to apply: Straight to the provider

Language requirements and exemptions

Language test not mentioned

The NWSSDTP guidance sets no English score. The university and programme you apply to set their own entry requirements.

University admission details

Required later?

First apply for admission to an eligible PhD, or master's plus PhD, programme at one of the five universities. Contact the School PGR Administrator before you apply, because some schools set earlier internal deadlines. Then send the studentship form, transcripts, two references and the equal opportunities form to the School PGR Administrator by 5 pm UK time on 22 February 2027. Late applications are not considered. Applications are ranked by an institutional pathway panel, then a partnership pathway panel, and the Studentship Allocation Committee decides on 14 April 2027. Candidates who reach that committee hear by 21 April 2027, and no news by then means the application did not reach it. Awards must be accepted by 5 May 2027. A standard PhD award lasts 3.5 years and includes a compulsory 3 month Research in Practice placement. Studies start in October 2027. Do not send a CV, personal statement or longer proposal. Extra documents are not considered.

Required documents

Standard Studentship Application Form, with a project description of up to 1,500 words including references Two references, which can be the ones from your admission application Academic transcripts, with an official English translation if needed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form A letter of support from a partner organisation, only if the project includes such a collaboration

Application steps

Choose a pathway and an eligible programme, and agree a supervisory team of at least two supervisors. Apply for admission to the programme at Keele, Lancashire, Lancaster, Liverpool or Manchester. Fill in the studentship form: your project, your preparedness for research, your supervisors and your training needs. Send it with your transcripts, references and the monitoring form to your School PGR Administrator by 5 pm UK time on 22 February 2027.

Requirement checklist

Admission application at one of the five universities Required

On an eligible programme in an NWSSDTP pathway. You can apply for the studentship before the offer arrives, but the offer must be made by 14 April 2027.

Standard Studentship Application Form Required

It includes a project description of up to 1,500 words with references, an answer on your preparedness for postgraduate research, your supervisors and an analysis of your training needs.

Two references Required

They can be the same ones as in your admission application.

Academic transcripts Required

With an official English translation if they are not in English.

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form Required

It is not shown to the people who assess your application.

Letter of support from a partner organisation Conditional?

Only if your project includes a collaboration with an organisation outside higher education.

Scholarship contacts

NWSSDTP general queries from prospective students: [email protected]

List of School PGR Administrators, who receive the applications (PDF): Contact form (opens in a new tab)

Universities and contacts