Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentships

Lancaster University forms part of the ESRC's North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP). Each year at least 65 studentships, covering tuition and maintenance, are available for those wishing to study in areas covered by the ESRC at Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, or Keele.

Candidates may apply for funding towards Master's and doctoral (1+3) study or doctoral study only, and be full-time or part-time. The NWSSDTP does not fund standalone Master's programmes.

Apply for a place on a programme by Friday 12 January 2024 AND submit a NWSSDTP Funding Application by Monday 26 February 2024 (5pm)

Applicants must be planning to study in one of the following ESRC-approved pathways

The relevant FASS programmes are shown in each category.

How to Apply for ESRC funding

Apply to a programme in one of the ESRC-approved pathways.

Please indicate in your programme application that you are applying for ESRC funding in the 'Source of Funding' section.

If you have already submitted your programme application, please contact us at pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

NB: To apply for an award, candidates must have applied for a place on a programme by Friday 12 January 2024

Students will normally be expected to have been offered a place on one of the programmes eligible for NWSSDTP funding before submitting their NWSSDTP Studentship Application (please see the list of eligible programmes for each pathway above). However, Studentship Applications will be accepted from students who have submitted their institutional application but have yet to receive a formal offer, providing that such an offer has been made by the time of the Studentship Allocation meeting, which will take place on 22nd April 2024. In no case will an NWSSDTP Studentship be officially awarded until the student has secured a conditional or unconditional place at their university.

You will find the application form at the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) applications page, along with further information and guidance notes.

It is strongly recommended that the two references required have been written specifically in support of your funding application. Details can be found in the Studentship Application Guidance (Appendix 2). Please note that all references need to be signed on official letterhead and that you will need to provide the two references along with your funding application, otherwise it will not be accepted.

Please check that you meet the academic and residential eligibility criteria on page 2 of the guidance notes before applying.

Applications should be made on the NWSSDTP application form, along with a completed equal opportunities form, two references and copies of your academic transcripts.

Send your completed ESRC application form and supporting documents to pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk putting your name and ‘ESRC Application’ in the subject of your e-mail. You will receive a confirmation e-mail once your application has been received. Once we have processed your application we will contact you if we require any further information from you.

Deadline: Monday 26th February 2024 by 17.00.

Further information about the provision and funding offered by the NWSSDTP is available on the NWSSTDP website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to apply for an ESRC studentship?

Eligibility criteria can be found on page 2 of the relevant Studentship Guidance.
I am an overseas applicant; can I apply for an ESRC studentship?

NWSSDTP Studentships are open to both Home and International candidates.

All funded PhD students, whether UK or International will be eligible for a full award which includes a stipend to support living costs, and fees at the standard UKRI home fee rate. (The University will fund the difference between the Home and Overseas tuition fee for any successful overseas applicants).

Please be aware that the NWSSDTP is only permitted to award a maximum of 30% of its studentships - a maximum of 18 awards - to international (including EU and EEA) students per annum.
If I am applying for 1+3 funding do I need to apply for both the Master's and PhD programmes?

Yes. Please complete as much of the PhD application as possible (including a research proposal) and send an email to pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk to inform us of your intention to apply for 1+3 funding. We will then assist you in completing your application fully.
Do I need to submit references with my ESRC application form?

Yes. The NWSSDTP application must be supported by two testimonials from people able to comment on the academic ability and research potential of the candidate, e.g. previous undergraduate/postgraduate study.

It is strongly recommended that the applicant’s undergraduate/postgraduate tutors complete the testimonials where possible. However, the NWSSDTP accepts that University staff expected to be involved with the candidate’s subsequent studies (e.g. potential supervisors) can sometimes be appropriate if they have tutored the applicant previously. It is also accepted that some students may have undertaken some relevant professional work where the testimonial writer would be able to comment on their suitability for undertaking research. If this is the case then the circumstances should be fully explained. Please view Appendix 2 of the Studentship Guidance and pass them to your referees for guidance.
Can I use the references from my programme application or do the references need to be specific for my funding application?

It is strongly recommended that you submit 2 references that have been written specifically in support of your funding application. Details can be found in the Studentship Application Guidance (Appendix 2).

Please note that all references need to be signed on official letterhead and that you will need to provide the 2 references along with your funding application, otherwise it will not be accepted.
Can I accept the offer of a place on the programme if I do not yet know the outcome of the ESRC application?

Yes. If we offer you a place on one of our programmes please accept this. If your funding application is subsequently unsuccessful you may wish to request a deferral to a future cohort of the programme, or withdraw your application without penalty.
Where can I find the application number required on the first page of the ESRC application form?

This refers to your eight digit programme application number (starting with the number 3)

If you are a current PhD student at Lancaster University applying for a +2 award please provide your student ID number.
I have not yet received an offer on the PhD programme I have applied for; what should I write under the supervisors section in the form?

If you have been in contact with potential supervisors please include their names in this section of the form. Otherwise, please leave this section blank as it can be completed once supervisors have been selected.

Pathway Representatives

Please contact your Pathway Representative in the first instance if you need help completing your ESRC application form. If help is still required contact pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk.

Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work

Dr Madeline-Sophie Abbas

Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Race and Anti-Racism)

Security Lancaster, Security Lancaster (Sociology)

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Development and Humanitarianism in an Unequal World

Dr James Fraser

Senior Lecturer

Improving global stewardship, Innovation for a better environment, Political Ecology , Understanding a changing planet

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Economic and Social History

Dr Mark Hurst

Lecturer in the History of Human Rights

FASS Health Hub, Institute for Social Futures Fellow

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Educational Research

Dr Richard Budd

Lecturer in Higher Education

Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education

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Geography and the Environment

Dr Giovanni Bettini

Senior Lecturer

Critical Geographies, Improving global stewardship, Understanding a changing planet

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Language Based Area Studies

Professor Charlotte Baker

Professor of French and Critical Disability Studies

African Studies Group, Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research, FASS Health Hub, Multilingual Creativities, Performing Identities, Poetics of Resistance

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