SEDarc is pleased to offer funding for up to 39 doctoral studentships, supporting postgraduate researchers in undertaking impactful doctoral research and training.
Application Deadline: 29 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT
Tell Me About The Award:
The South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) is offering Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding for PhD students starting in September 2027.
The studentships support postgraduate researchers undertaking doctoral research and training. The programme is open to UK and international students and provides UK home fees and a stipend award.
Three studentships are ring-fenced for applicants who meet specified widening participation criteria.
Which Fields are Eligible?
The source does not specify a fixed list of eligible academic disciplines.
Applications are reviewed under three specific SEDarc steer groups:
- Advanced Data Skills
- Advanced Quantitative Methods
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration with researchers outside of the social sciences
Applicants whose projects include one or more of these areas are encouraged to highlight them in their application.
Type:
PhD Studentship / Doctoral Research Funding
Who Can Apply?
The studentships are open to UK and international students.
Applicants must:
- Be nominated by one of the six SEDarc institutions.
- Apply for a PhD programme through one of the participating institutions.
- Meet the relevant institutional and SEDarc eligibility requirements.
- Not have already started a PhD.
- Submit only one application for a SEDarc studentship.
- Remain eligible for the relevant fee status and programme requirements.
Part-time study is permitted, but due to visa restrictions, it is available only to applicants with UK home fee status.
Ring-Fenced Studentships
Up to three studentships are ring-fenced for home-fee students who:
- Are assessed as eligible to pay UK home fees.
- Identify as one of the following ethnic groups:
- Black or Black British – Caribbean
- Black or Black British – African
- Other Black background
- Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi
- Asian or Asian British – Pakistani
- Asian or Asian British – Indian
- Meet all other eligibility criteria.
How Are Applicants Selected?
Applications undergo a rigorous review process and are assessed against SEDarc’s published assessment criteria.
Applications are considered within the programme’s three steer groups:
- Advanced Data Skills
- Advanced Quantitative Methods
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration with researchers outside the social sciences
Applicants are required to contact the administrator at their chosen SEDarc university because each institution has its own initial application deadline and process.
Which Countries Are Eligible?
The studentships are open to UK and international students.
However, part-time study is restricted to applicants with UK home-fee status because of visa restrictions.
Where Will the Award Be Taken?
The six SEDarc institutions are:
- Kingston University
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- University of Kent
- University of Reading
- University of Surrey
- University of Sussex
Applicants must choose an institution and be nominated by that institution.
How Many Awards?
The source does not provide a final number of studentships for the 2027 cohort.
Up to 3 studentships are ring-fenced for eligible home-fee applicants under the widening participation criteria.
The source notes that ESRC DTP studentship numbers may be revised following a mid-term review, with 2027 allocations expected to be confirmed around January 2027.
What Is the Benefit of the Award?
Successful students receive:
- UK home tuition fees
- Stipend funding
- Doctoral research and training support
The source does not specify the exact stipend amount.
How Long Will the Award Last?
The source does not specify the exact duration of the studentship award.
The programme is for PhD study commencing in September 2027.
A deferred start is not permitted.
How to Apply:
- Choose one of the six SEDarc partner universities.
- Contact the university’s SEDarc/institutional administrator.
- Discuss your research area and potential supervisor.
- Follow the institution’s individual application process and deadline.
- Obtain institutional nomination for the SEDarc studentship competition.
- Submit the required application through your nominated institution.
- Ensure the SEDarc application reaches the programme by 29 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT.
You are permitted to submit only one application for a SEDarc studentship.
