ESRC PhD Funding

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the main source of UK Government funding for research on social and economic issues. ESRC PhD studentships usually cover tuition fee and a stipend currently set at £20,780 per year.

Are you thinking of conducting research in major areas of social sciences and economics? The ESRC could help fund your PhD! But, securing ESRC funding can feel like cracking the Da Vinci Code — only with more paperwork and fewer chase scenes.

Fear not, I’ll explain how ESRC funding works, including information on the different types of ESRC funding, who is eligible and how to apply.

What is the ESRC?

The ESRC is one of the seven Research Councils that form part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Each council manages a budget for training and research, provided by the UK Government, some of which is allocated to PhD students.

As the name suggests, the ESRC is responsible for supporting research on economic and social issues.

The ESRC funds PhDs in areas such as:

Interdisciplinary funding for research in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) may also be available.

ESRC PhD funding

The ESRC provides:

A tuition fee payment of £5,006 per year
A monthly stipend of £20,780 per year (additional money is available for students in London)

It's also worth bearing in mind that the value of both amounts rises annually with inflation, which means you'll get the increased amount in each subsequent year of your PhD. The above figures represent the amounts for 2025/26.

The tuition payment goes straight to your university and covers the full fees for your PhD (the university won’t charge you anything extra for tuition). The stipend is paid to you to cover accommodation and living costs. You do not need to pay this back.

Students are also able to access a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) to cover the cost of conference attendance and fieldwork as well as have access to the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

How is funding allocated?

You don’t apply directly to the ESRC for PhD funding. Instead, universities receive funding and allocate studentships through Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs).

Some ESRC funding is for specific advertised projects while other studentships are available for self-proposed PhDs.

UKRI funding update

The nine existing UKRI funding schemes have been combined to form two new schemes; the Doctoral Focal Awards and the Doctoral Landscape Awards. All new funding will be provided through these new awards. Read our blog to know more about what these new awards are and what this change means for you.

ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships

Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) are the main way the ESRC provide PhD studentships. Each DTP is set up by individual universities or, more commonly, by a group of universities in the same region. DTPs are set up to provide additional training and support.

It is sometimes possible for DTPs to join forces with non-academic partners. This provides students with addition training opportunities as well as internships.

ESRC DTPs for 2025

Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Cambridge, along with Anglia Ruskin University.

Find out more about the Cambridge Social Science DTP.

Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Oxford, along with the Open University and Brunel University London.

Find out more about the Grand Union DTP.

London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by King’s College London, along with Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London.

Find out more about the LISS DTP.

LSE Doctoral Training Partnership

Based at the London School of Economics & Political Science.

Find out more about the LSE DTP.

Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Warwick, along with Aston University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester, Loughborough University the University of Nottingham, De Montfort University and Nottingham Trent University.

Find out more about the Midlands Graduate School DTP.

Northern Ireland and North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by Durham University, along with Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Queen’s University of Belfast, Teesside University, Ulster University and the University of Sunderland.

Partners include the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Find out more about the NINE DTP.

North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Liverpool, along with Keele University, Lancaster University and the University of Manchester.

Find out more about the NWSS DTP.

Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Edinburgh, along with the University of Aberdeen, the University of Dundee, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University, Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, the University of St Andrews, the University of Stirling, the University of Strathclyde and SRUC.

Find out more about the SGSS DTP.

The South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Southampton, along with the University of Brighton, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Chichester.

Find out more about the South Coast DTP.

South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Essex, along with City University London, Cranfield University, the University of East Anglia, Goldsmiths College, the University of Lincoln, the University of Roehampton and Middlesex University.

Find out more about the SeNSS DTP.

South West Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by the University of Bristol, along with the University of Bath, Bath Spa University, the University of Exeter, Bournemouth University, the University of Plymouth, the University of St Mark & St John (Marjon) and the University of the West of England.

Find out more about the SWDTP.

UCL, Bloomsbury and East London (UBEL) Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by University College London, along with the School of Oriental & African Studies, Birkbeck College, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of East London and the University of Greenwich.

Find out more about the UBEL DTP.

Wales Doctoral Training Partnership

Led by Cardiff University, along with Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of Gloucestershire, Swansea University and the University of South Wales.

Find out more about the Wales DTP.

White Rose Social Sciences DTP

Led by the University of Sheffield, along with the University of Bradford, the University of Hull, the University of Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of York.

Find out more about the White Rose Social Sciences DTP.

Studying your PhD at an ESRC DTP

Studying within a DTP includes extra training through workshops and seminars to support your PhD. While you'll be based at your university, you'll be part of a wider PhD cohort offering a supportive environment with additional training, team-building, and conferences.

DTPs also provide benefits like Doctoral Training Grants for extra training or overseas fieldwork. Studentships can be a 1+3 programme which include a Masters year. Some DTPs also offer Collaborative (CASE) studentships, which encourage partnerships with businesses to enhance training, though these are more common in STEM fields.

ESRC Centres for Doctoral Training

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) are the other way in which the ESRC funds PhD studentships. Whereas DTPs are set up by networks of universities and support research across broad subject areas, CDTs are usually established in association with, or within, one institution, with very specific research objectives.

Like DTPs, CDTs receive funding for a certain number of PhD studentships each year. These usually involve external partners to provide unique interdisciplinary research opportunities.

ESRC CDTs for 2025

Social-Biology (Soc-B) Centre for Doctoral Training

Led by University College London, along with the University of Essex and the University of Manchester.

Find out more about the Soc-B CDT.

Data Analytics and Society Centre for Doctoral Training

Led by the University of Leeds, along with the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and the University of Sheffield.

Find out more about the Data Analytics and Society CDT.

Studying your PhD at an ESRC CDT

The ESRC CDTs were commissioned in 2016 and are relatively new. They deliver training focused on specific interdisciplinary research areas. CDTs are developed in collaboration with non-academic partners to support innovative training.

The CDTs provide a four year PhD programme (+4), which is an integrated MSc and PhD in specific areas of research and offer the same fee and stipend payments as an ESRC DTP studentship (subject to eligibility). The first two years are spent on the MSc aspect focusing on training and project rotations. The following two years are then spent on your PhD research topic.

Eligibility

ESRC funding is open to both UK and international students. However, only 30% of awards at a university can go to international students and cover the tuition fees only till the home amount. You’ll need to make up the difference yourself though some universities may cover this shortfall for top applicants, but this is not guaranteed.

Residency requirements

UK students who have lived in the UK for at least three years qualify for full funding. EU students with settled status or who applied to the EU Settlement Scheme before June 30, 2021, are also eligible under UK terms. Irish students qualify through the Common Travel Area, however other EU students arriving from 2021-22 onwards need to apply as international students.

Academic requirements

Funding is competitive and typically requires a first or 2:1 honours degree. A lower 2:2 grade may be considered if supported by a Masters or relevant experience. Always check individual university criteria.

Applications

The ESRC provides funding to their network of DTPs and CDTs but not directly to students. This means that all applications must be made directly to a university, or to the DTP or CDT it is part of.

Most ESRC DTP studentships ask potential students to propose their own research topics and submit a research proposal for it. These projects are guided by an expert supervisory team and may involve working with external partners that allow you access to data, equipment or participants for your project.

Along with your research proposal, you will usually need to also include a personal statement (detailing your academic background and research interests), CV and covering letter (stating your suitability and interest in the project).

If your application is successful, you may be invited for a PhD interview, where you will be able to discuss the PhD project application further.

Tips from the author

ESRC studentships are very competitive. Here are some tips to help you with your application:

Think about what makes your project worth funding – The majority of ESRC studentships are proposed by students, this makes it all the more important for your proposal to have an impact.
Give yourself time to prepare – Proposals take time to write. On top of that, you also have to prepare your cover letter and update your CV.
Think about the studentship you want – The ESRC offers different lengths of studentships so it’s good to know which one you need to apply to first. If you don’t already have a Masters degree, or your Masters isn’t relevant, it’s probably best to go for the 1+3 which includes Masters level teaching in the first year.
Contact potential supervisors – Not only will this show your interest in the project, it will also mean supervisors will recognise your name when your application is put in. Plus, they may also help you with your research proposal!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work during an ESRC studentship?

You cannot work full-time while receiving ESRC funding (this is true for any UKRI funding). It is possible to work part-time, but it is advisable to get your supervisors’ advice on this as studying for a PhD can be time consuming.

Can I combine my ESRC funding with others?

Since ESRC funding is supposed to be the most comprehensive, there are some restrictions to what you can combine it with. You cannot apply for a PhD loan or any other form of UK Government funding. However, you may be able to get some forms of funding from your university or from charities and trusts.

Search for ESRC PhD funding

Search for ESRC-funded PhD projects on FindAPhD.com

Taru Medha

Taru joined FindAPhD as a Content Writer in 2022. She creates well-researched, thorough content for our guides and blogs, as well as short video content for our social profiles. She has a Bachelors degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University in India and completed a Masters degree in Global Journalism from the University of Sheffield in 2021, giving her personal experience with postgraduate study as an international student.

ESRC PhD Funding

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