White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) ESRC PhD Studentships 2026/27

The White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) is an established partnership of the Universities of Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and York.

Working together since 2017, we are funded by the ESRC and are delighted to announce funding for 9 social-science collaborative PhD studentships, starting in October 2026.

Our Collaborative Award studentship opportunities

WRDTP Collaborative Award projects are designed by academic colleagues at our partner universities, and fund collaborative research with partners in the private, public or third sectors:

Project title: Joined-up approaches to local emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery
University: University of Leeds

Project title: An interdisciplinary investigation of multidimensional food insecurity and nutrition in community-dwelling older people in Sheffield
University: University of Sheffield

Project title: From Local Success to System Learning: How Culture and Teamwork Enable Sustainable Diagnostic Improvement in Emergency Departments
University: University of Hull

Project title: The Role of Probation in the Expansion of Electronic Monitoring: Organisational, Cultural, and Supervisory Implications
University: University of Leeds

Project title: Civil Resistance and the Onset of Peace Processes
University: University of Leeds

Project title: Global Patterns and Pathways of Loneliness, and its links to Lifestyle and Mental Health among Young People
University: University of Bradford

Project title: Beyond Compliance: Exploring the Transformative Potential of Regulation on Institutionalised Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Issues in English Football
University: University of York

Project title: Co-Producing Dementia Awareness education with Black Communities: A Partnership between Academia and Sheffield Memory Hub
University: University of Bradford

Project title: Welfare and distributional effects of energy-affordability and debt: Consumer policy beyond the energy crisis
University: University of Sheffield

Eligibility

All awards are available on a full-time or part-time basis and are open to home and international students. Full eligibility criteria can be found on our website.

Our training

In addition to scholarship funding, we offer a comprehensive suite of training to ensure students acquire high levels of methodological and data literacy skills and are equipped for research leadership.

We are organised around seven interdisciplinary pathways, which bring together researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to identify and develop the added value of social science in addressing pressing societal challenges.

We are committed to preparing students for a wide range of careers, within and beyond academia. All of our awards include a 3-month ‘Research in Practice’ placement.

How to apply?

You do not apply directly to the WRDTP. Instead, your university nominates you for an award.

Please refer to the WRDTP website for further details. Each project listing will feature a named contact for enquiries relating to the studentship opportunity, details on how to apply, and any important deadlines/processes that you should adhere to.

Unfortunately, we cannot consider late applications.

Any questions?

Please contact us at enquiries@wrdtp.ac.uk.