ESRC Wales DTP General studentships - Modern Languages and Politics

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Wales Doctoral Training Partnership General studentships 2021

Cardiff University’s School of Modern Languages and the Department of Politics/International Relations, supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Wales (DTP), invites applications for PhD study, with the possibility of being awarded a fully funded ESRC DTP Studentship, available to start in October 2021. This competition is open to UK, EU and international students. We expect to make doctoral studentship awards in the field of Global Language Based Area Studies (GLAS).

Language-based area studies draws upon foreign language skills to explore the society, politics or culture of a particular country or region. Students may do research on Britain, Europe and its member states; African studies; China or Japan, nationalism and identity politics; justice and incarceration; multilingualism and social linguistics; international relations, security and comparative politics.

We welcome applications on topics which require knowledge of, or a readiness to undertake study of one of the major European languages, Chinese or Japanese. Other languages may also be available via the University’s Languages for All programme or via hard language training.

The University values diversity and equality at all levels and encourages applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. In line with our commitment to supporting and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and to increase recruitment of currently underrepresented groups, applications from Black British, Asian British, minority ethnicity British and mixed-race British candidates are particularly encouraged and welcomed.

Application deadline: 3 February 2021 (12.00 noon)

Further details

These studentships are ‘open’ awards. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity and to discuss their application. Information on staff research interests can be found on the MLANG and/ or Politics/ IR webpages. A description of the GLAS pathway is available on the ESRC Wales DTP website.

WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER

Studentship Awards cover tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £15,285 p.a. for full-time students); and include access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), though an element of this latter fund may be ‘pooled’ and require separate applications from 2021 onwards. Other opportunities available to studentship holders include an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internships, overseas institutional visits and small grants.

ELIGIBILITY

ESRC studentships are highly competitive: candidates should hold a degree in a relevant field (or equivalent). Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open to UK Nationals and EU/ international students who satisfy ESRC eligibility criteria and relevant UK residency requirements. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study: studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. a one year Masters followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent).

ASSESSMENT

The deadline for applications is 12.00pm on Monday 3 February 2021. Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview in early March 2021. These will be conducted online.

HOW TO APPLY

A completed application must be submitted at this webpage by the deadline 3 February 2021.

Please include 'ESRC' in the funding section of the PhD application form. Please also upload the following supporting documents;

1. Covering letter addressed to Professor Gordon Cumming. Set out your reasons and motivation for applying to study at Cardiff University, and the GLAS pathway; your understanding, and expectations of doctoral study; and your academic interests generally, and particularly of those relating to your proposed research. Specify whether you wish to apply on a +3 or 1+3 basis.

2. Degree certificates and transcripts. Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).

3. References: All applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application.

4. Curriculum Vitae (no longer than two pages).

5. Research Proposal: This should be up to a maximum of 1000 words, not including bibliographic references.

Please address any admissions enquiries to: languages-ug-admissions@cardiff.ac.uk