Apply now for a South Coast DTP fully funded social science PhD studentship

Deadline for applications: 16:00 (GMT) on 16 January 2026.

You can now apply for a fully funded studentship from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), an exciting collaboration between the Universities of Southampton, Brighton, Portsmouth and Chichester, funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC).

This application round is for an October 2026 start.

Funding is available across a wide range of disciplinary pathways for the following types of award:

• 1+3.5 MSc + PhD, including a Research-in-Practice placement
• +3.5 PhD, including a Research-in-Practice placement
• +4.5 Interdisciplinary award, including a Research-in-Practice placement
• +4.5 Integrated PhD (only in Economics, Education or Gerontology at Southampton) including a Research-in-Practice placement

Are you eligible?

Academic Qualifications

• For all studentships, you must have qualifications of the standard of a good honours degree at first- or upper second-class level, from a UK academic higher education institution.
• Degree qualifications gained from outside the UK, or a combination of qualifications and/or experience that is equivalent to a relevant UK degree, may be accepted.
• The ESRC expects that applicants embarking on a +3.5 programme would have achieved a level of research training that would allow them to go on directly to a PhD; this is usually through the attainment of a previous master’s qualification in the social sciences.

Residential Eligibility

We accept applications from UK and international applicants to all our accredited disciplines/pathways. Because of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding conditions, awards to non-UK residents are capped at 30% of our overall allocation.

To be classed as a home/UK student, you must:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements below), or
• Have settled status, or
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements below), or
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

If you do not meet one of these criteria, you will be classed as an international student.

You can find out more by reading the ‘Residency Requirements’ section on the South Coast DTP website or the UKRI terms and conditions of training grants.

What does the studentship cover?

If your application is successful, the studentship will cover your programme fees and you’ll receive a tax-free annual maintenance grant of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate).

We also offer some additional funding opportunities for research support including:

• Disabled Student’s Allowance
• Grants for research expenses such as training, overseas fieldwork and equipment
• Overseas Institutional Visits
• Funds for interdisciplinary collaborative events
• Awards to increase the impact of your work

Find out more about additional funding opportunities.

How to Apply

You will need to complete two application forms:

• Submit one application form to the host institution for your chosen programme under the Eligible Disciplinary Pathways:
  • Apply to University of Brighton
  • Apply to University of Chichester
  • Apply to University of Portsmouth
  • Apply to University of Southampton
• In addition, submit one application form to the South Coast DTP for the studentship. Apply here.

Important: Please make sure you submit both forms before the deadline, 16:00 (GMT) on 16 January 2026, for your application to be considered.

Visit the South Coast DTP website for more about how to apply.