Following ESRC’s response to the review of PhD in the social sciences in 2021, a revised vision for postgraduate training is now being implemented.
Investments in DTPs are an important component of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and ESRC’s overarching vision to develop research talent and skills.
These investments will provide a breadth of professional development training opportunities to enhance the capabilities of doctoral candidates and further develop a world-class, highly skilled workforce for the UK.
Enhanced training provision
The new DTPs demonstrate ESRC’s commitment to its revised vision for doctoral training, that reflects the findings of the review. This includes:
- adopting a more bespoke student-centred approach to the content and delivery of training
- increasing the PhD duration from three to 3.5 years to incorporate a three-month placement and additional training
- introducing research in practice as a core component to ensure that students have the skills fundamental to both academic and non-academic career pathways
- embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles at all levels
- ensuring innovation in core training content and delivery, particularly in relation to data management, digital skills and the skills to analyse large and complex data
- strengthening supervisory guidance and professional development opportunities for supervisors
Funding 15 DTPs across the UK
ESRC will fund 15 DTPs across the whole of the UK. They will cover the breadth of social sciences, as well as areas of interdisciplinary research. The awards started in October 2023 to allow DTPs to further develop a programme of flexible training opportunities, and a suite of research in practice opportunities, tailored to the needs of individual students.
Five years of PhD studentship intake will begin in October 2024. The aim is to continue to support 500 students a year.
Doctoral Investment Framework
From January 2024 all new UKRI-funded investments in doctoral training will be delivered through two types of awards as part of the new Doctoral Investment Framework.
Read more about these changes in our update on collective talent funding.
Globally competitive social science researchers
Stian Westlake, ESRC Executive Chair, said:
Our vision for postgraduate training is that it will develop globally competitive social science researchers who can operate in interdisciplinary, collaborative and challenge-led environments across a range of sectors and who have a diversity of backgrounds and experiences.
This redesigned and expanded doctoral training opportunity will enhance the experience for PhD students and boost the UK’s capability.
Further information
New cohort of DTPs
CAM Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Cambridge
- Anglia Ruskin University
Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Oxford
- Brunel University London
- The Open University
London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- King’s College London
- Imperial College London
- Queen Mary, University of London
London School of Economics and Political Science Doctoral Training Partnership
Institution includes:
- London School of Economics and Political Science
Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Warwick
- University of Birmingham
- The University of Nottingham
- Loughborough University
- University of Leicester
- Aston University
- De Montfort University
- Nottingham Trent University
Northeast and Northern Ireland Doctoral Training Partnership in the Social Sciences
Institutions include:
- Durham University
- Newcastle University
- Northumbria University
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Ulster University
- University of Sunderland
- Teesside University
Northwest Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Liverpool
- University of Central Lancashire
- Keele University
- Lancaster University
- The University of Manchester
Scottish Graduate School of Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- The University of Edinburgh
- Abertay University
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Heriot-Watt University
- Scotland’s Rural College
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Dundee
- University of Glasgow
- University of St Andrews
- University of Stirling
- University of Strathclyde
- University of the Highlands and Islands
- University of the West of Scotland
South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Southampton
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Brighton
- University of Chichester
Southeast Doctoral Training Arc
Institutions include:
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- University of Kent
- University of Sussex
- University of Reading
- Kingston University
- University of Surrey
South and East Network for Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Essex
- City, University of London
- Cranfield University
- Goldsmiths College
- University of Lincoln
- Middlesex University
- Roehampton University
- University of East Anglia
Southwest Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University of Bristol
- University of Bath
- Bath Spa University
- Bournemouth University
- University of Exeter
- University of Plymouth
- University of St Mark and St John
- University of the West of England
UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- University College London (UCL)
- Birkbeck College
- University of Greenwich
- London School and Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- SOAS University of London
- University of East London
Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- Cardiff University
- Bangor University
- Aberystwyth University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- University of Gloucestershire
- University of South Wales
- Swansea University
White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership
Institutions include:
- The University of Sheffield
- University of York
- University of Leeds
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- University of Bradford
- University of Hull
Top image: Credit: Drazen_, E+ via Getty Images