The ESRC accredited South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) funds places for doctoral students in the social sciences across 8 participating institutions.
What an ESRC studentship offers:
- Funding (including stipend and home/international fees). The standard funding offer for PhD studentships typically starts from 3 years and 3 months plus 3 months FTE ‘Research in Practice’ placement. Part-time studentships will be offered pro rata to their full-time equivalents.
- Additional allowances and grants to support your research and professional development, including difficult language training and overseas fieldwork allowance (where applicable and via a separate application process)
- Access to tailored training and development activities from across the Partnership
- Further funding opportunities to run collaborative, impact, and cohort-building activities
As a member of the SWDTP, supervision is available at Bath Spa University for PhD studentships within the following eligible pathways where there is a strong track record in advancing knowledge through high-quality research:
- Education
- Management & Business Studies
- Sociotechnical Futures and Digital Methods (interdisciplinary)
Research proposals are invited from potential doctoral students who would like to explore supervision opportunities at BSU. Candidates will usually be invited to discuss their research proposal with potential supervisor and/or Pathway Lead. Where there is a strong proposal that has a good fit with a BSU supervisor, Pathway Leads will then nominate candidates to apply to the SWDTP.
The closing date for research proposals to be submitted to Bath Spa is Sunday 8th November 2026 at 11:59pm. This is to allow time for proposals to be reviewed and supervision discussions to take place ahead of the SWDTP application deadline on 12th January 2027.
Apply Now – more information and submit your research proposal at the apply button above.
If you have any questions, please contact PGR Admissions on pgradmissions@bathspa.ac.uk.
Please note – for successful candidates of the BSU application process - this is not a guarantee of funding, but an opportunity to be put forward for the application process for SWDTP funding. For further information about the SWDTP application process, please visit Prospective Students and Fellows | SWDTP.
Fully-funded studentships