The South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS)offers fully-funded studentships – fees paid plus a stipend (salary) of between £21,805 and £23,805 per year – for postgraduate researchers wanting to begin a PhD in October 2027.
SENSS is one of 15 Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) across the UK, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. We will fund innovative PhD projects in six interdisciplinary areas across eight universities, each with an exceptional reputation for postgraduate training and research.
Where and what can I study?
SENSS universities
- City St George’s, University London
- Cranfield University
- University of East Anglia
- University of Essex
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- University of Lincoln
- Middlesex University
- University of Roehampton, London
Interdisciplinary Themes:
- Sustainability and Climate Change
- Health, Well-being, and Social Care
- Justice, Institutions, and Social Change
- Digital Social Sciences
- Resolving Uncertainty and Addressing Crises
- Advanced Methods for Social and Economic Research
Why SENSS?
- SENSS provides fully-funded studentships consisting of tax-free living costs, currently set at £21,805 per year (2026/27 academic year rates), plus £2,000 London weighting where relevant, tuition fees fully paid for the duration of your funding award, and access to additional funding for overseas fieldwork, language training, and/or other research training as appropriate for successful applicants.
- SENSS funds you to work on a topic that you are passionate about, supported by internationally leading researchers in your field.
- SENSS builds a friendly and inclusive community of postgraduate researchers, both in your university and in the wider DTP.
- SENSS universities have led the UK in widening access to PhD study, and SENSS aims to be the DTP of choice for applicants from under-represented groups.
- SENSS’s bespoke approach to training provides you with the skills and methods training that you need, both for your studies and for your future professional life.
- You will undertake a three-month placement which will boost your experience and employability in sectors such as government, industry, or NGOs as well as academia.
APPLY WITH YOUR OWN RESEARCH PROPOSAL FOR FUNDED STUDENTSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT 'APPLY NOW' BUTTON ABOVE
Am I eligible?
- Do I have to have or be doing a Masters? No. SENSS studentships last from between 3.5 years (typically for those who have already done a Masters featuring research methods training or who have obtained these skills through professional experience) and 4.5 years (typically for those coming out of undergraduate study, or who hold a Masters in a different field). The exact length of your studentship thus depends on how much additional training you will need, taking into account your existing educational and professional experience.
- Can I apply for funding to complete a PhD I’ve already started? Yes.You can apply for SENSS funding if you have a substantial part of your PhD study period remaining at the point your studentship commences.
- Can I study part-time? Yes. SENSS funding is equally open to full-time and part-time researchers.
- Is this funding open to International students? Yes.SENSS studentships (covering both fees and stipends) are available to applicants regardless of their residential status. However, the ESRC stipulates that only up to 30% of SENSS studentships can be awarded to International students. Please check our websiteto see whether you qualify as a Home or International student.
How do I apply?
- Identify the SENSS university at which you want to study, the SENSS Theme under which your proposed PhD project falls, and an academic at that university you would like to work with (your primary supervisor). Contact that supervisor as soon as possible to discuss your research proposal with them, and to ask them if they would be willing to supervise you.
- If they are, apply for a PhD place at the university you want to study at, checking with that university to find out what its internal PhD place application deadline is.
- In addition to applying for a PhD place at your chosen university, also complete SENSS’s on-line studentship application by Monday 11 January 2027 (12pm GMT). The application portal is accessible via the SENSS website.
For more information about SENSS and the studentships it offers, please go to the SENSS website.
£21,805 to £23,805 per annum