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SENSS STUDENT-LED ESRC PHD STUDENTSHIPS

UEA is a member of the South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS), which is a research and doctoral training partnership funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The SeNSS consortium, comprised of ten universities engaged in internationally recognised social sciences research, offers ESRC studentship funding for postgraduate studies as well as a range of other training and development opportunities

UEA SeNSS studentship holders, as well as benefiting from an excellent research environment and training through one of the university’s four faculty graduate schools, are also able to enjoy access to a wide network of social science researchers and non-academic partners, advanced training, and international opportunities such as the ESRC’s overseas institutional visits scheme.

SeNSS offers funding for 1+3 (Master’s and PhD) studentships as well as standalone PhD studentships, based in one of twelve pathways at UEA.

Applications are currently closed. The SeNSS studentship application form typically opens in late October with a deadline the following January. Applications for a place to undertake postgraduate studies at UEA are always open, but these must be submitted by the published deadline (to be confirmed in each autumn) in order to be considered for funding.

Entry Requirements

1+3 applicants should have, or be expecting to receive, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent.

+3 PhD studentship applicants should have, or be expecting to receive, a good Master’s degree that meets ESRC research methods training requirements (further details on the SeNSS website). Those with a Master’s degree that does not meet ESRC guidelines may be required to undertake a further Master’s degree as part of a 1+3 studentship, or may be awarded a 3.25 or 3.5 year studentship to allow time for further training.

Current PhD students who will have at least 50% of their period of study remaining when the studentship commences are also able to apply.

Applicants will also need to meet institutional entry requirements, for example for English language proficiency.

Funding

SeNSS ESRC studentships include payment of tuition fees and stipend at UKRI rates , and access to funds to cover research and training costs (e.g. for fieldwork or conference attendance).

UEA will provide an exemption for any remaining tuition fees for international students in receipt of a SeNSS studentship and starting a PhD in 2023-24, meaning that students will have no tuition fees to pay.

Additional funds are available to help students with disabilities with any extra costs related to their course of study

Please note that funding does not cover visa fees or other relocation expenses.

How to Apply

Applicants will need the support of a prospective supervisor to apply for SeNSS studentship funding, and so are encouraged to make early contact with the relevant pathway lead(s) and/or potential supervisors to discuss their application.

Those wishing to be considered for SeNSS studentship funding must submit BOTH an application for the relevant course(s) of study to UEA AND the (separate) studentship funding application to SeNSS by the relevant deadlines – to be confirmed in the autumn.

The University of East Anglia is deeply committed to widening participation, and applications are welcomed from groups who are under-represented in the research community, including those from ethnic minorities, lower-income backgrounds, and people with disabilities.

The UEA SeNSS support team will be happy to answer any queries about the application process: senss.dtp@uea.ac.uk

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How to apply

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