Economic and Social Research Council studentship funding
As one of 16 member universities of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, the University of St Andrews is able to offer full- and part-funded PhD scholarships across a range of social science disciplines.
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The University of St Andrews offers two types of ESRC funded scholarships through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) to suitably qualified UK and EU applicants:
- 1+3 scholarships comprise a one year Masters degree followed by a three year doctoral degree
- +3 scholarships comprise a three year doctoral degree
Scholarships are available in the following Schools/Departments for projects aligned with the SGSSS disciplinary hubs and pathways:
Economies, Mind, and Technologies
Economics
Accounting, Finance, Business, and Management
Psychology
Society and Welfare
Health, Families, Relationships, and Demographic Change
People and Place
Human Geography, Environment, and Urban Planning
Economic and Social History
Politics and International Relations
Social Anthropology
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ESRC scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence.
If you are applying for a 1+3 scholarship you must hold or be completing a UK undergraduate degree in a social science subject with first- or upper second-class honours (or an international qualification at an equivalent level).
If you are applying for a +3 scholarship you must, in addition to holding a UK undergraduate degree in a social science subject with first- or upper second-class honours (or an international qualification at an equivalent level), hold or be completing a Masters degree in a social science subject and satisfying the ESRC training requirements.
ESRC scholarships are open to UK and EU applicants only. UK applicants are eligible for full-scholarships covering tuition fees and including a stipend; EU applicants are eligible for part-scholarships covering tuition fees. Please note, however, that the University of St Andrews provides, on a competitive basis, maintenance stipends at the Research Council rate for EU PhD students who have been awarded a Research Council fees-only scholarship (and who start their degree in the academic year 2020-21).
Full eligibility requirements can be found in the ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide.
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Scholarships are awarded annually. The scholarship competition opens in autumn for degrees starting the following September.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Please first apply for admission as a doctoral student at St Andrews (applicable to award types 1+3, +3, and 3.5):
Stage One Scholarship Application
If you are made an offer of admission you must create an SGSSS GradHub account and upload a stage one scholarship application. Your stage one application must include your curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, research proposal, and one academic reference (your proposed supervisor cannot be your referee). Please submit details of your stage one referee as soon as possible (i.e. well in advance of the deadline).
You must submit your stage one scholarship application by 12:00 (Midday, UK time) 10 January 2020.
The University will then decide whether you should be shortlisted for the second stage of the scholarship competition.
Stage Two Scholarship Application
If you are shortlisted for the second stage of the scholarship competition you will have the opportunity to revise your research proposal and upload this as part of your stage two scholarship application. You also need to upload a statement of support from your proposed supervisor, and also need to request a second academic reference (your proposed supervisor can be your second referee).
You must submit your stage two scholarship application by 12:00 (Midday, UK time) 12 February 2020.
Outcomes
It is expected that SGSSS will inform applicants of the outcome of their application by 13 May 2020.
Pathway Contacts
Applicants are strongly advised to contact their relevant pathway representative to discuss the application process well ahead of the Stage One Scholarship Application deadline:
Accounting, Finance, Business, and Management
Dr Alina Baluch, amb33@st-andrews.ac.uk
Economics
Prof. Miguel Costa-Gomes, miguel.costa-gomes@st-andrews.ac.uk
Economic and Social History
Dr Emma Hart, histdopg@st-andrews.ac.uk
Health, Families, Relationships, and Demographic Change
Prof. Hill Kulu, hill.kulu@st-andrews.ac.uk
Human Geography, Environment, and Urban Planning
Dr Katherine Keenan, klk4@st-andrews.ac.uk
Politics and International Relations
Dr Matteo Fumagalli, irdpgr@st-andrews.ac.uk
Psychology
Dr Ines Jentzsch, ij7@st-andrews.ac.uk
Social Anthropology
Dr Daniel Knight, dmk3@st-andrews.ac.uk
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The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) is the UK's largest facilitator of funding, training, and support for doctoral students in social science.
By combining the expertise of 16 universities across Scotland, the SGSSS facilitates world-class PhD research. The SGSSS is funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Scottish Funding Council.
To complement the discipline-specific research training delivered through the partner universities the SGSSS hosts advanced training courses as well as an annual summer school. These provide SGSSS students with opportunities to develop further their research, knowledge exchange, and transferable professional skills.
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As a doctoral student at the University of St Andrews you will be part of a growing, vibrant, and intellectually stimulating postgraduate community. St Andrews is one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world and offers a postgraduate experience of remarkable richness.
St Leonard’s Doctoral and Postgraduate College is at the heart of the postgraduate community of St Andrews. The College supports all postgraduates and aims to provide opportunities for postgraduates to come together, socially and intellectually, and make new connections.
St Leonard’s College works closely with the Postgraduate Society which is one of the most active societies within the Students’ Association. All doctoral students are automatically welcomed into the Postgraduate Society when they join the University.
In addition to the research training that doctoral students complete in their home School and the advanced training provided by the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, doctoral students at St Andrews have access to GRADskills – a free, comprehensive training programme to support their academic, professional, and personal development.