Essex Doctoral Training Centre
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding
The University of Essex's ESRC-accredited Doctoral
Training Centre (DTC) is located at the heart of an
acknowledged and well-connected centre of excellence in UK
and international social science. It offers excellent
training opportunities and a highly stimulating research
environment to UK, EU and international postgraduate
students, researchers, professionals, practitioners and
users.
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What is a Doctoral Training Centre?
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
introduced its new
Postgraduate Training Framework which changed the way it
provides
support for postgraduate training. Our DTC offers
16 fully-funded ESRC studentships across 22 doctoral
pathways. There are 21 DTCs across the UK offering 600
studentships in total.
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What is a doctoral pathway?
A doctoral pathway
is the term used to describe the routes to postgraduate
study, whether this is one year masters followed by three
years of doctoral research (1+3) or three years of doctoral
research (+3) for those who have already completed a
relevant masters degree (from another ESRC-accredited DTC or
one with a substantial methodological element).
We have 22 doctoral pathways that are arranged into eight themed clusters.
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Am I eligible for a studentship?
Students with UK and EU fee status (often referred to as Home/EU students)
can apply for all our ESRC studentships across all 22 pathways.
International students are eligible for ESRC funding if their research will
use
advanced quantitative methods and/or if
their research has a very strong economics focus (to be supervised in the
following departments: Economics, ISER, Essex Business School, Government).
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Allocation of Essex studentships
We can award our studentships through our DTC as follows:
- Six to economics (any pathway in the
Economics pathway cluster or to other
pathways with a strong economics focus - we
advise you to consult Graduate Admissions
for advice on this)
- Eight to those using
quantitative methods (within the Applied
social and economic research pathway cluster
and any other pathway which contains a
strong quantitative methods element).
- At least two to any pathway including
collaborative awards.
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How much are studentships worth?
The fully-funded ESRC Studentships are worth between
£18,325 and £21,575 per year for each year of study, made up
as follows:
- Standard maintenance £13,590
- Fees £3,732
- Research Training Grant £750
- Overseas Fieldwork £253
In addition, enhanced stipends of £3,000 per year will be paid to those
students on our Economics pathways OR using
advanced quantitative methods in their doctoral research. Students in
receipt of the advanced quantitative methods enhanced stipend will also receive also receive an enhanced Research Training Grant of £250 per year. These
enhancements are only paid during the +3 period (doctoral research) of each
award and are not paid during the +1 period (masters).
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How do I apply for an ESRC studentship?
There are three steps to completing your ESRC funding application:
- Once you have decided on your chosen
doctoral
pathway, you need to discuss this with the relevant
department and apply to study at our University through
postgraduate
admissions.
- Apply
to study at our University.
- Once you have submitted your application you can apply for
funding. Please complete the
application
form (.doc). Please submit a signed hardcopy of this form
(along with the relevant attachments) to the Graduate
Administrator in your academic department.
Key dates for 2014
Applications for 2014 will open in autumn 2013.
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What other funding is available if I'm unsuccessful in
receiving and ESRC studentship?
There are a number of other funding opportunities available to both Home/EU
and International students, which is available on our
scholarship finder. You can also apply for funding through another
ESRC Doctoral Training Centre across the UK.
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Who can I contact for advice on how to apply and how to
write my proposal?
If you would like to talk to someone regarding applying to the University for
postgraduate training, please contact the
Graduate
Admissions Office.
For more information about the ESRC-funded studentships,
your chosen course, or completing your application form,
please contact the relevant department Graduate
Administrator:
For advice on preparing your
research proposal, contact your preferred supervisor(s) directly. You may
also find it helpful to contact some of our
current ESRC-funded students.
If you would like to talk to someone regarding details of the application
process itself, please contact the
Graduate Admissions Office.
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Current ESRC-funded research students and project titles
Our ESRC-funded students research a wide range of topics.
Collaborative studentships
In addition to the studentships offered by the ESRC,
we also work with outside organisations to arrange joint
research opportunities for students.
Join the community on Facebook
We have a dedicated
Facebook page for postgraduate research students, which
allows students to feel part of a research community and is the place to get the
latest information.
Advanced training for postgraduate research students
We are committed to offering our postgraduate
research students high quality training to develop knowledge and skills
in a range of research methods and across the spectrum of social science disciplines.
A series of advanced training courses have been
set up that you can attend at Essex and at other
institutions.
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Research Training Support Grant
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Essex Doctoral Training Centre
We offer a range of advanced training courses through our DTC through:
- the UK Data Archive;
- Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis;
- the Institute for Social and Economic Research; and
- Essex Short Courses in Social Research.
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Proficio
Proficio is
Essex’s programme of courses and resources for postgraduate research students,
which includes:
- help to manage your PhD;
- basic computer skills to advanced data analysis;
- professional and personal development;
- developing language skills; and more.
All postgraduate research students have access to this support and training.
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National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM)
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Student conferences
Each year the ESRC holds
student conferences for first year and final year students, which we
encourage you to attend.
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ESRC Advanced Training Network
To bring together all the advanced training courses offered by the DTC
network, the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) and the Researcher
Development Initiative (RDI), the ESRC has established its
Advanced Training Network (ATN).
The ATN offers postgraduate research students the opportunity to access over
400 high quality advanced training, both within and outside of your home
institution, across social science disciplines and research methods to develop
your knowledge and skills.
Course fees
Essex postgraduate research students can register for any courses on the
NCRM website that are offered by one of the DTCs. In most cases these
courses will cost £30.00 per day.
Some of the
Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis courses are
included in the Advanced Training Network although higher fees are charged for
this provision.
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Contact information
If you have any questions about the training provided through the Essex DTC
please contact your department Graduate
Administrator in the first instance.