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.

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.

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).

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.

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).

There are three steps to completing your ESRC funding application:

1. 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.
2. Apply to study at our University.
3. 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.

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.

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:

• Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies
• Human Rights Centre
• Department of Economics
• Department of Government
• Department of Language and Linguistics
• Department of Psychology
• Department of Sociology
• Essex Business School
• Institute for Social Economic Research
• School of Health and Human Sciences
• School of Law

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.

Our ESRC-funded students research a wide range of topics.

• 2011-12 cohort (.pdf)
• 2012-13 cohort (.pdf)

Once the +3 element of a studentship has started, all students are eligible for a combined Research Training Support Grant and UK Fieldwork Allowance.

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.

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.

The advanced training courses held at Essex can be found on the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) website.

Each year the ESRC holds student conferences for first year and final year students, which we encourage you to attend.

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.

If you have any questions about the training provided through the Essex DTC please contact your department Graduate Administrator in the first instance.