The Midlands Graduate School (MGS) invites applications for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) studentships for October 2026 entry. The MGS DTP offers fully funded PhD scholarships in the social sciences across a network of top UK universities.

The Midlands Graduate School is one of 15 accredited ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships in the United Kingdom and is a collaboration between:
Aston University, University of Birmingham, De Montfort University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Warwick.

Scholarship Benefits

The ESRC PhD studentships offer exceptional opportunities for outstanding candidates pursuing advanced research in the social sciences. Each studentship includes:

• Full payment of tuition fees at the home fee rate
• A maintenance stipend for living expenses
• Additional funding for innovative research training and collaboration opportunities

These studentships are open to both home and international applicants. A Master’s degree is not required, and a number of awards are reserved for candidates applying directly from undergraduate study. The programme also encourages applications from underrepresented groups in academia.

Online Information Sessions

Not sure if a PhD is right for you? The Midlands Graduate School is hosting two online sessions titled “What’s a PhD all about?” to help prospective applicants understand the process and benefits of doctoral study.

Session 1 – 9 October 2025 (1:00 PM GMT)
An Introduction to PhD study, Doctoral Training Partnerships, and funding opportunities.

Session 2 – 16 October 2025 (1:00 PM GMT)
Guidance on developing research proposals, identifying supervisors, and insights from current MGS students and academic assessors.

Eligible Disciplines and Training Pathways

Applicants can choose from 17 training pathways covering a wide range of social science disciplines and interdisciplinary themes, including:

• Applied Linguistics
• Area Studies
• Communication, Media, and Museum Studies
• Cross-disciplinary Methodologies and Advanced Data Analysis
• Economic and Social History
• Economics
• Education
• Health and Wellbeing
• Human Geography
• Living in a Digital Society
• Management and Business Studies
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Socio-Legal Studies
• Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology
• Sport and Exercise Science
• Sustainable Development, Net Zero, and Climate Resilience
• (Interdisciplinary pathways are available at all partner institutions.)

Types of Awards

Studentships are available as:

PhD-only awards (3.5 years), or

1+3.5 awards combining a Master’s in Social Science Research with a PhD.

Applicants can study full-time or part-time, and awards are available to candidates applying directly from undergraduate level.

How to Apply

Choose a pathway and university
Review the available training pathways and select a partner university offering your preferred discipline.

Apply for university admission
Submit an online application for the relevant PhD programme at your chosen university.

Submit your ESRC studentship application
Complete the MGS DTP funding application, ensuring all required documents and supervisor input are included.

Full application guidance is available via the official MGS website.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, 13 January 2026 (12:00 GMT)

Apply here: Application

For more details: ESRC

For more opportunities explore: Opportunities for Youth