The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) has launched the Student-Led Open Studentship Competition for 2025/26 entry. This competition offers ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) studentship funding for prospective PhD students planning to begin their research in October 2026.

The competition enables applicants to design and propose their own PhD research projects within the social sciences.

Funding Details

ESRC studentships through SGSSS provide:

• Full tuition fee coverage
• Annual maintenance stipend
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)

For specific funding amounts for 2025/26 entry, applicants should consult the SGSSS ESRC Masters Provisions document available on the SGSSS website.

Who Can Apply

Student Eligibility

The competition is open to eligible applicants who meet ESRC funding criteria. Prospective students must review the student eligibility guidance carefully before submitting a proposal.

Key eligibility considerations:

• UK and International Students: Both may apply, subject to ESRC eligibility requirements
• Academic Background: SGSSS employs a “whole person approach” to assessment (see below)
• Starting Date: Applicants must be prepared to commence studies in October 2026

Academic Requirements and the “Whole Person Approach”

SGSSS does not require a first-class degree for funding consideration.

The assessment process evaluates applicants holistically, considering:

• Academic achievements
• Work experience
• Life experiences, including challenges and resilience
• Potential to undertake and complete a PhD
• Ability to contribute to a positive and diverse research community
• Capacity to flourish as a result of PhD funding

Applicants will be asked to demonstrate:

1. Preparedness to undertake and complete a PhD
2. Potential to benefit from PhD funding
3. Commitment to contributing to a positive research culture

This approach recognizes that SGSSS students come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. The assessment focuses on potential rather than solely on past academic performance.

Supervisor Requirements

First Supervisor Criteria:

• Must meet specific eligibility requirements outlined on the SGSSS Supervisor Eligibility page
• Applicants should inform potential first supervisors about these criteria

Second Supervisors:

• May work within any of the 16 SGSSS partner institutions

Partner Institutions

SGSSS comprises 16 partner Higher Education Institutions across Scotland. Full information about partner universities is available on the SGSSS website.

Application Process

Critical Application Requirement: Anonymisation

All application documents MUST be redacted and anonymised.

Applications undergo anonymous review. Therefore:

• Documents must NOT contain the applicant’s name
• Documents must NOT contain any identifiable information
• A quick guide to anonymising application materials is provided on the SGSSS website

Application Timeline

Important: Individual institutions may impose earlier internal deadlines than the SGSSS deadline. Applicants must check with their chosen institution in advance.

Competition timeline details are available in the Open Competition Timeline document on the SGSSS website.

Required Documentation

Applicants should prepare the following materials (available for download):

• Application Template (completed and anonymised)
• Supporting documents as specified in guidance
• For nominated candidates (later stages):
  • Supervisor Support Template
  • Disciplinary Support Template

Assessment Framework

Applications are evaluated in three stages:

• Stage 1: Assessed using the Stage 1 Marking Framework
• Stages 2 & 3: Assessed using the Stages 2 & 3 Marking Framework

Both frameworks are available for download from the SGSSS website and detail the “whole person approach” assessment criteria.

PhD Length Options

Applicants should review the “Deciding your PhD Length” guidance to determine the appropriate program duration for their research project and circumstances.

Essential Resources

Before applying, prospective students should review:

1. Competition Guidance Booklet (comprehensive competition information)
2. Open Competition Timeline (key dates and deadlines)
3. Student Eligibility Guidance (funding eligibility requirements)
4. Supervisor Eligibility Page (first supervisor criteria)
5. Anonymisation Guide (critical for application preparation)
6. Marking Frameworks (assessment criteria for all stages)
7. SGSSS ESRC Masters Provisions (2025/26 funding details)

Applicant Support Resources

Webinar and Information Session

SGSSS hosted an applicant webinar titled “Starting your PhD Journey” on 30 September.

Resources Available:

• Webinar slides (downloadable PDF)
• Webinar recording (note: contains gray boxes that cannot be removed; refer to slides for complete information)

Drop-in Session

Date: Friday, 7 November Time: 12:00-13:00 GMT Format: Zoom session Purpose: Brief Q&A session (does not repeat webinar content; applicants should review slides beforehand)

Zoom details:

• Link: https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/87581847320
• Passcode: Ga8F6Tj2

Student Stories and Advice

The SGSSS website features video testimonials from current and former PhD students sharing their experiences and advice. These resources provide valuable insights into the PhD journey from diverse perspectives.

Stuart Hall Foundation Fellowships

Special Opportunity for 2025/26 Entry

SGSSS, in partnership with SGSAH (Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities) and the Stuart Hall Foundation, offers up to three Stuart Hall Foundation Fellowships for SGSSS applicants.

Fellowship Purpose

Inspired by Professor Stuart Hall’s research legacy in race, ethnicity, cultural studies, and structural inequalities, these Fellowships aim to:

• Address barriers to accessing higher education
• Provide opportunities for students from non-traditional and disadvantaged backgrounds
• Support under-represented groups in social science graduate education in Scotland

Eligibility for Stuart Hall Fellowships

Eligible Candidates:

• UK candidates only
• From non-traditional or disadvantaged backgrounds
• Under-represented at graduate level in Social Sciences in Scotland
• Preference given to applicants whose research aligns with Stuart Hall’s areas of interest:
  • Cultural studies
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Social and structural inequalities

Fellowship Benefits

Each Fellowship includes:

• Full tuition fees
• Annual stipend
• Research Training Support Grant
• Access to Stuart Hall Foundation Scholars and Fellows network
  • Regular events
  • Career development opportunities
  • Research profile development support

How to Apply for Stuart Hall Fellowships

Applicants interested in Fellowship consideration should indicate their interest within the online application form (specific question included in the SGSSS Apply system).

How to Apply

Application Portal: SGSSS Apply (online application system)

Before Applying:

1. Review all Competition Guidance documentation
2. Confirm eligibility with student eligibility guidance
3. Contact potential supervisors and share supervisor criteria
4. Verify institution-specific internal deadlines
5. Prepare and anonymise all application materials
6. Review webinar slides and resources

Main Application Deadline:

• 24 November 2025 at 5:00 PM GMT – Final deadline for submitting all application components and references

Application Period:

• 10 September 2025 at 12:00 PM (midday) BST – Applications open
• 24 November 2025 at 5:00 PM GMT – Applications close

Additional Deadlines (if shortlisted):

• 16 February 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT – Deadline to submit Supervisor Support Template and Disciplinary Statement (only for candidates nominated at Stage 1)

Outcome Announcements:

• 9 April 2026 – Stage 2 outcomes released
• 7 May 2026 – Final Stage 3 outcomes and preliminary awards released

Important Note: Individual institutions may have their own earlier internal deadlines, so applicants must check with their chosen institution in advance

Contact Information

For questions about competition criteria or process:

Email: team@sgsss.ac.uk

The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Information provided is for the 2025/26 competition and is subject to change. Applicants should verify all details directly with SGSSS.

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