Fully Funded ESRC PhD Studentships in UK (Fully Funded)

For those seeking paid or fully funded studentships in the UK, there is a colossal opportunity waiting for them. The opportunity is offered by none other than SENSS and ESRC in the United Kingdom. Applications are invited for the fully funded ESRC PhD Studentships from both international applicants and domestic (UK nationals) candidates. Partner universities of SENSS and the South-East Network for Social Science (SENSS) are looking for applications for Economic and Social Research Council PhD studentship awards. As far as ESRC is concerned, it is part of the UKRI (UK Research and Innovation). Talking about SENSS, it is a consortium of eight leading universities across the South and East of England (the UK), promoting inventive and inclusive collaboration and research training. Fully funded ESRC studentships are presently available to doctoral researchers for entry in October 2026. The complete details are mentioned next in this post.

Eligibility Criteria for Fully Funded ESRC PhD Studentships

To be considered for the SENSS ESRC Studentships 2026-27, there are eligibility requirements to be met if one would like to apply.

These studentships are open and available to all applicants regardless of their nationality or residency, across all eight SENSS universities and six SENSS interdisciplinary Thematic Areas. It is worth noting that there are only a limited number of studentships (around 10 each year) available to overseas (international) candidates
For those who would like to apply for a master’s plus PhD program (plus 4.5-year award), the applicants need qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree (honors)
To apply for a doctorate (PhD) only (plus a 3.5-year award), the applicants would need qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a master’s degree, or a master’s degree and already possess the research skills required or needed to complete their research project successfully
Those who have already begun their PhD degree are eligible to apply for SENSS funding, but only if they have not completed a substantial proportion of their education (studies) already

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SENSS Funding – SENSS ESRC Studentships 2026-27

There is a lot of funding available under the fully funded ESRC studentships. Let’s find out the complete details ahead.

Successful candidates will be offered £20,780 per year (2025-26 academic year rates) to pursue postgraduate studies. For those students who study at a London-based university, there will be an extra £2,000 per year will be provided.
Their tuition fees will be paid for them for the duration of their funding award
Excellent supervisors will be there to guide the students. A high-quality advanced research training will be offered to students
Successful candidates will be part of a postgraduate community spanning 8 universities and 6 interdisciplinary themes
The students (who are chosen) will make their connections with SENSS and the ESRC’s influential external partners, including industry, government departments, and NGOs
These studentships are open to home and international applicants
The funding and the connections will help the students launch their careers

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Options Offered By SENSS

Under these fully funded ESRC PhD studentships (SENSS ESRC Studentships 2026-27), the following options will be offered to successful candidates.

The structure of these studentships will largely depend on the candidates’ personal training needs. Therefore, the minimum duration of these SENSS-funded PhD studentships will be 3.5 years (unless the students have begun their PhD already). This covers a PhD degree and a mandatory placement of around three months. The maximum duration of the studentships will be 4.5 years. This covers a master’s degree program, followed by a PhD program, as well as the mandatory three-month placement
Both full-time and part-time study options are available
For the duration of the award (scholarship), these studentships will include a tax-free maintenance stipend for the coverage of living expenses (this is set at £20,780 per year. As mentioned earlier, those who study at London-based universities will get an extra £2,000 per year as London Weighting. Remember, those students who are not studying at a London-based university, but still select to live in London, will not be given the London Weighting payment. Whether the chosen candidates are home-based or international, they will not pay their tuition fees for the duration of their funding award. They will have access to research training support funds for the funding duration. Besides, they will also have access to other funds to support overseas or UK fieldwork, overseas institutional visits, placements, and language training
SENSS offers two different kinds of studentships – student-led studentships (in which the candidates will create their research proposal, and work on it with their selected supervisor) and collaborative studentships (in which the candidates will work on a research project devised by an external partner or a supervisor)

Closing Dates

For the student-led competition, the last date for applications is 14^th January 2026. For the collaborative studentship competition, the closing date for applications depends on the chosen universities, such as the deadline for City St George’s, University of London is 13^th February 2026. Thus, interested candidates are advised to check the partner universities for deadlines.

The application for SENSS funding on HEI Apply is 16^th February 2026.

How to Apply for the Fully Funded ESRC PhD Studentships

First, the applicants are required to apply for a place to study on a postgraduate research degree at any partner university. Secondly, they will need to apply to SENSS for the studentship via the SENSS Funding Opportunities page.

Visit the Official Call to Apply for the Fully Funded ESRC PhD Studentships

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