South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Studentship

The South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Partnership, funded by the ESRC is a centre of excellence in social science postgraduate research training, and is in partnership between ten UK universities. SeNSS are offering ESRC fully funded and fees only studentships at the University of Surrey.

Start date

1 October 2023

Application deadline

Funding source

The University of Surrey and ESRC

Funding information

This competition-funded studentship is available to UK and International students. Studentships are awarded on the basis of the academic excellence of both the candidate and the research proposal.

Full UK or International fee waiver and stipend at UKRI rates (currently £17,668).

About

The SeNSS Doctoral Training Partnership, funded by the ESRC is a centre of excellence in social science postgraduate research training, and is a partnership between the Universities of City, Essex, Goldsmiths, Kent, Reading, Roehampton, Royal Holloway, Surrey, Sussex and University of East Anglia. At the University of Surrey, SeNSS offers ESRC studentships to high-quality research students wishing to study Economics, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Linguistics; Environment and Sustainability or related multidisciplinary topics within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Related links

South East Network for Social Sciences Economic and Social Research Council SeNSS application frequently asked questions

Eligibility criteria

Candidates without a master’s degree can apply for funding to undertake a research training Master’s before starting their PhD where available (1+3 or 2+2 models). Studentships will be awarded on the basis of the academic excellence of both the candidate and the research proposal. This is an extremely competitive process and only very high calibre candidates will be successful.

Open to home and international candidates. EU students are now classed as International students and the UKRI/AHRC competition is now open to all international students who can apply for full fees and stipend award. 

Please see guidance on residency requirements outlined in the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Terms and Conditions of Research Council Training Grants.

English language requirements

Please see course entry requirements on the relevant PhD programme page.

How to apply

It is not possible to apply directly to SeNSS for a studentship, applications for students wishing to be based at Surrey must be made via the University of Surrey.

Your SeNSS application will therefore go through a two-stage process, being considered firstly by either the School of Economics, School of Hospitality and Tourism, the School of Literature and Languages or the Centre for Environmental Sustainability to go forward to SeNSS and, if successful, secondly by a panel of subject specialists from SeNSS members.

If you have any questions, please read the application FAQs.

Steps of application

You will need to take the following steps to submit an application for a studentship:

1. Identify and speak to a prospective supervisor

Identify a prospective supervisor from the school of your choice and contact them to discuss your project before applying, you can find them through these school websites:

2. Inform the PGR director and SeNSS pathway institutional leader

You should also inform the PGR director and SeNSS pathway institutional lead that you are interested in applying for SeNSS funding:

School of Economics
School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
School of Literature and Languages
Centre for Environment and Sustainability

3. Apply for funding and a place on a PhD programme

If you are selected to apply for a SeNSS studentship by your prospective supervisor there are two separate applications that you will need to make:

4. Apply for a place on a PhD programme

Please browse our programme listings for a relevant programme. You can apply for a place by clicking the ‘apply now’ button on the relevant programme page.

5. Apply for a SeNSS studentship

The SeNSS online application is a crucial part of the application process and should not be rushed. Make sure you liaise with your prospective supervisor when completing the form as they will be able to guide you, there are also sections they need to complete.

The application also requires two references which your referees will need to add to your application, if these are not included you will not be able to submit your application.

Process after application deadline

Between 12 noon on Friday 20 January to 12 noon on Friday 17 February 2023, your studentship application will be considered by an internal panel. The highest quality applications will be put forward to SeNSS by Friday 17 February 2023.

Application deadline

We would strongly encourage you to apply for this studentship by 9 December 2022, as we can review your application and provide feedback, however we will still honour the SeNSS deadline of 12 noon on 20 January 2023.

Studentship FAQs

Read our studentship FAQs to find out more about applying and funding.

Contact details

Please contact us at: phdstudentships@surrey.ac.uk.

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