SEDarc Studentship Competition 2027-2028 (ESRC-Funded PhD Studentships)

About the Position

SEDarc offers ESRC-funded PhD studentships for September 2027 entry across six universities in South East England. Open to UK and international students, covering UK home fees and stipend. Three studentships are ring-fenced for widening participation candidates. Deadline: 29 January 2027. 29 January is the final shortlisted submission stage; prospective applicants must meet earlier departmental or university deadlines.

Opportunity	SEDarc Studentship Competition 2027-2028 (ESRC-Funded PhD Studentships)
Host	SEDarc
Location	Multiple, United Kingdom
Study Level	PhD
Funding	Fully Funded, stipend provided, tuition covered
Stipend	UK home fees and stipend awards (exact stipend amount not specified, likely UKRI rate)
Application Deadline	Deadlines vary by department; university portal stage by 14 January 2027, 12:00 GMT; shortlisted final SEDarc deadline 29 January, 16:00 GMT
Apply	Official application page ↗

SEDarc Studentship Competition 2027-2028

The South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) is pleased to offer Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding for PhD students for September 2027 entry.

About SEDarc

SEDarc is a consortium of six universities: Kingston University, Royal Holloway University of London, University of Kent, University of Reading, University of Surrey, and University of Sussex. It offers funding for doctoral studentships, supporting postgraduate researchers in undertaking impactful doctoral research and training. Three studentships are ring-fenced for applicants who meet our widening participation criteria, as part of our commitment to equity and inclusion.

Studentship Offer

• Full details of the studentship offer, award structures, and assessment criteria are available on the SEDarc website.
• The PhDs are open to UK and international students and consist of UK home fees and stipend awards.
• Part-time study is available, but due to visa restrictions, this option is only available to those with home fee status.
• Deferred start dates are not possible.
• Applicants who have already commenced a PhD are not eligible.

Contact

• Email: hssce-research@kingston.ac.uk
• Email: esrcdtp@rhul.ac.uk
• Email: kentgrc@kent.ac.uk

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be sent to the contacts above or raised through the channel given on the official announcement page.

Official Link

Full announcement and application portal: https://www.sedarc.ac.uk/student-led-competition/

Source: sedarc.ac.uk - the details in this listing were recorded from this official page.

Important Notes

• Application deadline: 14 January 2027 - late or incomplete applications are normally not considered.
• Listing details were recorded from the official source at the time of publication; always confirm the latest requirements on the official page before applying.
• Prepare the documents listed in the eligibility and application sections before starting the online form - transcripts, CV and references take the longest to collect.

How to Apply

Students must be nominated by one of the six SEDarc institutions to apply to the doctoral programme. Please contact one of the Administrators at the SEDarc institution of your choice, as each institution has a different deadline and process for the institutional stage of the application process. The deadline for applications to SEDarc is 29 January 2027 at 16:00 (GMT).

Contact Administrators

• Kingston University: hssce-research@kingston.ac.uk
• Royal Holloway, University of London: esrcdtp@rhul.ac.uk
• University of Kent: kentgrc@kent.ac.uk
• University of Reading: doctoralstudentshipsofficer@reading.ac.uk
• University of Surrey: doctoralcollege@surrey.ac.uk
• University of Sussex: pgr-scholarships@sussex.ac.uk

Assessment and Steer Groups

SEDarc is committed to identifying and awarding high quality applications and projects within our panel review process under three specific steer groups:

• Advanced Data Skills
• Advanced Quantitative Methods
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration with researchers outside of the social sciences

Please speak to your selected institution should your project include any of the above to ensure these are highlighted within your application.

Ring-Fenced Studentships

SEDarc ring-fences up to 3 studentships for home students who meet the following:

• Be assessed as being eligible to pay fees at the home fee rate
• Identify as being of one of the following ethnic groups: Black or Black British – Caribbean; Black or Black British - African; Other Black background; Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi; Asian or Asian British – Pakistani; Asian or Asian British - Indian
• Meet all other eligibility criteria

Frequently Asked Questions

• You are only permitted to submit ONE application for a SEDarc studentship.
• SEDarc cannot assist with finding a supervisor; contact your chosen university.
• Part-time study is available only for home fee status.
• Deferrals are not possible.
• Applicants who have already started a PhD are not eligible.
• Assessment criteria are available on the SEDarc website.
• The stipend tax liability should be checked with HMRC.
• Individual feedback is not provided due to high volume.
• Reserve list outcomes are matched based on fee status and research focus.

Note

ESRC DTPs are subject to a mid-term review in 2026, and studentship numbers may be revised based on the review findings. Allocations for the 2027 cohort are expected to be confirmed around January 2027.

2026/27 UKRI reference rate: the minimum UKRI doctoral stipend is £21,805 per year, tax-free (London institutions +£2,000), effective 1 October 2026.

Application guides

• How to Email a PhD Supervisor: 7 Templates and Practical Tips
• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps
• UK Student Visa Application: CAS, Documents and Financial Evidence