The University of Sheffield
Prospective Postgraduates

ESRC White Rose DTC ScholarshipsWhite Rose DTC logo

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. At any one time, the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes.

The University is part of the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Centre - a collaboration between the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York - and through this is able to offer a range of ESRC Postgraduate Scholarships.

Award details and eligibility

ESRC-funded postgraduates will follow a 3-year programme (known as a '+3') or 4-year programme (known as a '1+3'), or the equivalent part-time.

The type of ESRC scholarship awarded is based on an applicant's residency status. UK applicants and EU applicants who have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for the full scholarship. This pays:

EU applicants who have not been resident in the UK for 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for a fees-only award, paying the standard UK/EU tuition fees only.

International students are not normally eligible for ESRC scholarships. However, ESRC have relaxed the residency eligibility rules in the strategic areas of Economics and Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM). This means that UK, EU and international applicants wishing to study in these areas may apply for a full award paying tuition fees and maintenance.

For both 1+3 and +3 awards, applicants must hold at least a UK Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent (a less than sufficient undergraduate degree may be enhanced, eg by a Master's degree).

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the University's English Language requirements.

Applicants applying for a +3 award must demonstrate that they have already completed the full research training requirements.

Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Sheffield whilst in receipt of the Studentship (except for time spent on agreed fieldwork).

Further details about the ESRC’s residency requirements and eligibility for funding can be found on the ESRC website.

How to apply

Applications for 2013-14 entry are now closed.

Applications will be considered by academic departments and, following a departmental selection process, applicants will be informed if are being nominated for an ESRC WR DTC Discipline/Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM)/Network/Pathway Development or a Collaborative Studentship. The White Rose Academic Quality Committee will review the nominations and decide on the final list of awards.

The final outcome is expected to be known by early April 2013 for Discipline/AQM and Pathway Development Studentships and the end of April 2013 for Network and Collaborative Studentships.

Further information

For general scholarship queries, please see our FAQs.

If you have any queries about the ESRC White Rose DTC Scholarships please see the DTC website or email pgr-scholarships@sheffield.ac.uk