Proposals for ESRC DTC Collaborative Studentships 2016 Entry
Notes for Guidance
Introduction
The Warwick Social Science Doctoral Training Centre has been awarded an annual allocation of 27 ESRC
studentships, with a condition that at least 20% of these awards per annum “will involve some form of
collaboration with other public, private or third sector organisations. This may involve both collaborative
studentships and other opportunities such as internships and placements.” In order to meet this ESRC
requirement, we set aside c.6 of our allocated studentships for 2016 entry specifically for collaborative
awards, to be allocated competitively on the basis of proposals put forward by departments/training
pathways.
These Notes for Guidance are intended to provide advice to departments on developing and making
applications for collaborative DTC studentships. They should be read in conjunction with the ESRC’s own
document on Good practice in setting up studentship opportunities, a copy of which is attached.
Types of collaboration and collaborating organisations
The ESRC is not prescriptive as to the types of activities or organisations that might be eligible for
consideration for collaborative studentships. Collaborating organisation should normally be based in the
United Kingdom but non-UK organisations are not excluded so long as the necessary supervision and
support for the student can be provided. Collaborations with academically-based research or other
projects, whether at Warwick or elsewhere, would normally be excluded.
It is suggested that collaboration would normally take one of the following forms:
•
•
Where the relevant department and the external organisation define a research project of
mutual interest to which the student may be assigned. Such a project may encompass the whole
or a part of the student’s full PhD research. The external organisation’s commitment should
extend beyond providing access to its records, data or staff for the purposes of the student’s
research, as might normally be expected, and could include cooperation in designing the
research, providing financial or other support to the student (including a contribution to student
fees and/or maintenance to defer costs otherwise to be borne by the DTC grant), assistance in
the dissemination of the research results or other knowledge transfer activities.
Internships or work placements for the student with the organisation, the primary purpose of
which is to provide work experience but which might also contribute to the student’s research
or training. It is suggested that such internships/placements should normally extend for a
minimum period of three months, and should involve some commitment from the external
organisation to support the student, financially or otherwise, during the period of the
internship/placement.
These examples of forms of collaboration should not exclude departments putting forward other
suggestions.
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Expectations of collaborating organisations
The ESRC Good Practice note suggests that the student should normally spend a minimum of three months
(not necessarily continuous) per year based with the collaborating organisation during any periods in which
the collaboration is in effect. However, where a collaboration is expected to encompass only part of the
student’s doctoral research, some flexibility in this respect may be allowed. The collaborating organisation
should commit to hosting and providing the student with necessary facilities during such periods, including
an induction to the organisation, and to appointing a joint supervisor and/or mentor.
The ESRC Good Practice note cites the previous requirement, under CASE awards, for the collaborating
organisation to make a minimum financial contribution of £4000 per annum. While this minimum
requirement no longer applies, the ESRC strongly encourages DTCs to obtain a financial contribution to
collaborative awards or, where the nature of the organisation makes this difficult to achieve, contributions
in kind. Where the collaborative studentship might be awarded to a nominee of the collaborating
organisation (see below), the DTC Management Committee has suggested that the minimum contribution
should be the equivalent of the student’s University fees.
Where a proposed collaboration is based on an internship or work placement, it should involve some
commitment from the external organisation to support the student, financially or otherwise, during the
period when s/he will be based with the organisation. In particular, if the internship/placement is intended
to involve the student taking time out from their academic studies, it should not be assumed that the cost
of student maintenance during this period can be borne by the DTC grant. As guidance, it may be noted
that the ESRC expects organisations hosting interns under its own scheme to contribute £3000 toward the
cost of extending the studentship for three months.
Student eligibility
DTC collaborative studentships will normally be subject to open competition for students. All collaborative
studentship award holders will have to meet the ESRC and DTC minimum requirements in terms of
academic qualifications, residency, etc. The length of ESRC funding for a student holding a collaborative
award will depend on the student’s prior training and qualifications. For example, a student who has
completed a Masters covering most or all of the core ESRC postgraduate training requirements would likely
receive a 3-year award, while a student who without such a background would more likely receive a 4 year
award (in particular to allow the DTC core training modules to be taken in the student’s first year).
Proposers of awards are advised to keep that issue in mind when designing the collaboration, and when
advertising for students. Advice on these issues can be obtained from the DTC Director or Administrator.
All studentships are allocated on the basis of a fair and transparent recruitment process. It is in principle
acceptable if an employee at the partner organisation is identified as the strongest candidate, but we do
not expect collaborative studentships to be set up on the basis that an existing employee will automatically
take on the studentship. In such a case, extra care should be taken to ensure that the candidate meets the
minimum academic and other requirements, will not face insurmountable conflicts of interest, and will be
able to exercise the necessary independence of mind to conduct the research to the expected academic
standards. In such circumstances, the collaborating organisation should commit to the student devoting the
minimum time and attendance required under the studentship and should preferably be seconded full-time
for the duration of their studies. It should also be made clear to the collaborating organisation that the
student must meet the academic standards required for the award of the degree.
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Criteria for evaluating proposed collaborative studentships
Departments should take account of these guidance notes and the ESRC Good Practice guide in completing
their applications. The application form has been designed to cover most of the essential points.
Members of the DTC Management Committee will evaluate applications according to the following criteria:
Type of collaboration
Research
Academic/intellectual merit of proposal research
Extent of student’s engagement with the collaborating
organisation and contribution collaboration will make to
student’s research, development as researcher, and/or
career and other development
Potential impact of collaboration on development of
policy/practice within collaborating organisation or more
widely
Contribution of collaboration to ESRC Strategic Priorities*
and/or the University’s Global Research Priorities**
Potential in sustaining or leading to wider collaboration
between University/department and collaborating
organisation
Financial and other contribution of the collaborating
organisation
x
Internship/
placement
Other
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
*Economic Performance and Sustainable Growth; Influencing Behaviour and Informing Interventions; and A Vibrant
and Fair Society
** Behavioural Science; Connecting Cultures; Energy; Food; Global Governance; Innovative Manufacturing;
International Development; Materials; Science and Technology for Health; Sustainable Cities
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