SEDTC Application Guidance Notes 2016
Applicants should read the ESRC Funding Guidelines and check their eligibility
for funding before completing their application.
All forms and supporting documents can be downloaded from partner websites
and from: www.southeastdtc.ac.uk
Applicants are advised to seek advice from the University in which the PhD will
be primarily located when completing the form. Applicants must also apply for a
place on the PhD programme of the same University.
Contents
General Notes on completing the form
Page 2
Submission Checklist
Page 2
Detailed Notes on completing the form (by question)
Page 2
Notes on Supporting Documents: Degree Transcripts
Page 6
When the application form has been completed
Page 6
Notification and Acceptance of Awards
Page 7
Equal Opportunities Monitoring form
Page 7
SE DTC Awards Assessment Criteria
Page 7
General Notes on completing the form

Application forms should be completed by the applicant in conjunction with their
proposed supervisor(s).

Application must be supported by two references.

Degree Transcripts: Applications must include Degree Transcripts as evidence of
marks and degree results.

All sections of the form must be word-processed using at least 10pt font. Text
should be confined to the spaces provided. Please ensure that the format of the
form is preserved.

Any additional information submitted with the application (for example personal
statement or covering letter) will be removed prior to assessment.

It is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the progress of the completion of
the application. The applicant should keep in regular contact with all those who
are involved in completing the application to ensure that all parts are completed
and submitted by the appropriate deadlines.

Application assessment criteria are provided at the end of these notes.
Submission Checklist
In order to complete your application, please ensure that the following have been sent to
the relevant University contact (as per Question 9) by the deadline of 4pm on 2nd February
2016:
- Completed application form (including copies of your degree transcripts)
- Completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
- Ensure that your Referees have completed and returned their references to the
relevant University contact as per Question 9 by the deadline of 4pm on 2nd
February 2016
- You must also apply to the relevant University for a place on their PhD programme.
Detailed Notes on completing the form
Question 1: Pathway
Please indicate which one of the following Pathways you will be following, you may only
choose one pathway:
Economics (Kent; Reading; Royal Holloway; Surrey)
Human Geography (Reading; Royal Holloway)
Management and Business Studies (Kent; Reading; Royal Holloway; Surrey)
Political Science and International Studies (Kent; Reading; Royal Holloway; Surrey)
Psychology (Kent; Reading; Royal Holloway; Surrey)
Social Anthropology (Kent)
Social Work and Social Policy (Kent)
Socio-Legal Studies (Reading; Kent)
Sociology (Kent; Royal Holloway; Surrey)
Environment, Energy and Resilience (Kent; Reading; Royal Holloway; Surrey)
Below the Pathway please write your Project Title.
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Question 3: Contact details
The academic Department in which you propose to study, the Researcher, Faculty /
School Office and/or the University Registry may need to contact you between April and
August 2016. Please provide contact details that will cover that period.
Question 4: Mode of Study
Please indicate whether you will be studying Full Time or Part Time. Please note that the
maximum period of funded registration for a part time student is 6 years at 50% for
completion of the +3 element of the PhD.
Please discuss with your supervisor which mode is most suitable for you.
 The CASE award involves collaboration with and funding from a non HE partner. For
this award please also indicate the structure (e.g. +3 CASE)
Typical course structures include:
 +3 programme: funding for a 3 year PhD (assumes that a student has already met
the majority of the core training requirements or the PhD focus is largely on more
advanced training)
 1+3 programme: an integrated masters programme supersedes the 3 year PhD which
will deliver the majority of the core training requirements
 2+2 programme: a longer masters programme followed by a shorter PhD programme
 +4 programme: up to 4 years funding for a PhD which assumes that core and
advanced training requirements can be met during the course of the programme
 2+3 programme: an extended masters for specialist training followed by a standard
3 year PhD programme.
Question 5: Student Classification
South East DTC funding is only available to Home or EU students. Both Home and EU
students have to satisfy the standard research council eligibility criteria.
See Annex 1 of the ESRC’s Postgraduate Funding Guide at ESRC Funding Guidelines
EU students who have not been resident in the UK for the 3 years preceding the award (i.e.
on 30th September 2016) will be entitled to a Fees Only award.
Question 6: Current funding applications
Please indicate if you are also applying to other institution(s) for an ESRC studentship.
Please be aware that if an applicant is offered more than one studentship place by
different DTCs only one can be accepted.
Question 7: Professional experience
Provide information about any employment, work or professional experience (research and
/or practice-based) that is relevant to your proposed programme of study and will
therefore strengthen your application. Please use the space provided and do not attach
additional pages.
Question 8: Career in higher education to date
If you have more than one qualification at the same level, please provide details of all
those relevant to this application.
Question 9: University details
Please enter the contact name for the partner University with whom you are registering.
The referees will be asked to send their references to this contact and you should also send
your completed application forms to this contact.
Contacts are:
Kent: Ros Beeching c.r.beeching@kent.ac.uk
Reading: Chris Robson c.robson@reading.ac.uk
Royal Holloway: Jane Gawthrope esrcdtp@rhul.ac.uk
Surrey: Emma Dewhirst/Christine Espitalier-Noel studentships@southeastdtc.ac.uk
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Question 10: Supervisor details
This section must be completed by your prospective supervisors. The SEDTC encourages
its students to pursue joint supervision during their studentship. Having ‘joint supervision’
would mean that your supervisors will be based at two (or more) of the SEDTC’s partner
institutions (i.e. one supervisor from Kent and one supervisor from Reading). The SEDTC
strongly encourages its prospective students to look into opportunities for joint supervision
as one of the benefits of the SEDTC is the versatility of access students have to more than
one institution.
In the section below, please give the details of your supervisory team. All DTC supervision
must involve at least 2 supervisors, irrespective of which institution they come from. If
applying for a CASE studentship or working in collaboration with industrial or non-Higher
Education partners then students should give details of a supervisor from the collaborative
partner. At least one supervisor must have at least one PhD Completion. If the application
lacks experienced supervisors, the Selection Panel may suggest a 3rd supervisor with more
experience to support the supervisory team listed by the student.
Question 11: Proposed training
You will need to discuss this section with your proposed supervisor(s) and must be
completed by your main supervisor. Please give an indication of the modules you will
need to take. Full module lists will be available from your proposed department.
Question 12: Proposed research project.
Please give the title of your proposed research project (or current project if you have
already started your PhD).
Question 13: Summary of Supporting Statement
A summary of your full-length supporting statement must be included in the box provided.
Please also shorten your project title to 80 characters including spaces or less (if necessary)
in this section. If selected for studentship funding, this information will be uploaded into a
profile on a student database called Je-S which will require an explanation of your project
proposal with a limit of 3800 characters maximum including spaces. Please note that this
Je-S student profile and statement is an ESRC requirement.
Question 14: Supporting statement for proposed research project
Your 'supporting statement' is key to your application. You should discuss the content of this
section with your proposed supervisor(s). Assessors will look for evidence of high quality
and strong potential for doctoral study (evidence of intellectual purpose and originality,
reasons for, and approach towards, undertaking your proposed study, awareness of the
research context). See SE DTC Awards Assessment Criteria below.
Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon. Bear in mind that the members of the
Selection Panel may not all be experts in your particular specialist field: you should write
your 'supporting statement' with this audience in mind, not your proposed supervisor.
Please note there is a strict limit of 10,000 characters (including spaces and references).
The number of characters used must be provided. Please note that any text exceeding
10,000 characters will be blacked out and the assessor will not be able to read it. Brief
academic references should be included in this character limit. A list of references at the
end of your research proposal is preferable to footnotes.
Consider covering the following points:
 You should describe your research project, reasons for undertaking it and consider
addressing the following:
o key areas/issues of the project, and why you wish to pursue this research;
o the research problems or questions you intend to address;
o the research context in which those problems or questions are located;
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the particular contribution to knowledge and understanding in this area
that you hope to make, explaining why the work is important; noting
relevance to non-academic beneficiaries, as appropriate;
o the methods and critical approaches that you plan to use, and the sources,
if appropriate;
o how the proposed work relates to what you have studied already (where
there is overlap between your Masters dissertation and your doctoral
research, you should demonstrate how the project will go further and state
the added value of continuing to research in this area);
o how the project will develop over the period of the award (e.g. key stages,
timetable);
o how the doctoral research relates to your eventual career aims.
If you have already begun your doctoral study, indicate the work you have
undertaken to date, providing information on main pieces of work completed;
Preparation and previous relevant experience. Include a brief indication of any
previous experience or preparation that is relevant to your proposed research
project (e.g. aspects of your Masters study, additional degrees, qualifications,
training or relevant skills) and how this previous experience (academic and
professional) has prepared you for doctoral study and research;
o


Question 15: Details of Project Partners and Collaborators
The ESRC greatly values collaboration between Social Science Researchers and external
project partners. Collaboration with a project partner must go involve beyond data
gathering. Collaborating partners can be private sector companies, public sector bodies or
voluntary organisations. All collaborating partners should normally have an operating base
within the UK in order to ensure that the student can be practically supported and
supervised as well as being based within the organisation for part of the studentship. They
provide PhD students with the opportunity to gain experience of work outside an academic
environment. An academic supervisor and a company supervisor support students. The
partner organisation can make a financial contribution as cash or “in kind” to the DTC and /
or student. Further guidance on collaboration can be found ESRC Good Practice for setting
up Studentship opportunities
Question 16: Ethical Considerations
The question of ethical considerations must be properly addressed throughout the duration
of your project and demonstrated as necessary. If you intend to reference a professional
code of ethics governing research in your area, please specify which code in the box
provided. Even if your research does not involve any ethical implications you must still
explain why (e.g. ‘secondary analysis of existing data previously subject to ethical review’;
‘desktop project’; ‘library sources only’) in the box provided. In that same box, please
indicate whether the proposal will undergo a formal ethical review (this need not take
place until the notification of any award).
Question 17: Potential Impact
As the ESRC is keen to capture the impact of students funded through the SEDTC, please
provide details of any potential knowledge exchange activities or generated impact which
you envision spawning through your research.
Question 18: Overseas Fieldwork
If you envisage conducting overseas fieldwork please provide details here. In order to
qualify for additional funding for overseas travel and subsistence this section must be
completed. Please refer to Table of Overseas Fieldwork Costs available from
http://southeastdtc.surrey.ac.uk/apply/ this gives a list of countries with an up-front
element plus weekly rate for each. You should calculate the cost of your fieldwork trip
using these figures: Front End Element + (weekly rate x number of weeks). You and your
supervisor will need to submit a more detailed application for this trip should you be
successful in the studentship competition. Overseas fieldwork will be considered for
funding from the DTG and assessed on a case by case basis
Question 19: Difficult Language Training
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Difficult language training can be applied for by students who qualify for funding according
to the ESRC description of categories of difficult languages. If you believe that you will
need to take difficult language training in order to complete your research, then please
state so here and provide the information requested concerning the training needed.
Please note that the Selection Panel will assess whether or not your project is feasible
according to the Difficult Language Training you propose, which may affect the decision
concerning the funding of your project. In exceptional circumstances, the Selection
Panel may require further evidence that you will be capable of learning the language in the
time allotted to the degree necessary in order to successfully carry out your research.
It is possible to be granted an extension to your funding for up to one year if you need to
acquire or develop a working ability with a difficult language in order to carry out your
research. You and your supervisor will need to submit a more detailed application for this
element should you be successful in the studentship competition. To view the ESRC’s
definition of a difficult language, please refer to Annex 3 in the postgraduate training guide:
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/_images/ESRC-Postgraduate-Funding-Guide-DTCs_tcm8-28310.pdf
Please note that in order to qualify for an extension for difficult language training this
section must be completed.
Question 20: Your referees
You should choose your two referees carefully: together they should have a good knowledge
of your academic record to date and your plans for the research project. They should be in
a position to judge your suitability and preparedness for doctoral study. Only one of your
referees can be a member of your proposed (or actual) supervisory team. You may ask
the supervisor of your Masters dissertation to be one of your referees. You can send them
the Reference Form for 2016 South East DTC Studentship Competition available from
http://southeastdtc.surrey.ac.uk/apply/. Ensure that you draw their attention to the
guidance notes for referees contained in this form.
Please note that it is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the progress of the
application and check that all parts are completed on time. The University will not
request references on your behalf from your referees, and your application will not be
considered if both references are not received.
Question 21: Applicant’s declaration
Please sign and date the form confirming that the information provided is complete and
accurate.
Notes on supporting documents: Degree Transcripts
Please provide copies of your Degree Transcripts as evidence of your academic performance
to date.
When the application form has been completed:

pass a copy of the completed application form, along with copies of Degree
Transcripts (evidence of your marks and degree results) to each of the referees you
have identified so that they can complete their reports; they may use the SEDTC
Referee Form if they wish and, at the same time

pass the completed application form to the University contact person in the
institution at which you propose to study, along with Degree Transcripts (evidence
of your marks and degree results). The referees should send complete references
directly to the University contact person (as provided in Question 9).

Both referees are asked to return their references to the relevant University by
4pm on Tuesday 2nd February 2016. This is the deadline by which the University
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must have the completed application form, reference forms and all the supporting
documents.

Complete the separate Equal Opportunities Monitoring form and return to the
University contact person in the institution at which you propose to study (as
provided in Question 9).
Notification and Acceptance of Awards
Letters will be issued at the latest by mid-May notifying candidates of the decisions made
by the Selection Panel.
The ESRC have encouraged students to submit a prompt response to the offer. Each Offer
letter will indicate the final date by which the University must have received your
acceptance. Please note that proof of posting is not proof of acceptance. In order to gain
proof that the University has received your acceptance it is recommended that you use a
recorded signed for mail delivery service. If you email your acceptance then a personal
email response (not an out-of-office response) from the registering institution
acknowledging receipt would be sufficient, however, you should allow additional time for
this by sending ahead of the deadline.
Once any offer conditions have been satisfied, acceptance of the offer constitutes a binding
agreement between the applicant and University which is not transferable to another DTC
(except in exceptional circumstances after the student has started the PhD as stipulated by
ESRC and by agreement between the two DTCs concerned).
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
The SEDTC is committed to ensuring that applicants are selected on the basis of merit.
Completion of the Equal Opportunities Monitoring From will help us to ensure that our
policies and procedures are effective in avoiding discrimination and promoting equal
opportunities in awarding studentships.
Please complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and return to your University
contact detailed in Question 9 by the deadline of 4pm on 2nd February 2016.
Your answers will be used to evaluate the effective operation of our Equal Opportunities
Policy and to report to the ESRC. Please note: Your answers will not affect your
application in any way. The form does not need to be sent to your referees or potential
supervisors.
SE DTC Awards Assessment Criteria
1. Evidence of the quality and feasibility of the proposal
This will be based on the applicant's account of the proposed research project, their
reasons for pursuing it, and how it fits with their eventual career aims. It will also be based
on the information supplied by the potential supervisors. The assessors will be looking for
evidence of the applicant's ability to articulate a research project, a coherent and well
thought-out plan for doctoral study, a good awareness of the place of his/her research
within the current field, and potential impact. Reference will be made to the Supporting
Statement written by the applicant in his/her application. [Weighted at 50%]
2. Evidence that the applicant is well-prepared for his/her proposed research and
future career
This will be based on the applicant’s description of how his/her previous experience
(academic and professional) has prepared him/her for doctoral study and research, the
referees’ acknowledgement of the applicant’s suitability for doctoral research and his/her
research project (through evidence provided about the applicant's performance at
undergraduate and postgraduate level, and of any relevant professional experience), and
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their description of how the programme will contribute to their long-term career aims.
Reference will be made to Degree Transcripts, individual module marks and degree results.
[Weighted at 30%]
3. Evidence of the suitability of the proposed supervision and training
This will take into account the expertise and relevance of the supervisors’ research areas in
relation to the proposed project, the individual roles of the supervisory team, how the
particular knowledge of the supervisors works in conjunction for the synergetic support of
the student’s project, the strength of the proposed supervisory structure, and the training
needs listed and how they are envisioned to supplement the student’s research. Reference
will be made to the information provided by both supervisors and the list of intended
pathway training modules mentioned by the student. [Weighted at 20%]
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