Bloomsbury ESRC Doctoral Training Centre
ESRC Studentship applications:
Applicant Guidance
The Bloomsbury DTC
• One of 21 ESRC DTCs, 2nd largest in London, c. 33
studentships per year covering fees plus stipend, plus
access to wide range of training and support
• Collaboration between four colleges, led by IOE
• Ten clusters relating to different areas of disciplinary/
interdisciplinary social science activity (e.g., Education,
Psychology, Demography, International Development)
• Each cluster has designated lead college, but six are crosscollege in composition, and there is increasing
collaboration between clusters
• Total of 26 pathways across clusters, defined by distinct RT
masters within 1+3 or 4 routes
• Number of pathways per cluster varies from one to five
DTC studentships 2016 entry
• Demography (LSHTM lead; Rebecca Sear is cluster leader)
– up to 6 studentships
• Economics (Birkbeck lead; Yunus Aksoy)
– up to 4 studentships
• Education and Related Areas (IOE lead; Emily Farran)
– up to 9 studentships
• Health and Wellbeing (LSHTM lead; Simon Cohn)
– up to 6 studentships
• International Development (SOAS lead; Alfredo Saad
Filho)
– up to 4 studentships
DTC studentships 2016 entry
• Politics and International Studies (Birkbeck lead; Dermot
Hodson)
– up to 5 studentships
• Psychology (Birkbeck lead: Michael Thomas)
– up to 6 studentships
• Quantitative Methods in Social and Economic Research
(IOE lead; Lorraine Dearden)
– up to 8 studentships
• Social Anthropology (SOAS lead; Kevin Latham)
– up to 4 studentships
• Social Policy (LSHTM lead; Andrew Hutchings)
– up to 3 studentships
DTC studentships 2016 entry
• All awards are available in 1+3, +3 mode, and all except
Economics and Psychology offer +4 mode (Integrated PhD)
• Can be full-time or part-time
• All allow additional Advanced Quantitative Methods
(AQM) training plus stipend
• Further particulars on each cluster are available via
Research/Academic Clusters tab at
http://bloomsburydtc.ac.uk/
Applications process
• For IOE-led clusters
– ESRC Expression of Interest form to Alison Freeman in
Doctoral School by 16:00 on 22 January
– application for studentship/AQM (with supervisor
support) plus two references to Alison Freeman by
16:00 on 5 February
• For Birkbeck-led clusters
– submit application for doctoral study to Birkbeck
(closing dates vary – check web pages for relevant
department for details)
– if accepted, submit studentship application by 5
February
Applications process
• For LSHTM-led clusters
– full details on process at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/funding/esrcstudentships.html
– studentship application subject to 5 February deadline
• For SOAS-led clusters
– details available from Doctoral School at
http://www.soas.ac.uk/doctoralschool/
– submit application for doctoral study (closing dates may
vary according to department)
– if accepted, submit studentship application by 5
February
Applications process
• Forms/guidance downloadable via Apply for ESRC Funding
tab at http://bloomsburydtc.ac.uk
• Candidates must meet
– prior qualification entry requirements (2:1 for 1+3, 4;
recognised research training masters or at least 50% of
equivalent for +3)
– ESRC residency requirements unless AQM or Economics
IOE applications process
• Candidates are expected to make early contact with
potential supervisors – if you have problems, contact
relevant cluster lead, Dept PGR Tutor
• Need to discuss background/qualifications, research topic,
mode, possible supervisory team
• If potential supervisor agrees to support, complete
Expression of Interest form
• Remember to request references at early stage
• Work with supervisor on studentship application
• Similar processes will be involved at other colleges
Studentship application form
• Key points on studentship application (same form for all
four institutions):
– personal details section must identify supervisor(s),
cluster/pathway, mode (inc FT/PT), qualifications/
experience, whether AQM, residential eligibility
– NB supervisors should not usually give reference
– proposal: two pages for 1+3, four for +3, 4
– focus on background, RQs, significance, possible
methods/data, ethical issues, not supervisor expertise
– supervisor section must include statement on link to
research/environment, significance, collaborations, as
well as expertise – and for +3, research foundation
– all AQM applicants must complete further form
– please complete advertisement question
DTC decision-making process
• Applications will be assessed by single panel for each
cluster
• Weighting of sections differs for 1+3 and +3, 4:
– for 1+3, personal details/references, proposal,
supervisors’ section weighted 40:30:30
– for +3, 4, personal details/references, proposal,
supervisors’ section weighted 30:40:30
• Panels will convene during February/early March to
consider applications, make recommendations on awards
• Passed to DTC Board for ratification on 17 March
• Candidates and supervisors notified 18 March