Are you passionate about solving real-world challenges through social science research? The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) is opening its doors for 2026/27 entry, inviting ambitious international scholars to pursue funded PhDs at the University of Leeds and partner universities across Northern England.
This opportunity empowers exceptional minds to explore transformative questions about society, economy, technology, and environment—all while being fully supported by the UK’s premier research council.
About the Program
The ESRC, the UK’s largest funding body for social and economic research, supports world-class doctoral training. Through the White Rose DTP collaboration, universities including Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Hull, Sheffield Hallam, and Manchester Metropolitan offer research pathways that shape future policymakers, economists, educators, and social innovators.
The program welcomes applications from both UK and international candidates (including EU nationals). With multiple fully funded PhD studentships available, this initiative aims to train the next generation of researchers capable of addressing the world’s most pressing social challenges.
White Rose Studentship Funding Package
Successful candidates receive full financial support:
- Tuition Fees – Covered at standard UKRI rates.
- Annual Stipend – £20,780 for 2025/26 (subject to annual increase).
- Research Training Support Grant – Covers travel, data collection, and research-related costs.
Please note: international students must self-fund relocation, visa, and health-related costs.
Available Studentships
Applicants can choose from a range of flexible award structures:
- 1+3.5 Studentships – One year of Master’s training followed by 3.5 years of PhD research.
- +3.5 Studentships – Direct PhD funding for 3.5 years (for those with a strong social science Master’s background).
- +3.75 Studentships – Integrated PGCert/PhD pathway (for candidates with partial research training).
Special awards include:
- WRDTP Pathway Studentships – Develop your own research proposal within a thematic pathway.
- Advanced Quantitative Methods Studentships (up to 2) – For data-driven social science research using cutting-edge quantitative tools.
- Advanced Data Analytics Awards (up to 2) – For researchers using big data and novel analytical techniques.
- WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Studentships (up to 2) – Dedicated to Black British scholars to promote diversity in research.
- Collaborative Studentships – Joint projects between academia and external organizations (details coming Spring 2026).
Where You Can Study?
The University of Leeds offers diverse research areas across:
- Institute for Transport Studies
- School of Computer Science
- School of Earth and Environment
- School of Education
- School of Law
- School of History
- School of Media and Communication
- School of Politics and International Studies
- School of Sociology and Social Policy
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, among others.
This interdisciplinary setup means you’ll work alongside experts across the social sciences and collaborate with researchers shaping global policy.
Eligibility and Requirements
Applicants must hold a first-class or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent).
English proficiency requirement: IELTS 6.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component.
International degrees are accepted if equivalent to UK standards.
When to Apply?
Applicants interested in the ESRC White Rose DTP Studentships 2026/27 should first submit their PhD program application (Stage 1) by 7 January 2026 to ensure eligibility for the funding round. The studentship application (Stage 2) must then be completed and submitted by Wednesday, 21 January 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (UK Time).
The final results will be announced between mid and end of April 2026, giving candidates time to prepare for their research journey. Successful applicants will begin their funding from Thursday, 1 October 2026, while those undertaking the 1+3.5 awards will start their program in September 2026.