SWDTP opportunities

There are opportunities to apply for fully-funded PhD studentships in a range of disciplines at the University of Plymouth.

Funded by the ESRC’s South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP), these studentships cover tuition fees, a stipend and bench fees.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 14 January 2025 at 12:00 (noon) GMT.

For more details please see Information about the SWDTP pathways and programmes at the University of Plymouth

The South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) is one of the largest doctoral training providers for social scientists in the UK. This strategic partnership is formed by the Universities of Plymouth, Bristol, Bath, Exeter, UWE, Bath Spa, Plymouth Marjon and Bournemouth and brings together social science academic leaders across our 18 disciplinary and interdisciplinary pathways, and representing one of the largest groupings of social scientists in the country.

The SWDTP has been accredited by the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC) to offer a hub of world-class social sciences research, and has been allocated 36 ESRC studentships annually. It is part of a national network that is training a new generation of social scientists.

The standard funding offer for PhD studentships (excluding any masters year) is typically 3 years and 3 months plus 3 months ‘Research in Practice’, although this will end sooner if the student completes and submits their thesis for examination well ahead of their funded period.

Where a student comes to the SWDTP with a prior masters or equivalent professional experience but where that does not fully meet the ESRC’s training requirements set out in ESRC postgraduate training and development guidelines – UKRI (2022), then the student is required to undertake ‘top up’ training during their PhD, which may extend the length of the funding. The need for any ‘top up’ training is determined from ongoing Development Needs Analysis (DNA), beginning at the point of application.

If students do not have a masters qualification and if their application is successful, it is likely that the SWDTP will make the PhD funding conditional on passing, at an overall grade of 60% or above, a masters course that is linked to the pathway to which the student is applying. The SWDTP will fund the student to take that masters course and provide them with a stipend. This means the overall period of funding and study will be extended by one year full-time (or two-years part-time).

It supports doctoral students by developing not only their research skills, but by offering a wide range of training, placements, activities and events as well. Working in a collaborative way across the five institutions to form part of your cohort.

Information about the SWDTP pathways and programmes at the University of Plymouth.