Fully Funded Social Science PhD Studentship
- Organization: South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc)
- Type: Scholarship
- Location: United Kingdom
- Deadline: January 29, 2027
- Funding: Fully Funded
The South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc), a partnership of six UK universities funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), funds around 39 social science PhDs a year starting in October 2027. Each studentship covers tuition fees and a living stipend for 3.5 years, or 4.5 years with an integrated Masters, and is open to UK and international applicants. You apply through one of the six universities (Kent, Kingston, Reading, Royal Holloway, Surrey or Sussex), which nominates its strongest candidates to the final SEDarc competition. **What you get:** - Tuition fees at the UK home rate, with the host university covering the international fee difference at every partner except Reading - A tax-free living stipend at the UKRI rate (21,805 GBP a year in 2026/27; Royal Holloway quotes 23,805 GBP including a 2,000 GBP London allowance). The 2027/28 rate is not yet published - 3.5 years of PhD funding including a three-month Research in Practice placement, or 4.5 years with a one-year integrated Masters for applicants without a social science Masters - Around 200 hours a year of research and skills training, plus access to extra funding for fieldwork in the UK or overseas, institutional visits and difficult language training - Up to 1,000 GBP towards placement travel (per Kent and Reading) - Full-time or part-time study (part-time for home fee status only) **What you'll do:** - Choose a university and one of fourteen social science disciplines, and find a supervisor there - Apply for a PhD place at that university and complete its SEDarc application form by the university's own deadline - If nominated, submit your final application to SEDarc by 29 January 2027, 16:00 GMT - Carry out a challenge-led research project in one of five themes: Living Sustainably; Healthy, Thriving Communities; Inclusive Economic Growth; Secure, Effective and Trusted Institutions; Transformative Technologies for Society **Key dates:** - Kent online applicant briefings: 14 and 28 October 2026, 14:00 UK time - Kent institutional deadline: 22 November 2026, 23:59 GMT - Royal Holloway department deadlines: from 17 December 2026 (Cyber Security) to 4 January 2027 (Business, Law and Criminology, Politics, Psychology); Economics and Geography to be confirmed - Royal Holloway institutional deadline: 14 January 2027, midday - Final SEDarc deadline for nominated candidates: 29 January 2027, 16:00 GMT - Outcomes: by the end of March 2027 (Kent); SEDarc says April - Studentships start: October 2027, no deferral **More information:** - Each university runs its own first stage with its own deadline, and several are well before January; contact your chosen university's SEDarc administrator early - You may submit only one SEDarc application - Up to three studentships are ring-fenced for home fee status applicants from Black and specific Asian ethnic backgrounds under SEDarc's widening participation policy - Funding does not cover flights, visas or the immigration health surcharge - SEDarc enquiries: sedarc@rhul.ac.uk
