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Fully Funded Social Policy PhD Studentship

  • Organization: University of South Wales
  • Type: Scholarship
  • Location: Global
  • Deadline: December 11, 2026
  • Funding: Fully Funded

The University of South Wales is recruiting a PhD student in social policy through the Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS), the ESRC doctoral training partnership for Wales. You propose your own research project, find a supervisor at USW, and compete for a fully funded studentship starting in the 2027/28 academic year. The pathway covers social care, social work and social policy, including poverty, inequality and social justice. **What you get:** - Tuition fees paid in full, at the UK rate, including for international students - A tax free living stipend at the UKRI minimum rate, currently £21,805 a year (2026 to 2027 rate) - Access to a Research Training Support Grant for research costs - An award of 3.5 to 4.5 years full time, or the part time equivalent, depending on your training needs - A funded three month Research in Practice placement in academia, policy, business or civil society - Possible Disabled Students Allowance on top of the studentship **What you'll do:** - Design and propose your own PhD project in social care, social work or social policy - Work with a supervisor at the University of South Wales, with training shared across Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea and USW - Follow a training plan built from a Development Needs Analysis of your experience - Complete a three month placement during the award **Key dates:** - Applications opened 11 September 2026 - WGSSS advert deadline 11:55pm, 11 December 2026 (the WGSSS timeline also lists 14 December 2026 and says institutions may set earlier dates) - Shortlisted applications sent to WGSSS 18 February 2027, after pathway interviews - Awards agreed 22 to 26 March 2027 - Formal offers processed June 2027 - PhD starts in the 2027/28 academic year **More information:** - USW pathway contact: Professor Palash Kamruzzaman, palash.kamruzzaman@southwales.ac.uk - Full eligibility and funding rules on the WGSSS studentships page - Pathway details on the WGSSS Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy page

Apply for Fully Funded Social Policy PhD Studentship

University of South WalesScholarship

Fully Funded Social Policy PhD Studentship

Dec 11, 2026 23:55:00 GMT
Opportunity type
Scholarship
Funding
Fully Funded
Location
Global
Deadline
Dec 11, 2026 23:55:00 GMT

About this opportunity

The University of South Wales is recruiting a PhD student in social policy through the Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS), the ESRC doctoral training partnership for Wales. You propose your own research project, find a supervisor at USW, and compete for a fully funded studentship starting in the 2027/28 academic year. The pathway covers social care, social work and social policy, including poverty, inequality and social justice.

What you get:

  • Tuition fees paid in full, at the UK rate, including for international students
  • A tax free living stipend at the UKRI minimum rate, currently £21,805 a year (2026 to 2027 rate)
  • Access to a Research Training Support Grant for research costs
  • An award of 3.5 to 4.5 years full time, or the part time equivalent, depending on your training needs
  • A funded three month Research in Practice placement in academia, policy, business or civil society
  • Possible Disabled Students Allowance on top of the studentship

What you'll do:

  • Design and propose your own PhD project in social care, social work or social policy
  • Work with a supervisor at the University of South Wales, with training shared across Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea and USW
  • Follow a training plan built from a Development Needs Analysis of your experience
  • Complete a three month placement during the award

Key dates:

  • Applications opened 11 September 2026
  • WGSSS advert deadline 11:55pm, 11 December 2026 (the WGSSS timeline also lists 14 December 2026 and says institutions may set earlier dates)
  • Shortlisted applications sent to WGSSS 18 February 2027, after pathway interviews
  • Awards agreed 22 to 26 March 2027
  • Formal offers processed June 2027
  • PhD starts in the 2027/28 academic year

More information:

  • USW pathway contact: Professor Palash Kamruzzaman, palash.kamruzzaman@southwales.ac.uk
  • Full eligibility and funding rules on the WGSSS studentships page
  • Pathway details on the WGSSS Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy page

Who can apply

  • Open to home and international (including EU and EEA) applicants; up to 30 percent of WGSSS studentships per cohort go to international students
  • A good undergraduate degree (First or Upper Second Class or equivalent) in a relevant discipline; a masters is not a prerequisite
  • You must propose your own PhD project and approach a supervisor in an accredited USW department
  • Only one General Competition application is allowed across all WGSSS partner universities
  • Required documents: WGSSS application form, academic CV of up to 2 pages, two references you collect yourself, degree certificates and transcripts, and proof of English if relevant
  • Full time award holders cannot hold a full time job, a permanent part time job or an extended temporary role during the award
  • Must meet UKRI studentship eligibility rules
  • All applicants complete the ESRC Equality and Diversity Monitoring form

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

We could not fully verify this organization or all of its details. Check it independently on the official website before you apply, and never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

72
LOT Verification ScoreSolid

Cross-checked 4 of 9 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

  • +Tuition paid and a tax-free stipend, currently £21,805 a year
  • +International students are not charged the higher overseas fee
  • +A funded three-month placement in policy, business, academia or a charity
  • +Open to people from non-traditional academic backgrounds

Worth checking yourself

  • !Visa costs, the NHS surcharge and travel are not covered for international students, and only up to 30 percent of places go to them
  • !Closes at 23:55 UK time on 11 December 2026, and incomplete applications are not considered
  • !You need a 2:1 or first-class degree or a master's, and two references you arrange yourself
  • !Talk to the lead academic, Professor Palash Kamruzzaman, about your topic before you apply

Sources checked

WGwgsss.ac.ukApplyWGwgsss.ac.ukApplyWGwgsss.ac.ukApplyWGwgsss.ac.ukApplyWGwgsss.ac.ukApply

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.

Fully Funded Social Policy PhD Studentship
Dec 11, 2026 23:55:00 GMT