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South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council

SEDarc Open competition for doctoral awards

Kingston University has a vibrant PhD community with over 200 research students working across the Social Sciences and Health subject areas. We are now inviting applications to the SEDarc Open Competition for doctoral awards through Kingston University for 2025 entry under the theme "Healthy and Thriving Communities". Note: you cannot submit an application directly to SEDarc – you must apply through one of the member universities.

SEDarc open information session

  • 1 October 2024, 2pm, online

Join SEDarc for an online information session to learn more about the consortium and how you can apply an ESRC funded studentship.

Please register for the event to receive the joining link >

SEDarc Kingston: Support with your application

SEDarc application workshop, 10 October, 1-2pm, online

We invite potential applicants to an online workshop to learn more about SEDarc and the application process.

Please complete this online form to register for the workshop on 10 October.

SEDarc proposal writing workshop, 5 December, 1-2pm, online

Applicants are also invited to a follow-up online workshop to discuss their application and research proposal.

Please complete this online form to register for the workshop on 5 December.

If you cannot attend the workshop(s) but would like more information, please email hssce-research@kingston.ac.uk.

Eligibility

  • UK applicants who have been resident in the UK for at least three years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible to apply for the full scholarship covering stipend and tuition fees.
  • International applicants are eligible to apply for the full scholarship covering stipend and tuition fees. See KU tuition fees for more information about fees and EU/Irish eligibility for Home fees status.
  • Awards are available for both full-time and part-time students.
  • ESRC and UKRI eligibility criteria apply, and all awards are subject to the ESRC and UKRI terms and conditions.
  • New students only for this scheme, current PhD students are not eligible to apply due to the new structure of the PhD and required training.

ESRC terms and conditions and eligibility

All Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) awards are subject to the ESRC and UKRI Terms and Conditions. Please ensure that you are familiar with them. They are set out in three documents which can be accessed via the Manage your award page on the UKRI website:

  • UKRI Terms and Conditions of Training Grants
  • UKRI Training Grant Guidance
  • AHRC studentships: additional requirements for research organisations and award holders

Doctoral funding

You can find current maintenance and fee rates, as well as other support provided by UKRI for studentship award holders on the ESRC page Funding for postgraduate training and development.

The full-time doctoral stipend for 2024/25 is £21,237; levels are likely to rise slightly for 2025/26 but have not yet been confirmed. Awards will be for 3.5 years full time or 7 years part time.

Application process for doctoral funding

1. Contact a potential supervisor at Kingston University

This is to discuss your research proposal, the supervision that may be available, and whether you might be considered a suitable candidate for an ESRC award. If you are not sure who to contact, please see the Research pages on the faculty website. Alternatively, please email the Faculty Research Student Coordinator for advice on hssce-research@kingston.ac.uk, including "SEDarc" in the subject line.

2. Submit a KU online application

Submit a Kingston University online application for October 2025 entry.

You will need to include:

  • A draft research proposal or project outline
  • Your academic transcripts and or certificates
  • English language qualifications, if required
  • A photograph or scan of your passport
  • You may also wish to attach a CV or other relevant documents, for example a portfolio of art work

When completed please email hssce-research@kingston.ac.uk with your application reference number and ‘SEDarc' in the subject header.

  • Deadline: 6 January 2025

If successful, you will be invited to an interview. Interviews are planned for 9 January (online).

Assessment process

If successful at interview you will receive further support to develop your application which will then be considered by an internal panel of subject experts at Kingston University. You will be informed of the outcome by 13 January 2025.

3. Final application stage (by invitation only)

Your draft application will be reviewed and, if successful, you will be given feedback and invited to submit a finalised application to SEDarc.

  • Deadline: 3 February 2025, 12 midday.

SEDarc will contact you with the outcome of your application by the end of March.

Further details of the assessment process can be found on the SEDarc website.

Enquiries are best addressed to the relevant faculty or potential supervisor, but general questions may be sent to: rachel.graham@kingston.ac.uk.

SEDarc Postdoctoral Fellowships

The call for 2025 entry applications is now open.

The SEDarc Doctoral Training Partnership has been awarded funding from the ESRC to host four Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDFs) for October 2025 entry. The scheme is aimed at providing a career development opportunity for those in the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.

What is on offer?

The PDF grants provide funding for up to one year full-time, or up to two years part-time. In exceptional cases, applicants can apply for a fellowship for up to 18 months, however, this must be fully justified by the programme of activities being proposed.

Fellowships cover:

  • The Fellow's salary costs
  • Indirect costs
  • Estate costs
  • Up to a maximum of £10,000 for all other costs (to include costs such as mentoring costs, travel and subsistence, conference attendance, training, and fieldwork, for example)

Who is eligible for a SEDarc ESRC-funded PDF?

This call is open to those who have:

  1. completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of a current ESRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP); and
  2. been awarded a PhD or have passed their viva voce (or passed with minor corrections) by the application deadline of 25 March 2025 and have been awarded their PhD by the fellowship start date of 1 October 2025; and
  3. have no more than 12 months (full-time equivalent) of active postdoctoral experience since passing their viva voce (allowing for career breaks) by the application deadline of 25 March 2025.

Please note, if you have passed your viva voce, but with major corrections, you will not be eligible for this year's call.

Which pathways or disciplines can I apply for?

Your proposal can be from a single discipline or a combination of disciplines, but social sciences must make up at least 50% of your Fellowship activities.

Kingston SEDarc applicants may apply for the 'Healthy, Thriving Communities' interdisciplinary pathway.

ESRC PDF guidance documents

The ESRC issued the following documents for PDFs starting in October 2023 onwards:

  • ESRC Call Specification: sets out what is included in a PDF awards, the eligibility criteria, what is required in the application etc
  • ESRC FAQs: provides answers to questions about PDF awards

For further information from the ESRC, visit their webpage on early career researchers.

How to apply

We are now accepting informal enquiries until 15 December 2025. If we are able to support your application you will be asked to follow the steps outlined below.

Enquiries to be sent to email hssce-research@kingston.ac.uk.

Stages of competition:

  1. Submit your expression of interest (template will be provided if your expression of interest is accepted) and two-page CV to SEDarc by 23:59 GMT on 15 January 2025.
  2. There will an internal review of EOIs to select our two institutional nominees: if you are successful following this first review phase, you will be invited to complete a full, costed application by 25 March 2025. Our Research Development team will assist with the costings.
  3. SEDarc will then peer review the applications with a central team and make funding decisions on behalf of the ESRC, to a maximum of four awards, by mid June.

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