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The University of Southampton
EconomicsPart of Economic, Social and Political Science

Call for applications – 3 fully funded PhD scholarships

Published: 4 March 2020Origin: Ageing & Gerontology
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Department of Economics
Department of Gerontology
Department of Politics & International Relations
Department of Social Statistics & Demography
Department of Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology


The School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences (ESPS) at the University of Southampton is now accepting applications for 3 fully funded PhD scholarships from students wishing to commence their studies in the 2020/21 Academic Year.

In addition to covering the cost of the programme fees, those in receipt of an ESPS PhD award will also receive an annual maintenance grant (£15,009 - 2019/20 UKRI rate). Each scholarship will include a requirement of providing a certain number of hours of teaching support, in subjects of the recipient’s expertise, to their host Department or the School. The number of hours will be agreed with the Head of School and the Head of Department at the start of each academic year, and will
adhere to the University’s regulations on teaching assistance.

The proposed PhD topics can be in any discipline part of the School of Economic Social and Political Sciences (see Section below for additional details). Interdisciplinary proposals on topics that combine different discipline areas are encouraged.

You can apply online on our Postgraduate How to Apply page.

As part of the application you will need to prepare a research proposal and discuss with potential supervisor(s) from one of the Departments within ESPS. Guidelines on how to write a research proposal can be found via this link.

The application deadline is on Friday April 3 2020.

About the School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences (ESPS)

Economic, Social and Political Sciences is one of the 5 Schools in the Faculty of Social Sciences, which also includes the Schools of Mathematics, Law, Education and the Business School

Economic, Social & Political Sciences has an international reputation for cutting-edge methodologies, ranging from advanced quantitative methodologies in social statistics, demography, economics and econometrics through to expertise in in-depth qualitative methods and digital innovations, political economy, behavioural economics and political science, criminology, sociology and social policy, global health, gerontology, mathematical demography, political theory and international relations. Our academics are at the forefront in conducting research that combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

The School comprises five Departments (Economics; Gerontology; Politics & International Relations; Social Statistics & Demography; Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology) and much of our work is interdisciplinary. Addressing the major issues of society through combining approaches, we foster joint working while retaining the individual strengths of our specialist subject areas. While many of the issues we examine are global, our roots are anchored in the communities we study. Academics in Economic, Social and Political Sciences are involved in cutting-edge research on the major issues of our time, often collaborating with colleagues in other leading international universities. We also work with local and national governments and organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Our teaching is informed by our research findings, which means that Southampton students benefit from the latest knowledge and current thinking in each academic area.

Assessment Criteria

The following selection criteria will be used to rank applicants. Please note the criteria are NOT listed in order of importance but should be used ‘in the round’ to consider the relative strengths of candidates.

  1. Academic quality of the applicant, based on
    • Bachelors degree result, if known
    • Masters degree result, if known/applicable
    • Transcript(s)
    • Masters dissertation, if available/applicable
    • Academic references (a minimum of 1 reference to be from outside of proposed supervisory team)
    • Quality of research proposal
    • Other relevant experience
    • Alignment of research topic with Department/Academic Unit/Faculty / University strategy
  2. Letter/statement of support from the proposed supervisors.
  3. Interview with the selection panel.
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