Do you want to research a social policy topic to PhD level?
Posted on 4 January 2016
SPSW has one studentship available for a September 2016 start. You can study any topic in social policy with this award. You will need to write a research proposal about the topic that you wish to study. The award can be on a '1+3' basis where you study for the Masters in Research (MRes) prior to undertaking the PhD. If you already have an equivalent to the MRes (i.e. a Masters degree that has focused on social research methods) then a '+3' studentship is available.
In addition to this, applicants can also compete for ‘1+3’ or ‘+3’ awards in Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) in either Social Policy or Social Work, with four scholarships available to the best students across the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York.
The awards are offered within the White Rose Doctoral Training Centre, A collaboration between the Universitites of Leeds, Sheffield and York.
View our staff list of PhD supervisors to see the specialisms available in the department
View the list of current PhD students and subjects.
York is ranked 3rd in the UK for research excellence and first for the impact of our research in the 2014 assessment exercise. If you come to York you will join a world class research community with the highest ranking in the country for getting our research out to the people who need it and improving our society. Read more about our research here.
Application process
There is a twin track application process, whereby applicants must first apply to the Department for a PhD and then apply separately for the studentship itself:
- Applying to the Department
- Apply to the Department for a PhD, using the online application process here: http://www.york.ac.uk/spsw/postgraduate/phd/
- When asked on the application form ‘how studies will be funded’, please write either ‘ESRC discipline award’ or ‘ESRC AQM award’ (or both if you wish to apply for both the discipline award and the AQM award).
- When asked for a ‘research proposal’, please write either ‘ESRC discipline award’ or ‘ESRC AQM award’ and then insert the title of your proposal. The research proposal should be 2,000-3,000 words long and include:
- a concise review of relevant literature;
- a clear statement of the research question, hypothesis or objective, and of how this of its within the existing literature;
- a clear outline of the research methods to be used and how they will be applied;
- an accurate list of references.
- Applying for the studentship
- Apply for the studentship here: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-funding/research/esrc/
- Applicants must first ensure that they meet the ‘Eligibility and Availability’ criteria.
- When you have read all the relevant information, please follow the application guidelines on the website and complete the ‘ESRC application form’
- When asked to specify your ‘training pathway’ please write ‘Social Policy and Social Research’.
- Please note that the studentship application form must be sent to both the Department (sharon.harrison@york.ac.uk) and to Research Student Administration (research-student-admin@york.ac.uk).
***Deadline for studentship application: noon on 2 February 2016***
Interview process:
Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place during the week commencing 8th February 2016
More information can be found at the links given above. If you have any further queries please contact Sharon Harrison sharon.harrison@york.ac.uk.