ESRC PhD Studentships at Middlesex University

What is SENSS?

Middlesex University is a member of the South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS), a Doctoral Training Partnership funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The SENSS consortium, comprised of eight universities engaged in internationally recognised social sciences research, offers ESRC studentship funding for postgraduate studies as well as a range of other training and development opportunities.

Key details

Course start date: 1 October 2026

Location: London Campus

Programme type: +3.5 year PhD or +4.5 year master's plus PhD

Mode of study: Full and part-time applications equally welcome

SENSS ESRC studentships are open to UK and EU/international applicants.

Current PhD students at Middlesex who will have at least 50% of their period of study remaining on 1 October 2026 are also able to apply.

A SENSS studentship at Middlesex offers:

Fully funded support for your research, including support for fieldwork, travel and language development if needed
Supervision from internationally leading experts in their field
Research methods training tailored to your needs
A commitment to interdisciplinarity, where research addresses thematic priorities, so that every funded researcher works in an area of national and international importance
A range of placements so that you can put your research skills into action, and share findings beyond academia, while undertaking your research.

Flexible pathways

There are a variety of flexible routes for research and training, depending on your background and the research you’re planning to undertake.  SENSS encourages applicants from talented students whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree, who may be funded to undertake a master’s programme and then a PhD.

The structure of the studentship offered will depend on your personal training needs. However, the standard duration of a SENSS-funded studentship is 3.5 years – this covers a PhD and a mandatory placement of approximately three months. The maximum duration of a studentship is 4.5 years – this covers a master’s degree followed by a PhD, as well as the mandatory three-month placement.

Next programme commences: 1 October 2026

Please note that if you have already started doctoral study, you may still be eligible for SENSS studentship funding providing that, at the start of the SENSS award, you will have at least 50% of your fundable period of study remaining. A student who has started their doctoral studies on a part-time basis and is awarded funding is permitted to convert to full-time status from the start of their funding award. The amount of funding granted will be adjusted in line with fundable study time already undertaken. 

Funding

Successful candidates will be awarded a SENSS ESRC studentship, which pays tuition fees and stipend at standard UKRI rates. For 2025-26 the stipend is £22,780 per year for full-time study, (including London weighting) and will be increased on 1 October 2026.

Additional funding is available to help students with disabilities meet additional costs in relation to their studies.

SENSS-funded postgraduate researchers can also access funds to cover research and training costs linked to their PhD. This could include conference attendance, fieldwork, language training, overseas research visits, and costs associated with the placement with a non-academic partner.

International students in receipt of a SENSS studentship also receive an exemption from international tuition fees, meaning that they will have no tuition fees to pay. Unfortunately, SENSS is not able to provide any additional assistance with relocation or visa costs.

Who is eligible for a SENSS PhD studentship?

Both ‘home’ and ‘international’ applicants
Applicants currently undertaking a PhD who have completed less than 50% of their programme on the day the studentship commences, 1 October 2026, or
Applicants with qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a master’s degree from a UK academic research organisation.

This means:

+4.5 master’s plus PhD applicants should have, or be expecting to receive, a minimum 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent.
+3.5 PhD studentship applicants should have, or be expecting to receive, a minimum 2:1 honours in a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and a master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
The length of the studentship awarded is dependent on the skills that applicants require to successfully complete their PhD project. Where additional training is deemed to require less than a full master’s year, SENSS may offer +3.75, +4 and +4.25 year studentships.

View ESRC Studentship eligibility rules.

What do I need to do to begin my application journey?

The most important thing is to read the background material on the SENSS website and identify and contact a potential supervisor at Middlesex to begin to discuss and develop your project.

How do I apply?

There is a two-stage application process:

First, you must apply for a place in the Middlesex PhD programme, indicating that you are also applying for a SENSS studentship. Applications must be submitted to Middlesex University by Monday 15 December 2025 at 12:00pm UK time.

Second, apply to SENSS for your ESRC studentship. Applications for SENSS ESRC Studentships open on Wednesday 1 October and must be submitted by Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 12:00pm UK time.

Thematic areas

SENSS offers funding for studentships at Middlesex across five themes:

SENSS themes

Resolving uncertainty and addressing crises

Sustainability and climate emergency

Health, wellbeing and social care

Justice, institutions and social change

Advanced methods for social and economic research

The focus on themes implies doctoral research responding to real-world challenges and framed by strong interdisciplinarity.

As the ESRC is focused on supporting social and economic sciences in the UK, while the studentship may support interdisciplinary research, the field of study must be predominantly social science (50% or more).

Supporting disciplines

The ERSC at Middlesex, applications are supported by the following disciplines:

Earth Systems and environmental science
Geography and environmental studies
Economics and econometrics
Business and management studies
Law
Politics and International Studies
Social Work and Social Policy
Sociology
Criminology

Graduate School, centres, groups, academic departments

At Middlesex, our research culture is one of collaboration, networks and exchange, both within the university (crossing disciplinary borders) and beyond. As a graduate researcher you are invited to become active contributor to these networks, through involvement in the Middlesex Graduate School and by participating in research centres or groups linked to your area of research.

The Graduate School offers academic and social events for postgraduate researchers, a theory and methods hub, external connections to academic and professional networks, as well as a programme of visiting fellows. Researchers are supported by a dedicated researcher development programme that offers a ‘kickstarter series’ for researchers beginning their doctoral work, as well as more advanced sessions.

Graduate School

Research centres

Research centres are drivers of research culture at Middlesex, with established track records and international reputations. They are hubs of external collaboration and engagement. If you are looking for a supervisor with whom to work at Middlesex, these are great places to begin:

Research groups

Middlesex has a range of disciplinary, interdisciplinary and thematic research groups, often addressing emerging areas of activity or focused areas of research.

Academic departments

Your research will also be supported by the academic departments that make up the Faculty of Business and Law, where you will be invited to participate in a wide range of research and social events, ranging from researcher presentations, book launches, debates, workshops, to visiting lectures: