Doctoral training partnerships

About the project

Fully-funded scholarships across the social sciences and arts and humanities.

About doctoral training partnerships

Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) provide funded research opportunities for postgraduate students.

We are proud to be a part of two prestigious UKRI doctoral training partnerships that offer fully-funded PhD scholarships across the Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities:

With the support of an academic supervisor, you can apply for a DTP scholarship to fund your research proposal. Designed to support the training of the next generation of researchers, these competitive and esteemed programmes are awarded to the highest quality project applications.

• ESRC White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP)
• AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA)

White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP)

The WRDTP is a collaboration across the social sciences between Manchester Met and the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, and Hull, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

You can develop your skills and ability to carry out high-quality social research in a lively doctoral training environment through cross-university events, online learning platforms, and unique links between social sciences, humanities and STEM subjects.

A three-month Research in Practice (RinP) placement is an integral component of all new studentships funded by the ESRC from Autumn 2024, which will provide a practical opportunity to develop transferable skills and apply theoretical and methodological skills in different contexts. This placement element will also provide opportunities to develop new links with partner organisations and improve employability.

For more information, visit the WRDTP website .

What do we offer?

Your research project will be conducted under the supervision of expert researchers within one of the three accredited departments or schools at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The awards are organised around seven Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways, which are detailed in full on the WRDTP website . Applications must be able to articulate your fit with at least one of the pathways.

Each year, we run an open call for PhD projects. That means you devise your own research project aligned to one of these seven pathways above.

Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British Applicants

The WRDTP is delighted to continue working with the Stuart Hall Foundation (SHF) to support two studentships for Black British applicants. The WRDTP is keen to address historic structural inequalities in education through its partnership with SHF, and welcomes applications from Black British applicants. Further information can be found on their website .

• School of Sociology and Criminology
• Department of Social Care and Social Work
• School of Education
• Civil Society, Development and Democracy (CDD)
• Digital Technologies, Communication and Artificial Intelligence (DCA)
• Security, Conflict and Justice (SCJ)
• Education, Childhood and Youth (ECY)
• Space, Place, Environment and Liveability (SPEL)
• Sustainable Growth, Business, Work and Economic Productivity (SBE)
• Wellbeing, Health and Communities (WHC)

PHD with Integrated Masters (1+3.5)

You will spend an initial year on our MA in Social Research taking taught units and completing an independent research project. You’ll learn the theoretical knowledge, practical expertise and research skills you’ll need to progress onto a PhD with an integrated three-month RinP placement.

PhD (+3.5)

To apply for this route, you’ll need to have already passed 60 or more credits of Masters level social sciences research training, covering quantitative methods, qualitative methods, and principles of research design.

PhD with integrated PGCert (+3.75)

This option is for students with a prior Masters degree but who have fewer than 60 credits (or equivalent) of Masters-level social science research training. Students will be required to pass 60 credits of masters-level conceptual and general research units in year one of the PhD. The units will be chosen from the MA Social Research core units.

Funding

The scholarships cover your full tuition fees regardless of your fee status, whether home or international. However, please note that UKRI studentship awards do not cover visa costs, the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge)​​​​, flights and other costs incurred by moving to the UK.

You will also receive an annual fixed payment (known as a stipend) to cover your other costs. This sum is set each year by UK Research and Innovation . In 2026/27, it is £21,805 per year and the updated rates for 2026/27 will be published in early 2027.

• Eligibility criteria Eligibility criteria The WRDTP awards scholarships to students who can demonstrate consistently high academic performance. Students must have a good honours degree at first-class (1st) or upper second-class (2:1) level to apply. If you are applying for the PhD (+ 3.5), you must be able to show that you have completed substantial social sciences training in research methods. You should have at least 60 credits at masters-level of core social sciences research methods training. If you have a prior masters degree but without research methods training, you must take the +3.75 route, which integrates conceptual and general research units. If you do not have a masters degree, you must apply for the 1+3.5 route, which includes an integrated MA in Social Research . The awards are open to UK and International applicants. The awards are available for full-time and part-time study. Part-time study will last between seven and nine years, depending on the route. Programme Standard Duration (FT) Standard Duration (PT) 1+3.5 (Integrated PhD with MA Social Research with integrated placement) 4.5 years 2 years + 7 years 3.5 (standard PhD award with integrated placement) 3.5 years 7 years 3.75 (standard PhD award with integrated placement and integrated PGCert) 3.75 years 7.5 years Please note, remote, online or distance-learning PhD programmes are not eligible for ESRC funding. For full details, please consult the WRDTP “Reasonable Distance” from Institution Policy . Applicants who have already commenced a PhD are not eligible to apply for a WRDTP studentship, regardless of whether you are based in the UK or internationally, due to the programme’s specific requirements. If you currently hold a PhD offer with a start date prior to 1 October 2027, please contact your proposed supervisor to discuss deferral options if you wish to apply for WRDTP funding.

Eligibility criteria

Programme | Standard Duration (FT) | Standard Duration (PT)

1+3.5 (Integrated PhD with MA Social Research with integrated placement) | 4.5 years | 2 years + 7 years

3.5 (standard PhD award with integrated placement) | 3.5 years | 7 years

3.75 (standard PhD award with integrated placement and integrated PGCert) | 3.75 years | 7.5 years

• Manchester Met contacts Manchester Met contacts Key contacts Once a formal application is underway, your proposed supervisor(s) should notify our Academic Quality Committee: Prof Karen Pashby [email protected] and/or Dr Sarah Campbell [email protected] of the intended application. WRDTP Advanced Qualitative Methods Training Deputy Director: Laura Trafí-Prats (School of Education) [email protected] Other enquiries Please reach out to the accredited department leads below to discuss your research project and / or supervisory arrangements. School of Sociology and Criminology: Dr Benjamin Bowman [email protected] School of Education: Dr Harriet Rowley [email protected] and/or Dr Samantha Wilkinson [email protected] Department of Social Care and Social Work: Dr Sarah Pollock [email protected] General admin enquiries: [email protected]

Key contacts

• School of Sociology and Criminology: Dr Benjamin Bowman [email protected]
• School of Education: Dr Harriet Rowley [email protected] and/or Dr Samantha Wilkinson [email protected]
• Department of Social Care and Social Work: Dr Sarah Pollock [email protected]
• General admin enquiries: [email protected]
• Information sessions Information sessions Briefing session for prospective students, run by Manchester Met Academic Quality Committee: Pathway, AQM, ADA and WRDTP/SHF Awards: Wednesday 7 October: 12:00-13:00 Applicants can attend this online session by following this link . Attendees are expected to review all the relevant WRDTP guidance and know which department and supervisor they anticipate working with before this briefing. Applicants who are interested in the WRDTP Pathway, AQM, ADA and WRDTP/SHF Awards are also invited to attend an information session for guidance on the application process run by WRDTP. Pathway, AQM, ADA and WRDTP/SHF Awards: Thursday 8 October 2026: 17:30 – 18:30 Applicants can register by following this link . If you are unable to attend but would like to receive further information, you can indicate this via the form. Slides/recordings from the event will be posted on our website in due course, and enquirers will be notified once they are available.

Information sessions

• How to apply and selection process How to apply and selection process The White Rose selection process involves two stages. Stage one First, you will need to contact an academic (or a relevant department lead listed above if you have not secured your supervisory team) to discuss your research. With their expertise and guidance, you will develop a project proposal. Then you will need to make a formal application for a PhD in an eligible department or school on the University’s application portal at Manchester Met by 5pm, 4 January 2027 . Application link: Apply for a research degree As part of this application, you will need to email and upload the supporting documents listed below to the application portal in order to satisfy Manchester Met’s entry requirements by 5pm, 4 January 2027 : WRDTP Studentship Application Form (please send this to [email protected] ). Please download a copy of the WRDTP Studentship Application Form here . Degree transcripts. These should include details of the modules taken. If you are currently studying for a degree, interim transcripts should be provided wherever possible. ESRC WRDTP Studentships - EDI Monitoring Form . Qualifications and certificates, with English translation for non-UK qualifications Your CV A copy of your passport Two letters of reference, of which one must relate to your most recent academic qualification Proof of English language proficiency where relevant Please note that if you do not have two letters of reference and/or Proof of English language proficiency (where relevant) by 5pm, 04 January 2026 , you can supply these at a later stage. However, we would encourage you to have the documents listed above included in your application. We will take a holistic approach to ensure that applicants with clear potential to flourish as doctoral researchers are nominated for awards. If you encounter any technical issues when uploading the requested supporting documents, please email copies of the documents to [email protected] and quote the reference in the following format: “your individual application number + WRDTP October 2027 Entry.” Stage two As WRDTP studentship awards are highly competitive, applications are reviewed internally at Manchester Met, and only the strongest applications are selected to be nominated for the DTP’s studentship competition. If your application progresses to this second stage, you will be notified about any further requirements in January 2027. The WRDTP assess the quality of all applications and project proposals to determine who will receive funding. Successful candidates will be announced by 23 April 2027. Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the WRDTP assessment criteria .

Stage one

• WRDTP Studentship Application Form (please send this to [email protected] ). Please download a copy of the WRDTP Studentship Application Form here .
• Degree transcripts. These should include details of the modules taken. If you are currently studying for a degree, interim transcripts should be provided wherever possible.
• ESRC WRDTP Studentships - EDI Monitoring Form .
• Qualifications and certificates, with English translation for non-UK qualifications
• Your CV
• A copy of your passport
• Two letters of reference, of which one must relate to your most recent academic qualification
• Proof of English language proficiency where relevant

Stage two

• Key dates Key dates You must apply for a place on your chosen PhD programme to be considered for nomination for a WRDTP award. Please ensure you submit a formal application on the University’s portal as mentioned above successfully and complete the necessary steps outlined above by 5:00pm on 4 January 2027. If you are successful in being nominated, you will receive notification of this in January 2027, and Doctoral Services will compile a nomination pack on your behalf. Nominations will be sent to the WRDTP by Doctoral Services by 5:00pm on 24 February 2027. Outcomes will be communicated by 23 April 2027.

Key dates

• Doctoral Landscape Awards Applications are invited for three fully-funded Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA). Find out more

Research areas