University of York White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships 2027

The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) is a partnership of seven Universities including York. Each year, WRDTP offers a range of social sciences PhD studentships, alongside comprehensive training, to develop the next generation of social science leaders for a diverse range of careers.

WRDTP has been accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to offer studentships across a range of schemes, available for taught and research students commencing their studies in Autumn 2027. The following awards will be open for application from students:

• up to 38 Pathway Awards available across the DTP incorporating 2 Interdisciplinary Research Awards and 2 WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British applicants
• up to 2 WRDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) Awards
• up to 2 WRDTP Advanced Data Analytics (ADA) Awards

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 20, 2027
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of York
• City to studyYork
• School to studyUniversity of York
• Course to studySocial Science
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• ESRC stipend (£21,805 2026/27) plus full fee waiver at the home or international rate (updated rates for 2027/28 will be published in early 2027).

Requirements

Open to International (including EU), International (non-EU) and UK (home) students.

• Applicants who have already commenced a PhD are not eligible to apply for a WRDTP studentship, due to the programme’s specific requirements.
• Remote, online or distance-learning PhD programmes are not eligible for ESRC funding.
• Applicants must first apply online for a place on a relevant PhD programme, in the first instance, within an eligible department/school, before applying for this funding opportunity.
• If you are an international applicant there are some additional factors to consider as part of your application.

Selection Process

Application Deadline

How To Apply

The application process is managed internally by departments. Seek advice from your prospective supervisor in the first instance if you're interested in applying.

Stage 1

• You must first apply online for the relevant PhD programme (for 2027/28 entry) within an eligible department/school, before applying for this funding opportunity.
• Each department/school has an earlier internal deadline by which prospective applicants must apply.
• The admissions portal for September 2027 onwards opens at the end of September/start of October 2026. Please wait until this time to make an application.
• If you intend to apply for a 1+3.5 studentship, you will be invited to apply for the MA in Social Research (for 2027/28 entry) by your department/school following any internal selection processes in January/February 2027. They will also request that your offer for the PhD programme is deferred for 2028/2029 entry.
• For queries about applying for an academic programme email our Postgraduate Research Admissions team at [email protected].

Stage 2

• Some departments/schools may also require you to email them a WRDTP draft application form by their internal deadline. Please check your department/school’s internal process. 
• Before completing your draft application form, you are strongly advised to read the application guidance.

WRDTP Pathway/AQM/ADA Draft Application Form

Stage 3

• Following their internal deadline, departments/schools will select applicants going forward in the process.
• Selected applicants will be invited by their department/school to complete a final application form by Wednesday 20 January 2027, 5pm GMT.
• Departments/schools will share the link to the application form directly with selected applicants.
• Some departments/schools will provide their candidates with written feedback on their draft application form. Feedback will be provided at the end of December 2026, or mid-January 2027.
• Before completing your final application form, you are strongly advised to read the application guidance.
• If you applied for the 1+3.5 studentship as a home applicant, your department/school will contact you to invite you to apply for the MA in Social Research 2027/28 entry and arrange for the deferral of your PhD programme 2028/29 entry

Stage 4 - International applicants only

• Departments/schools will run an additional, highly selective internal selection process for international applicants only. This is because the ESRC limits the proportion of awards available to international applicants to 30%, which means that the WRDTP cannot offer any more than 30% of its awards to international candidates.
• If you have applied for the 1+3.5 studentship as an international applicant, your department/school will contact you separately at this point to invite you to apply for the MA in Social Research (for 2027/28 entry) and arrange for the deferral of your PhD programme (for 2028/2029 entry).

Stage 5

• Departments/schools will submit nominations to the WRDTP for consideration by Wednesday 24 February 2027, 5pm GMT.
  Please note that selection by your department/school constitutes a nomination for funding rather than a final offer.

Stage 6

• White Rose Academic Quality Committee will review the nominations and confirm the award winners.
• The award winners are expected to be announced by WRDTP by Friday 23 April 2027. Successful candidates will be notified by the University of York by the end of April 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Although the deadline for applications is Wednesday 20 January 2027 5pm GMT, applicants must first be shortlisted by their chosen departments to be eligible. Please find details about these internal deadlines/processes below.

For more information, kindly visit University of York scholarship webpage.