WRDTP Pathway Awards 2023/24

This page shows the WRDTP ESRC Pathway Awards that are on offer from the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership in 2023/24.

Outside of ESRC’s steered studentships and target requirements for collaboration with non-academic partners, the WRDTP is required by the ESRC to offer awards through open competition and not based on internal quotas.  Of the total number of WRDTP ESRC awards (45) which are available in the themed pathways, 2 of these are allocated as Interdisciplinary Research Awards, and 2 are WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British students.

Pathway Awards fund candidates who have submitted their own research project, and successful students will be supervisors by a team of academic colleagues who share their subject expertise.

All of these awards are available on a 1+3 or a +3 basis, and can be held full-time or part-time.   We welcome applications from candidates with innovative ideas and a clear sense of how their proposed research will address some of the greatest challenges facing global society.

University of Bradford

The University of Bradford is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 2 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC) – via the Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and the School of Management
  2. Sustainable Growth, Management, and Economic Productivity (SMP) – via the School of Management

More information about WRDTP ESRC Awards at the University of Bradford can be found here.

University of Hull

The University of Hull is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 5 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Cities, Environment, and Liveability (CEL) – via the Department of History; and the Department of Geography, Geology and Environment
  2. Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY) – via the Department of Psychology
  3. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC) – via the Department of Psychology
  4. Sustainable Growth, Management, and Economic Productivity (SMP) – via the Department of Geography, Geology and Environment
  5. Civil Society, Development, and Democracy (CDD) – via the Department of Geography, Geology and Environment

More information about WRDTP ESRC Awards at the University of Hull can be found here.

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 7 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Cities, Environment, and Liveability (CEL)
  2. Security, Conflict, and Justice (SCJ)
  3. Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY)
  4. Data, Communication, and New Technologies (DCT)
  5. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC)
  6. Sustainable Growth, Management, and Economic Productivity (SMP)
  7. Civil Society, Development, and Democracy (CDD)

Information about WRDTP ESRC Awards at Leeds, can be found here.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 2 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY) – via the Department of Social Care and Social Policy; and the Faculty of Education
  2. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC) – via the Department of Social Care and Social Work

More information about WRDTP ESRC Awards at Manchester Metropolitan can be found here.

Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield Hallam University is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 4 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Cities, Environment, and Liveability (CEL) – via the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR)
  2. Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY) – via Sheffield Institute of Education
  3. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC) – via the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR)
  4. Civil Society, Development, and Democracy (CDD) – via the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR)

More information about WRDTP ESRC Awards at Sheffield Hallam University, can be found here.

University of Sheffield 

The University of Sheffield is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 7 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Cities, Environment, and Liveability (CEL)
  2. Security, Conflict, and Justice (SCJ)
  3. Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY)
  4. Data, Communication, and New Technologies (DCT)
  5. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC)
  6. Sustainable Growth, Management, and Economic Productivity (SMP)
  7. Civil Society, Development, and Democracy (CDD)

Information about WRDTP ESRC Awards at Sheffield, can be found here.

University of York

The University of York is offering White Rose DTP Pathway Awards in the following 7 Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways:

  1. Cities, Environment, and Liveability (CEL)
  2. Security, Conflict, and Justice (SCJ)
  3. Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY)
  4. Data, Communication, and New Technologies (DCT)
  5. Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC)
  6. Sustainable Growth, Management, and Economic Productivity (SMP)
  7. Civil Society, Development, and Democracy (CDD)

Information about Social Sciences and WRDTP ESRC Awards at York, can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Am I eligible for a WRDTP studentship?

Please find all the details regarding our eligibility requirements in our WRDTP Studentship FAQs 2023_24.

How do I apply? 

Students do not apply to the WRDTP directly for a studentship. The process differs slightly at each of our seven partner institutions, and you’ll need to use their application systems to apply for your PhD place, and to be considered for a studentship. Therefore we recommend speaking to the Postgraduate Research Officer or the member of staff responsible for PGR Admissions in your chosen academic department at your preferred university – they will be best placed to advise you on the application process. You are advised to make contact with your school or department at an early stage to discuss your application, and identify a potential supervisor.

Once you have applied to your university and have a PhD study offer, your department/school will also decide whether to nominate you to the WRDTP for ESRC funding. If you are successful in being put forward to the WRDTP, your department/school will compile a nomination pack on your behalf, and submit this to the WRDTP for consideration by the specified deadline.

It is then assessed by the WRDTP’s Academic Quality Committee, and decisions will be shared with all applicants by the end of April 2023. Please note that your institution’s Scholarships Team will communicate all decisions – the WRDTP will not contact you directly with the outcomes. Please also be aware that due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individualised feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Applicant Information Sessions

Applicants who are interested in the WRDTP Pathway and AQM Awards are invited to attend an information session for guidance on the application process. There will also be an information session for Black British applicants who are interested in applying for a Stuart Hall Foundation Award.

These will be held online on the following dates:

  • Pathway Awards and AQM Awards (open to home and international applicants): 
    • Thursday 20 October 2022: 5:30pm – 6:30pm
  • Stuart Hall Foundation Awards (open to Black British applicants only): 
    • Wednesday 26 October 2022: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

These sessions will include opportunities for Q&A and a recording of the session will be made available afterwards. To book your place on a session, please follow this link.

What is the deadline to apply?

Students must have submitted their application for a PhD study place by 17:00hrs, 25 January 2023 in order to be considered for a WRDTP studentship.

PLEASE NOTE: Each of our partner universities have slightly different application systems, so depending on where you choose to apply, you may be asked to apply for studentship funding at the same time as your PhD application and via the same application form, or via a separate scholarships application system, or to apply for funding only after you have a study place confirmed. We strongly recommend checking with your chosen department/school to confirm your local application process, and any local deadlines. 

The overall timeline for the WRDTP studentships competition can be found in our WRDTP Studentship FAQs 2023_24 (Page 23).

What happens if I miss the deadline to apply?

Unfortunately, we cannot consider late applications. However, If you miss out on the deadline to apply for a WRDTP Pathway or Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) Award, but are still interested in undertaking a WRDTP-funded studentship, there are other opportunities to secure funding for a PhD.

In early Spring 2023, we will be recruiting students to our WRDTP Collaborative Award projects – these studentships are designed by academic colleagues at our partner universities, and involve collaboration with an external (non-HE) partner. Further details will be unveiled on our WRDTP Collaborative Awards webpage in due course.

Assessment Criteria for Pathway Awards

  • Student excellence: academic success and qualifications, relevant work experience, prizes and awards
  • Project excellence: significance, originality, the contribution to knowledge, well articulated research question/s
  • Pathway excellence: project fit with, and development of, pathway research strategy
  • Collaborative excellence: demonstrates a collaborative element with the ability to make impact beyond academia
  • Training excellence: for 1+3, suitable MA Social Research framework as proposed masters training; for +3, demonstrates candidate has previously accumulated at least 60 credits (not including dissertation) of M-level research methods in the social sciences and how training needs will be met, delivered, and monitored
  • Fundability: On balance do you feel this thesis is fundable?

For further detail on the Assessment Criteria please see the WRDTP Pathway Awards Assessment Guidance Notes 2023_2024.

WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British students

Two WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British students will be available in this year’s Pathway competition. More details on the application process can be found here.

Prospective candidates should contact the relevant academic school/department at their preferred University directly for more information on how to apply, and eligibility for WRDTP studentships.