ESRC Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership

The Midlands Graduate School is an accredited Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership that forms part of the ESRC's new Doctoral Training Network, significantly widening access for postgraduates to ESRC funding across the UK. This partnership includes eight institutions: Aston University, University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, University of Nottingham, University of Warwick, De Montfort University, and Nottingham Trent University. The DTP offers 17 different training pathways spanning various social science disciplines, with several postgraduate studentships awarded annually across pathways and institutions. Studentships are linked to specific training pathways, and some include built-in collaborative elements. The program supports students pursuing PhD research in areas including History, Museum Studies, Population Health Sciences, Media and Communication, Management, Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, and Economics. Studentships provide UK fees and a stipend at UKRI rates (£20,780 for 2025/26), with funding available for research training. Students can apply directly from undergraduate programs through the 1+3 award option, which includes a Masters leading to PhD study. Some studentship awards are ring-fenced for students applying from undergraduate degrees.