SEDarc ESRC PhD Scholarship in UK 2027 (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the SEDarc ESRC PhD Scholarship, offered by the South East Doctoral Training Arc for students starting in September 2027. This is a fully funded doctoral scholarship covering tuition fees and a monthly stipend, aimed at students who want to carry out PhD research in the social sciences at one of six partner universities in London and the south-east of England.

The scholarship is open to both UK and international students, though only 30% of the total awards can go to international applicants. There is no application fee to apply. The deadline to apply is 29th January 2027 at 16:00 (GMT). You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here

Key Details:

Degree Level: PhD
Host Country: United Kingdom
Application Deadline: 29th January 2027, 16:00 GMT
Funding Type: Fully funded
Open For: UK and international students
Application Fee: None

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What This Scholarship Offers:

A full waiver of UK tuition fees, so students are not responsible for course costs
A living stipend at the UKRI home rate, giving students a steady income throughout their PhD, worth £21,805 a year (£23,805 in London) at 2026/27 rates, with 2027/28 rates to be confirmed
Coverage of the difference between home and international fees for successful overseas applicants, removing the extra financial burden usually faced by international students, except at the University of Reading
A funded three month placement in academia, policy, business, or the third sector, giving students real workplace experience alongside their research

Also Check: Gates Scholarship at the University of Cambridge (Fully Funded)

Participating Universities:

Applicants can choose to be based at any one of the following six SEDarc institutions:

University of Kent
Kingston University
University of Reading
Royal Holloway, University of London
University of Surrey
University of Sussex

About SEDarc:

SEDarc is a partnership between these six leading UK universities, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It offers world-class postgraduate research training in the social sciences and has strong ties with non-university partner organisations, giving students real-world research and placement experience.

SEDarc aims to:

Offer outstanding research training that drives discovery and innovation regionally, nationally, and globally
Equip researchers to succeed in challenge-led, collaborative, and interdisciplinary environments through specialist research training, transferable digital and data skills, and practical research experience

Also Check: President’s PhD Scholarship ın United Kingdom 2026/2027

Programme Length and Structure:

The standard SEDarc PhD lasts 3.5 years full-time (or the part-time equivalent), including a 3-month placement
Students who do not already hold a Masters degree in the social sciences may be eligible for additional funding to complete an approved Masters course within the SEDarc consortium first (a “1+3.5” route)
SEDarc only offers entry in the autumn term, and awards cannot be deferred
Students who have already started a PhD elsewhere are not eligible for this funding

More detail on the different award structures is available on the SEDarc studentship award structure page.

Also Check: London South Bank University PhD Scholarships

Eligibility:

Open to both UK and international students
Applicants should normally hold, or expect to achieve, at least an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree or equivalent, or have equivalent professional experience
International applicants make up no more than 30% of the total studentships awarded across the consortium

How to Apply:

Applications are not made directly to SEDarc. Instead, applicants must first be nominated by one of the six SEDarc universities. Each institution runs its own process and has its own internal deadline, so the first step is to contact the administrator at your chosen university.

The overall deadline for SEDarc applications is 29th January 2027 at 16:00 (GMT).

Also Check: International Max Planck Research School PhD Scholarship 2027

University Contacts:

If you have questions about applying for a studentship, contact the administrator at your chosen SEDarc university:

Kingston University: [email protected]
Royal Holloway, University of London: [email protected]
University of Kent: [email protected]
University of Reading: [email protected]
University of Surrey: [email protected]
University of Sussex: [email protected]

Important Note:

ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships, including SEDarc, are subject to a mid-term review in 2026. This means the number of available studentships could change depending on the review’s findings. Final allocations for the 2027 cohort are expected to be confirmed around January 2027, so applicants should check back for updates closer to the deadline.