SeNNS (ESRC) Studentships - University of Roehampton London

SeNSS (ESRC) Studentships are delivered through the South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS), described as a Doctoral Training Partnership offering Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) masters and PhD studentships, with the University of Roehampton participating as one of the partner institutions. Roehampton states that the funding is for eligible disciplines where projects address SENSS’s core research themes.

Roehampton welcomes funding applications in the social science disciplines listed on its SeNSS page, mapped to SENSS themes (for example, Business and Management Studies; Communication, Cultural and Media Studies; Education; Law; Psychology; and Sociology). Roehampton also links each of these areas to “units of assessment” and corresponding SENSS thematic panels.

Selection described by Roehampton uses a two-stage internal process followed by external review when progressed. Roehampton states that it reviews applications to consider whether to offer a place to study and whether to progress to SENSS selection. If progressed, an internal panel reviews the application and, if advanced, a panel of SENSS subject specialists reviews the application to decide whether the applicant should be awarded funding. The process includes interviews, and applicants can refine and update their application on HEIApply after interview if indicated they will be moved forward.

Roehampton states the award is “fully-funded” for PhD and for Masters plus PhD (maintenance stipend including London weighting and full fee-waiver). The page sets application, interview, and internal/external submission deadlines, but it does not describe conditions for renewal/continuation, length of funding by programme duration, or any post-award obligations.

• Applicants must check that they meet the ESRC eligibility criteria before applying.
• Funding at Roehampton is available only in the disciplines and themes listed on the SeNSS page, for projects that address the core SENSS themes and can be supported by supervisors at the University.
• Academic (ESRC criteria): for master’s plus PhD, applicants must have gained at least a 2.1 in their bachelor’s degree; for PhD-only awards, applicants must possess a relevant, and ESRC-recognised, master’s degree.
• Residency (ESRC criteria): UK, EU and international students are eligible for a full award (fees plus annual stipend). If unsure, applicants are directed to contact [email protected].
• Discipline (ESRC criteria): ESRC funding at Roehampton is available only in the units of assessments listed on the page and for projects that address SENSS research themes. Projects outside these areas are not eligible for ESRC funding; Roehampton states it can support interdisciplinary approaches within these themes.
• Applicants are encouraged to contact the SENSS team to discuss eligibility and supervision availability.
• Application-process requirement (as stated for candidates applying through Roehampton for the earlier round shown on the page): applicants were required to have contacted the relevant academic School to express interest and to have begun both the SeNSS and Roehampton online applications by 2023-12-22.
• Application-process requirement (as stated for new students in the later round shown on the page): prospective applicants were instructed to make contact with [email protected] by 2025-12-01 to be forwarded onto potential supervisors, and to have a clear idea of a proposal, research plan and SENSS theme at the time of contact.
• Application process requirement for current doctoral students and prospective current students: current AND prospective PhD / master’s plus PhD students must apply via the SENSS online application system (HEIApply).

• Maintenance stipend (including London weighting): £20,622.
• Full fee-waiver (23/24 rates; 24/25 rate not yet determined as stated on the page).

1. Prospective applicants should contact [email protected] to be forwarded onto potential supervisors so applicants can discuss their project and potential supervision, and to discuss eligibility (the page provides two rounds of dates).
2. Round shown with 2025 deadlines (new students): contact [email protected] by 2025-12-01 with a clear idea of a proposal, research plan and SENSS theme.
3. Round shown with 2025 deadlines (application submission): complete the SENSS online application system on HEIApply and also complete the Roehampton online application. (Roehampton states Roehampton will be notified automatically via HEIApply.)
4. Round shown with 2025 deadlines: have completed Roehampton applications received by 2025-12-13. Interviews will take place before 2026-01-14.
5. All students in the 2025 round: after interview, if indicated you are moved forward, discuss and refine the application and update it on HEIApply, ensuring the HEIApply application is ready for internal review by 2026-01-14.
6. Round shown with 2025 deadlines: if chosen through internal review, submit the SeNSS application on HEIApply by 2026-02-04.
7. Roehampton states studentship awards are likely to be made by end April 2026.
8. Roehampton also describes an earlier round of dates: candidates were required to have contacted the relevant academic School and begun both the SeNSS and Roehampton online applications by 2023-12-22.
9. Earlier round deadlines: completed Roehampton applications must be received by 2024-01-17; interviews will take place before 2024-01-29.
10. Earlier round deadlines: submit the SeNSS application on HEIApply by 2024-02-07.
11. Earlier round deadlines: applicants are advised whether the application is going forward to SENSS’s Final Selection Panel by 2024-03-08; studentship awards are likely to be made by end April 2024.