PhD Funding Opportunity: SEDarc ESRC-Funded Studentships – University of Surrey

PhD Funding Opportunity: SEDarc ESRC-Funded Studentships – University of Surrey

• Institution: University of Surrey

• Funding Programme: South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc)

• Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

• Entry: 2027

• Start Date: October 1, 2027

• Duration: 3.5 years or 1 + 3.5 years, depending on the programme

• Placement: 3-month professional placement, or part-time equivalent

• Eligibility: UK and International Students

• Funding: Full UK or international tuition-fee waiver plus UKRI-rate stipend

• Application Deadline: January 18, 2027 at 4:00 PM

• Location: University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

Overview of the Opportunity

The University of Surrey is offering a number of ESRC-funded doctoral studentships through the South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) for 2027 entry.

SEDarc is a partnership involving six UK universities and provides advanced postgraduate research training in the social sciences.

The partnership includes:

• University of Kent

• Kingston University

• University of Reading

• Royal Holloway, University of London

• University of Surrey

• University of Sussex

The studentships support doctoral research across a broad range of social-science disciplines and multidisciplinary areas.

Eligible Subject Areas at Surrey

At the University of Surrey, SEDarc studentships are available for research in areas including:

• Business and Management

• Economics

• Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism

• Linguistics

• Politics and International Relations

• Psychology

• Sociology

• Related Multidisciplinary Topics

Research Themes

SEDarc supports projects across five major thematic areas.

1. Living Sustainably

Research may address:

• Climate change

• Net Zero

• Green and circular economies

• Biodiversity and conservation

• Ecosystem services

• Energy and resource security

• Environmental risks

• Resilience and justice

• Environmental understanding

• Behaviour change

• Population movements linked to environmental change

• Conservation across age groups and cultures

2. Healthy Thriving Communities

Potential topics include:

• Health and social care

• Wellbeing

• Health inequalities

• Public policy

• Poverty

• Equality, diversity and inclusion

• Place, identity and citizenship

• Voluntarism

• Transport and mobility

• Neighbourhood dynamics

• Housing and homelessness

• Families, childhood and youth

• Ageing

• Education trajectories

• Intergroup relations

• Migration

3. Inclusive Economic Growth

Research areas may include:

• Inclusive growth

• Macroeconomic stability

• Taxation

• Fiscal policy

• Regional and demographic inequalities

• Education and skills

• Lifelong learning

• Labour-market outcomes

• Fair work

• Pay gaps

• Sustainable growth strategies

• Economic decision-making

4. Secure, Effective and Trusted Institutions

Projects may focus on:

• Geopolitical change

• International institutions

• Global trade frameworks

• Democratic institutions

• Legal frameworks

• Justice systems

• Human rights

• Forced displacement

• Modern slavery

• Peacebuilding

• Conflict resolution

• Diversifying leadership

5. Transformative Technologies for Society

Relevant research areas include:

• Artificial Intelligence

• Robotics

• Virtual Reality and immersive media

• Socioeconomic impacts of emerging technologies

• Facial recognition

• Computer vision

• Natural language processing

• Digital technologies in education

• Digital technologies in health and mental health

• Technologies in justice

• Cybersecurity

• Fintech

• Future of work

• Digital divides

• Digital inclusion

Professional Placement

A three-month professional placement is a key component of SEDarc-funded studentships.

Placement organisations may come from:

• Public sector

• Private sector

• Academic sector

SEDarc has approximately 40 placement partners, but applicants are also encouraged to identify their own placement opportunities aligned with their career goals.

Applicants should indicate possible placement partners in their application.

Eligibility

The studentship is open to:

• UK candidates

• International candidates

• EU candidates

International students who receive a studentship will have the difference between home and overseas tuition fees waived by the University of Surrey.

There is, however, a 30% cap on international studentships across the SEDarc consortium.

Funding

Awards cover:

• Full UK tuition fees

• Full international tuition-fee waiver where applicable

• UKRI-rate maintenance stipend

• Professional placement support as part of the programme

The final UKRI rates for 2027/28 have not yet been announced.

For reference, the 2026/27 UKRI stipend is:

GBP 21,805 annually

Approximately:

INR 27.69 lakh annually

Where London weighting applies, the 2026/27 stipend is:

GBP 23,805 annually

Approximately:

INR 30.23 lakh annually

The 2026/27 UK tuition-fee rate cited by Surrey is GBP 5,238.

Applicants should note that the actual stipend and fee level for 2027/28 may differ once UKRI confirms the new rates.

Programme Duration

Studentships may be offered as:

• 3.5 years, or

• 1 + 3.5 years

The appropriate duration depends on the programme and the applicant’s prior research-training background.

Both routes include a professional placement component.

Application Process

Applications for Surrey-based SEDarc studentships follow a two-stage selection process.

First, applicants are assessed by the University of Surrey.

Candidates selected by Surrey are then nominated for consideration by the SEDarc panel.

Applicants cannot apply directly to SEDarc in the first instance.

Step 1: Identify a Prospective Supervisor

Applicants should first identify and contact a suitable prospective supervisor at the University of Surrey.

Relevant areas include:

• Business

• Economics

• Hospitality and Tourism Management

• Literature and Languages

• Politics and International Relations

• Psychology

• Sociology

Applicants should discuss their proposed research project with the supervisor before submitting the application.

Postgraduate Directors

Applicants who are unsure whom to contact may approach the relevant postgraduate director:

• Business: Professor Andrew Alexander

• Economics: Dr Federico Martellosio

• Hospitality and Tourism Management: Dr Jason Chen

• Literature and Languages: Dr Carl Thompson

• Politics and International Relations: Dr Simona Guerra

• Psychology: Dr Kimberley Smith

• Sociology: Professor Christine Hine

Step 2: Complete the SEDarc Application Form

Applicants must complete the official SEDarc Doctoral Training Partnership application form.

The application requires input from the proposed supervisor.

Applicants should carefully follow the associated guidance notes.

Step 3: Apply for a University of Surrey PhD

Applicants must apply for a relevant University of Surrey doctoral programme by:

January 18, 2027 at 4:00 PM

Applicants should:

• Select October 2027 as the start date.

• Submit the completed SEDarc application form in place of the usual research proposal.

• Ensure the proposed supervisor has been consulted before submission.

No other entry point is offered under this studentship.

Step 4: Send the SEDarc Form to the Department

By the same deadline of January 18, 2027 at 4:00 PM, applicants must also email the completed SEDarc application form to the postgraduate director of the relevant department.

Applicants must have been interviewed by their proposed supervisor by this date.

Shortlisting Process

Candidates shortlisted by the University of Surrey will be notified on:

January 22, 2027

Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to submit their application to SEDarc by:

January 29, 2027 at 4:00 PM

Candidates may use the intervening period to revise their application based on feedback from Surrey’s internal selection panel.

Important Dates

• University of Surrey Application Deadline: January 18, 2027 at 4:00 PM

• Shortlisted Candidates Notified: January 22, 2027

• SEDarc Final Submission for Shortlisted Candidates: January 29, 2027 at 4:00 PM

• Programme Start Date: October 1, 2027

How to Apply

Applicants must first apply through the University of Surrey for a relevant PhD programme.

Official Studentship Page:
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/studentships/south-east-doctoral-training-arc-sedarc-studentship

Applicants should identify a suitable supervisor, complete the SEDarc application form, and submit their University of Surrey PhD application by the stated deadline.

For questions:

University of Surrey Doctoral College
Email: doctoralcollege@surrey.ac.uk

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