Doctoral training partnerships

Fully-funded scholarships across the social sciences and arts and humanities.

About doctoral training partnerships

Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) provide funded research opportunities for postgraduate students.

We are proud to be a part of two prestigious UKRI doctoral training partnerships that offer fully-funded PhD scholarships across the Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities:

With the support of an academic supervisor, you can apply for a DTP scholarship to fund your research proposal. Designed to support the training of the next generation of researchers, these competitive and esteemed programmes are awarded to the highest quality project applications.

White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP)

The WRDTP is a collaboration across the social sciences between Manchester Met and the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, and Hull, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

You can develop your skills and ability to carry out high-quality social research in a lively doctoral training environment through cross-university events, online learning platforms, and unique links between social sciences, humanities and STEM subjects. 

A placement element will help doctoral students develop new links with partner organisations, in ways that will help both with research impact and knowledge exchange, and with improving employability. 

For more information, visit the WRDTP website.

What do we offer?

The partnership allows us to offer fully-funded PhD scholarships in three research pathways:

  • Education, Childhood and Youth (ECY)
  • Wellbeing, Health and Communities (WHC)
  • Space, Place, Environment and Liveability (SPEL)

Each year, we run an open call for PhD projects. That means you devise your own research project aligned to one of these three pathways.  

PHD with Integrated Masters (1+3.5) 

This means you’ll spend an initial year on our MA in Social Research taking taught units and an independent research project. You’ll learn the theoretical knowledge, practical expertise and research skills you’ll need to progress onto a PhD with an integrated three-month placement.  

PhD (+3.5)

This option is the PhD research with an integrated three-month placement. To apply for this route, you’ll need to have already passed 60 credits of Masters level social sciences research training, covering quantitative methods, qualitative methods, and principles of research design. 

PhD with integrated PGCert (+3.75) 

This option is for students with a prior masters degree but who do not have 60 credits of masters level research methods training. Students will be required to pass 60 credits of masters-level conceptual and general research units in year one of the PhD. The units will be chosen from the MA Social Research core units. 

Tuition fees

The scholarships cover your full tuition fees. You’ll also receive an annual fixed payment (known as a stipend) to cover your other costs. 

This sum is set each year by UK Research and Innovation. In 2023/24 it is £18,622 per year. 

  • Eligibility criteria

    The WRDTP awards scholarships to students who can demonstrate consistently high academic performance. Students must have a good honours degree at first-class (1st) or upper second-class (2:1) level to apply. 

    If you are applying for the PhD (+ 3.5), you must be able to show that you have completed substantial social sciences training in research methods. You should have at least 60 credits at masters-level of core social sciences research methods training.  

    If you have a prior masters degree but without research methods training, you must take the +3.75 route which integrates conceptual and general research units.

    If you do not have a masters degree, you must apply for the 1+3.5 route which includes an integrated MA in Social Research.

    The awards are open to UK and International applicants.

    The awards are available for full-time and part-time study. Part-time study will last between seven and nine years depending on the route.  

    Programme 

    Standard Duration (FT) 

    Standard Duration (PT) 

    Writing up period* prorated for PT 

    1+3.5 (Integrated PhD with MA Social Research with integrated placement) 

    4.5 years 

    2 years + 7 years 

    0.5 years 

    3.5 (standard PhD award with integrated placement) 

    3.5 years 

    7 years 

    0.5 years 

    3.75 (standard PhD award with integrated placement and integrated PGCert) 

    3.75 years 

    7.5 years 

    0.25 years 

    Distant learning is not available. 

  • WRDTP pathways and Manchester Met contacts

    Education, childhood and youth 

    The Education and Social Research Institute (ESRI) carries out research on the nature and future of education, childhood and youth. Our researchers work in innovative ways, across different age groups, institutions and communities, to create transformational change. We have particular expertise to support PhDs pushing the boundaries of established knowledge in the following areas:  

    • Children and childhood
    • Digital and innovative pedagogies 
    • Education and global futures 
    • Literacy and language 
    • Youth and Community 
    • Theory and methodology 
    • Mathematics education 
    • Teacher education 

    Wellbeing, health and communities 

    Most of the research in the Department of Social Care and Social Work focuses on social and health inequalities. We have specific expertise to support PhDs in the following areas:      

    • Experiences of digital technologies and digital health 
    • Sexual and reproductive health and sexuality  
    • Research that aims to improve inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities and autism  
    • Lived experience of dementia, both in the community and care settings 
    • Research that explores the social care workforce; research around unpaid care roles 
    • Research that engages with creative social research methodologies and participatory approaches.  
    • Gender  
    • Well-being and social lives of older people  
    • Safeguarding adults, adult social care law & policy  
    • Looked after children  

    Space, Place, Environment and Liveability

    The Department of Sociology offers research expertise in a diverse range of areas around the challenges that affect how people live their lives. To this end, we examine some of the most pressing issues facing modern society promoting understanding, encouraging debate and ensuring people can have their views and experiences heard. 
    Our researchers are committed to research that informs real-world change and we have specific expertise in the following key areas:  

    • Social justice and well-being 
    • The future of cities 
    • Public policy 
    • Young people 
    • Substance use and misuse 
    • Criminal justice 
    • Global politics 
    • Gender and sexuality 
    • Class and inequality 
    • Quantitative data, numeracy and data literacy 

    Key contacts

    Other enquiries

  • How to apply

    Applications for 2024/25 are now open.

    To apply, you will need to fill out an online application form:

    Before applying, we strongly advise you to discuss your research with a relevant academic through the pathway leads. 

    White Rose pathway briefing session

    Catch up on the information session that took place on 4 November 2021.

  • Selection process

    The White Rose selection process involves two stages. 

    Stage one  

    First, you will need to contact an academic (or one of the pathway leads if you aren’t sure) to discuss your research. With their expertise and guidance, you will develop a project proposal.  

    Then you will need to make a formal application for a PhD at Manchester Met. As part of this application, you will need to include your project proposal (otherwise known as a thesis proposal) and all associated documents (transcripts, references etc) in advance of the deadline.    

    Stage two  

    As WRDTP studentship awards are highly competitive, applications are reviewed internally at Manchester Met, and only the strongest applications are selected to be nominated to go into the DTP’s studentship competition. If your application progresses to this second stage, additional paperwork will be required. The WRDTP assess the quality of all applications and project proposals to determine who will receive funding. Successful candidates will be announced in mid-April 2024.   

    Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the WRDTP assessment criteria. 

  • Key dates

    You must apply for a place on your chosen PhD programme by 5:00pm on 24 January 2024 to be considered for nomination for a WRDTP award.  

    If you are successful in being nominated, Doctoral Services will compile a nomination pack on your behalf.

    Nominations will be sent to the WRDTP by Doctoral Services by 5:00pm on 21 February 2024.  

    Outcomes will be communicated by 26 April 2024.

North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP)

The NWCDTP is a collaboration across the arts and humanities between Manchester Met and the universities of Manchester, Keele, Lancaster, Liverpool, Salford, and the Royal Northern College of Music.

This partnership is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and brings together the above institutions to develop a centre of excellence in the arts and humanities.

As a researcher on the scheme, you’ll have access to outstanding resources and training provision within a collaborative and supportive environment. You’ll be encouraged to shape your development, engage in knowledge exchange relationships and contribute to a world-class research environment.

For more information, visit the NWCDTP website.

What do we offer?

There are opportunities to apply for fully-funded PhD scholarships across the arts and humanities via:

  • Eligibility criteria

    The NWCDTP awards scholarships to students who can demonstrate consistently high academic performance. To apply, you must have a good honours degree at first-class (1st) or upper second-class level (2:1). It is also expected that you should have, or be studying for, a masters degree.

    The awards are open to UK and International applicants. The awards are available for full-time or part-time study. Distance learning is not available.

  • NWCDTP pathways and Manchester Met contacts

    The main pathway contacts at Manchester Met for the NWCDTP:

    Histories, Cultures and Heritage 

    Creative and Performing Arts 

    Languages and Literatures 

  • How to apply

    The application and selection process involves two stages.

    Stage one

    You need to make an application to Manchester Met for a place on the PhD. To apply, fill in an application through your subject of interest and make sure to specify on the application that you are applying through the NWCDTP scheme. Your application needs to include all supplementary documents including two references. Please note if your application is not complete at this stage you will be ineligble for funding.

    Stage two

    A subsequent funding application is then submitted to Manchester Met for consideration by the NWCDTP.

    You are strongly advised to discuss your project with a member of academic staff before applying. You should also attend one of the AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership drop-in sessions. The next session will take place on 8 January 2024, 3-4pm.

  • Key dates
    • 8 January 2024, 3-4pm (GMT): Online Application Workshop
    • 12 January 2024: Deadline to apply to Manchester Met for a place on the PhD
    • 2 February 2024, 5pm: submission of selected projects to Manchester Met 

    For any enquiries, please contact PGRFunding@mmu.ac.uk