There are two separate routes through which you can apply for a SWW DTP2 doctoral studentship.

Applications for entry in 2021 have now closed.

Please see here for UKRI/AHRC fee and stipend levels for 2021-22

Student-led Awards

We invite high-quality applications from prospective students who wish to propose their own research project. Your preferred supervisors must have agreed to supervise your project and you will have to apply both to the SWW DTP2 and to the institution where your lead supervisor is based. You should work closely with your preferred supervisors when framing your application. Their advice will help optimize your submission.

Collaborative Doctoral Awards.

Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs) are doctoral studentship projects which are developed by consortium academics working in collaboration with an organisation outside of higher education. The supervisory team is pre-determined and consists of two consortium academics and a member of the partner organisation.

CDAs provide students with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of work outside the university environment and enhance the employment-related skills and training which a student may gain during the course of their award.

Eight CDA awards are available in this year’s competition for entry in September 2021.  Find out more about the CDAs available for 2021 here.

BAME Applicants

SWW DTP2 is actively seeking to increase the diversity of students to whom awards are offered and we therefore encourage applicants from every and any ethnic background to apply. We hope to make at least 3 awards to students from BAME backgrounds. This is a target intended to encourage applications. It is not a quota: only applications that meet our stringent quality expectations will be offered awards. We operate in line with all relevant legislation governing positive action and do not make positive discrimination.

What does a Doctoral Studentship include?

• Fees paid at the level of a UK home student, currently £4,500 (full-time) or £2,250 (part-time) — international students please see below.
• Stipend (sometimes known as maintenance award) currently of £15,609 (full-time or pro rata) — this applies to all students, home and international including EU.
• A full programme of training specific to SWW DTP2 students and in addition to training provided by the home institution.
• Access to funding for additional skills-acquisition and placements with non-HEIs to enhance your work and enable you to complete the best possible PhD.
• Both student-led and CDA routes include all the above benefits.
• Additionally, £550 per annum is added to the student stipend for CDA students. This is intended to help towards any additional costs incurred by CDA students due to the need to work both at the host University and the non-HEI partner site.

International Students

• UKRI/AHRC have recently determined that this year that international / overseas students are eligible to apply for all their funded studentships to study from 2020/21 onwards.
• The category ‘international / overseas students’ now includes all students from EU countries (previously ‘EU students’ were a separate category).
• The level of fee covered for international / overseas students is the same as that for UK home students, i.e. currently £4,500 (full-time) or £2,250 (part-time).
• The latest information about SWW DTP2 consortium partners’ decisions on how to treat the difference between the UK home fee and the international / overseas fee for a PhD is to be treated is available on the Apply page.

Our SWW DTP2 Application FAQs 2021-22 will be available in the autumn of 2021

Our SWW DTP2 Guidance for Applicants 2021-22 will be available in the autumn of 2021

Click here to find out more about our Collaborative Doctoral Awards