Preparing to Apply

Preparing to Apply

*Funding Application Deadline 12 Noon (GMT) Friday 9th January 2026*

What we are looking for in an application

A strong application will have a research proposal that displays clear potential for originality, impact and flair. This does not mean it has to change the world or be radically different to what anyone has ever done, thought or applied before. in practice, most research extends existing knowledge, methods and/or ideas incrementally. However, it should, within the context of the wider discipline / research field, evidence potential to make an original contribution to knowledge within the social sciences, and to have impact, whether that be academic, social or economic.

Our scoring criteria, Annex C, are available for you to view at Applying for a Studentship and we strongly recommend that you do so. We provide further guidance in the application form, and there are examples of previously funded research proposals at Applying for a Studentship. We do not suggest that you simply mimic those previous proposals as there is no one model template for a strong application, but you may find them useful to look at.

Searching for a Supervisor

We recommend that you search our database at Potential Supervisor Database | SWDTP. Your lead supervisor can be anyone eligible to supervise postgraduate students at the SWDTP partner university that offers the pathway for which you are applying. The supervisor should have the expertise need to support you in the subject area of your research. You are also welcome to approach a supervisor that is not listed on the supervisor database.

Consider collaborating with external partners

You are encouraged to look at ways of incorporating collaboration with external partners (e.g. non-academic public, private and civil-society sectors) into their research proposal. Collaboration does not always have to be a financial arrangement and could take the form of a placement, voluntary work, data sharing or other activities.

ESRC strategic steers

Strategic steers are in areas that the ESRC is keen to support, to meet a wider skills deficit within the social sciences. The two ESRC steers available in the SWDTP are Data Skills (which can be applied for in any pathway except Advanced Quantitative Methods) and Advanced Quantitative Methods (for which you must apply to the Advanced Quantitative Methods pathway). We aim to make a minimum of three awards in each of these areas. To help you decide whether to apply for Data Skills or Advanced Quantitative Methods, please click here. 

Home (UK) students may also be considered with respect to how their background, interests and/or proposed research can contribute to diversity and inclusion within the SWDTP and/or to widening knowledge and understanding in the social sciences. 

ESRC Strategic Steers Page

Maximum number of applications you can make each year

You can only make ONE application to the SWDTP each year. If you are research spans our pathways and you are not sure which pathway to apply to, we recommend contacting the Pathway Leads or discussing it with your proposed supervisor.