The SWDTP Postdoctoral Fellowship round is now open, please see below for more information.
You may view the information event session below.
The ESRC invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships (PDF) to be based at the SWDTP institutions of University of Bath, University of Bristol, University of Exeter, Plymouth University, University of West of England, Bath Spa University, Bournemouth University and Plymouth Marjon University.
Fellowships are aimed at providing a development opportunity for social science researchers in the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.
The PDF call forms part of ESRC’s strategy to support early career researchers and will be delivered through the national network of Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs).
Information Event Session – 30th March 2026
Eligibility
To be eligible applicants must:
- Have completed their PhD at a UK research organisation (RO)
- The fellowship must be held at an RO that is part of a DTP eligible to participate in this scheme, however applicants may come from anywhere in the world
- The fellowship must be aligned to an SWDTP pathway
- Have been awarded a PhD or have passed their viva voce with minor amendments by the 1st June 2026 and have been awarded their PhD by the fellowship start date of 1st October 2026.
- Have no more than 15 months (fulltime equivalent) active postdoctoral experience since passing their viva voce (allowing for career breaks). The period of active post-doctoral experience should be calculated from the viva voce being passed to the application deadline of closing date of 1st June 2026
- Must conduct research that is clearly over 50% based in the social sciences
- Applicants requiring a visa to work in UK should check they are eligible to apply for a relevant visa.
- Submit an Expression of Interest to no more than one SWDTP institution
- Submit a full application to no more than one ESRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership.
The application process begins with an Expression of Interest to one of our partner universities.
We only accept full applications from individuals that have been nominated by one of our partner universities.
If you are interested in applying, you should contact one of our partner universities using the contact details below as soon as possible. They will share with you the Expression of Interest form and their internal deadline for receiving an Expression of Interest.
You should be notified of outcomes from the EoI stage no later than 5th May 2026.
Contact details for our partner universities
Bath: jn837@bath.ac.uk
Bristol: rda-alss@bristol.ac.uk
Exeter: internalsifts@exeter.ac.uk
Plymouth: patricia.kanngiesser@plymouth.ac.uk
UWE: research@uwe.ac.uk
Bath Spa: a.parfitt@bathspa.ac.uk
Bournemouth: msilk@bournemouth.ac.uk
Plymouth Marjon: DCotton@marjon.ac.uk
Finding a department to host your fellowship and a mentor
All applications must be supported by a mentor (see specifications and FAQs below for further information). Our partners can support you to find a suitable mentor within their university. Here we provide general advice to help you work out which partner university and department within that university is best aligned with your research and career aspirations.
Identify the SWDTP pathway that aligns with your research area, the universities and the departments within those universities that are part of that pathway using this webpage.
- Make use of the SWDTP’s searchable database of potential supervisors, which includes academics from across our partner universities and pathways.
- Use department websites to find a research centre or group that is aligned with your research interests. This is where you are most likely to find a supportive and vibrant research community and mentor with strong capacity to support your research and career aspirations. Webpages for research groups usually list their members with links to staff webpages.
- If you are contacting a potential mentor, we recommend you include the link to this webpage so they are fully informed of the opportunity that you wish to apply to. You might also attach a short abstract for your PhD dissertation and a CV. Very briefly explain in the email, why you think they will be a suitable mentor. Keep the text in the email brief.
- If you are still uncertain how to identify a suitable department to host your fellowship, contact swdtp-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk.
- The SWDTP discourages applications where a former supervisor is a mentor. If there are exceptional reasons why this is necessary, a second mentor should be appointed.
Once you have been nominated by one of our partner universities
All applicants who have been successful at the Expression of Interest stage, must submit a completed proposal along with the required attachments in one collated PDF document by 11.59pm on 1 June 2026 to the SWDTP at swdtp-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk
Note: The above documents are provided for information only. You should not prepare a full application before winning a nomination from one of our institutions (see above).
Applicants are also asked to complete an EDI form at the time of submitting the Expression of Interest. The link to the EDI form is on the EoI document that you will be sent by partner institutions. Note: this is held confidentially and data collated for statistical reporting to the ESRC only.
Applicants at the full application stage will be informed of outcomes by 17 July 2026 at the latest.
For queries related to the call, please e-mail swdtp-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk
Further information from the ESRC regarding early career researchers can be found here: Early career researchers – UKRI