Study Overseas

The Economic and Social Research council (ESRC) is one of seven research councils, or in the case of Arts and Humanities, boards funded by the UK government to support research and postgraduate training.

The work of the councils is overseen by the Office of Science and Technology (OST), which is located within the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The ESRC is the smallest of the research councils in terms of its budget and staff numbers, with a budget in 1999/2000 of just under £70 million.

Approximately 30% of the ESRC's budget is directed towards supporting postgraduate training in social sciences, primarily through funding for both advanced courses (master's) and research (PhD) studentships. In 1998, the ESRC supported approximately 500 new research studentships and 600 master's studentships, which are managed by the Postgraduate Training Division reporting to the ESRC's Training Board. The Board also funds other activities, such as workshops and summer schools, which contribute towards the provision of high quality training in social sciences.

Funding for International Students

The ESRC can only support studentships held in UK Higher Education institutions. However, there is a reciprocal arrangement between all member states of the European Union whereby, in the case of the UK research councils, non-UK EU citizens can apply for ESRC awards. These are not full awards, in that they do not include the maintenance grant paid to UK students, but they do cover the costs of fees (and are therefore generally referred to as 'fees-only' awards). In 1998, 15% (171 out of 1115) of the applicants for a research studentship applied on a 'fees-only' basis of which 86 (out of 551) were successful.

The most popular subject area by far for non-UK applicants is economics, and in the last few years the numbers of applications from and awards to non-UK students has been greater than those for UK students in economics. The ESRC is currently looking into this issue and its implications for the academic and non-academic labour markets in economics. The other areas which tend to attract a 16 number of non-UK applicants are Politics and International Relations, Management and Business Studies, and Social Anthropology.

How can I apply?

Research Studentships are supported through an annual competition. Applications are made by the student through the department and institution at which the award is to be held. The ESRC only supports studentships in those departments which have met a number of criteria for funding, and it is important for potential applicants to establish whether they would be eligible for ESRC support in their chosen department. Advanced Course studentships, however, are primarily supported through quota awards allocated to courses on a four year basis. The student to be nominated for the quota is therefore selected by the course organisers, and is only submitted to the ESRC for approval on eligibility grounds.

What if I am ineligible to apply for ESRC funding?

Prospective postgraduate students from outside the EU are not eligible for ESRC support. However, the ESRC's policies on postgraduate training are still potentially relevant. Underpinning its funding decisions on individual studentships is a commitment to quality and to only supporting those courses and departments which meet the ESRC's criteria. These are set out in a document known as the Postgraduate Training Guidelines, the latest version of which was produced in 1996 and which will be revised again in 2000. These set out for each subject area within the ESRC's remit (and at a more general level) the requirements for doctoral research training in each area. Institutions are invited to apply to the ESRC for eligibility to receive studentships in a series of recognition exercises, through which panels of senior academics in each subject decide whether a course or department meets the necessary level to receive ESRC funding.

The benefits of this approach to those not directly funded by the ESRC are twofold. The overall quality of courses and doctoral programmes in the social sciences has been driven up as a consequence of the ESRC's approach. Students not funded by the ESRC but working in departments or on courses recognised by them will benefit by receiving the same, or similar, training as ESRC funded students. Also, institutions regard the receipt of ESRC recognition as a kitemark for the quality of their provision. This helps them to attract students, but also indicates to prospective students that the course or department meets a fairly stringent range of quality standards.

For full details, potential applicants are advised to view the ESRC's postgraduate training WebPages at:

http://www.esrc.ac.yk/postgrad.html or http://www.esrc.ac.uk/postgrad.html.

Applicants and those making general enquiries are requested not to contact ESRC directly, but to either access this information via the Web or to contact the institution and department through which you wish to apply.