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Doctoral Training Partnership

Lincoln Joins New Social Sciences Training Partnership

The University of Lincoln is proud to announce its involvement in the South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) Doctoral Training Partnership, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to train the next generation of social scientists.

Fully funded ESRC studentships are available to research students via this partnership, across eight SENSS partner universities. The studentships cover tuition fees at the appropriate rate and an annual maintenance grant (also called stipend).

The competition for studentships starting in October 2025 is now open. For further information, visit the SENSS website or email us at senss@lincoln.ac.uk.

Routes for Research and Training

There are a variety of flexible routes for research and training, depending on your background and the research you are planning to undertake. SENSS positively encourages applicants from talented students whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree, who may be funded to undertake a Master's programme. Details about eligibility and guidance, including links to applicant webinars and applicant portal, can be found on the SENSS website.

The structure of the studentship offered will depend on your personal training needs. However, the minimum duration of a SENSS-funded studentship will be 3.5 years – this covers a PhD and a mandatory placement of approximately three months. The maximum duration of a studentship will be 4.5 years – this covers a Master's degree followed by a PhD, as well as the mandatory three-month placement.

Schools at Lincoln

The following Schools are currently involved in supporting applications. Applications for interdisciplinary projects are welcomed, as long as the PhD project is led by researchers in these discipline areas. Prospective applicants are asked to identify and liaise with potential supervisors by following the links to the School pages below.