The SENSS Scholarship offers a generous stipend of £20,780 per year to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, with an additional £2,000 per year for students studying at London-based universities.
The SENSS ESRC Studentship provides students with excellent supervision and access to world-class research training. Recipients become part of a vibrant postgraduate community across 8 universities and 6 interdisciplinary themes.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | £22,780 per year | Travel & Research Support
- No IELTS Required
- Deadline: January 14, 2026
Studentship Details
Applications are now open for the 2025/26 South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) competition.
SENSS offers fully funded studentships every academic year across 6 interdisciplinary research themes and 8 partner universities.
What is a SENSS student-led studentship?
- Students design and work on a research project they have developed themselves.
- Each student is guided by an expert academic supervisory team.
- Projects may also involve collaboration with external partners such as businesses, charities, or think tanks, who can provide access to data, participants, funding, an additional supervisor, and/or a placement opportunity.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the SENSS ESRC Studentship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Residential Criteria: Studentships are open to all applicants, regardless of nationality or residency, across all 8 SENSS universities and 6 interdisciplinary Pathways. However, approximately 10 studentships per year are available to international applicants.
- To apply for a Masters + PhD (+4.5 years) program, applicants must hold qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree (Honours).
- To apply for a PhD only (+3.5 years) program, applicants must hold qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a Master’s degree, or possess the research skills necessary to complete the proposed project.
- Applicants who have already started their PhD may apply for SENSS funding, but only if they have not completed a substantial portion of their studies.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful recipients of the SENSS ESRC Studentship will receive the following benefits for the duration of the award:
- A tax-free maintenance stipend of £20,780 per year to cover living expenses.
- An additional £2,000 per year London Weighting allowance for those studying at London-based universities.
- Full payment of university tuition fees for both home and international students.
- Access to research training support funds.
- Additional funding for overseas fieldwork, institutional visits, and language training.
SENSS Partner Universities
- City, University of London
- St George’s, University of London
- Cranfield University
- University of East Anglia
- University of Essex
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- University of Lincoln
- Middlesex University
- University of Roehampton
How to Apply
To apply for the SENSS ESRC Studentship 2026, interested and qualified candidates should:
- Identify an academic at one of the SENSS partner universities whose research aligns with one of the 6 SENSS Themes.
- Contact the academic (your potential supervisor) directly to discuss your research proposal and the possibility of working together.
- If you are unsure who to contact, reach out to the SENSS Operational Lead at your chosen university for guidance in finding a suitable supervisor.
- Once your proposed supervisor agrees to support your application, apply for admission to study at your chosen SENSS university.
- After submitting your university application, apply separately for SENSS funding through the official SENSS application process.
To begin the scholarship application process, click HERE
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