A consortium of universities including Keele is set to receive more than £20m for funding and training for postgraduate students in the social sciences. 

The North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) has been recommissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for a further five years of activity, commencing in 2024, with the funding equating to a minimum of 44 postgraduate studentships a year for the next five years across the constituent universities. 

The NWSSDTP is a consortium led by the University of Liverpool, involving the universities of Keele, Lancaster, and Manchester, with the University of Central Lancashire joining the partnership for this next phase of activity.   

Dr Fabienne Emmerich, Keele Academic Institutional Lead for the NWSSDTP, said: “It has been a privilege to lead Keele in this bid and I look forward to moving into the next phase with such a strong and committed team across the three faculties.” 

The recommissioned NWSSDTP will be one of a network of 15 ESRC-accredited DTPs across the United Kingdom and will fund studentships across the spectrum of social science disciplines through 21 distinct disciplinary pathways, while also facilitating advanced methodological training provision.   

Professor Mark Ormerod, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University, said: "I'm delighted by the success of the North West Social Science ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership in further strengthening its leading national position in social science doctoral training provision in the UK. Since becoming a member of the DTP eight years ago, through the efforts of colleagues and the strength of our research in social sciences, Keele is now part of nine different pathways within the DTP. 

“Having a strong and vibrant postgraduate research community is vital to our research culture and to continuing to raise our research ambitions and performance as a research-led university.” 

Amardeep Legha, PhD candidate at Keele University, said: “Receiving NWSSDTP funding has been highly beneficial to me all throughout my PhD. The methodological training budget allowed me to learn the skills necessary to perform my PhD research, [this] wouldn’t have been possible without NWSSDTP funding.”  

Professor Mariangela Palladino, Dean of Research in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, added: “This is testimony to the strengths of social sciences within our faculty and its interdisciplinary and cross-sector track record. This cements the central role that our faculty plays within the institution in leading Keele’s contribution to the NWSSDTP.” 

The next round of NWSSDTP studentship competitions, for candidates starting in October 2024, will launch in October 2023. Further information will be made available on the NWSSDTP Website.