Want to do a fully funded PhD in the social sciences in London? The UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is accepting applications for 2027 entry. Studentships cover tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of at least £23,805 a year, at one of six London universities including UCL, SOAS and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. International students can apply, but places are very limited. Pre-registration closes on 30 October 2026, and preliminary applications close on 9 November 2026.
Studentship at a Glance
- Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- Partnership: UBEL DTP, made up of six London universities
- Universities: UCL, Birkbeck, SOAS, LSHTM, University of Greenwich and University of East London
- Level: PhD (some routes include a master’s year first)
- Fields: 30 social science pathways in six subject groups
- Funding (2026/27 rates): Tuition fees (£5,238) and a minimum stipend of £23,805, including London Allowance
- Length: Usually 3.5 years full-time, plus 3 extra funded months if you do a placement
- Open to: Home and international students (international awards capped at 30%)
- Key deadlines: Pre-registration 30 October 2026; preliminary application 9 November 2026; full application 1 February 2027
About the UBEL DTP
The ESRC funds doctoral training partnerships across the UK to train the next generation of social scientists. UBEL brings together six London institutions and offers 30 disciplinary pathways. These cover areas such as economics, development studies, education, health, geography, politics, psychology, law, sociology and African and Asian studies. Each pathway has full-time and part-time routes, some with an attached MRes, MSc or MA.
ESRC studentships now follow a 3.5-year model, with an extra three months for training. Fellows who take a placement in academia, government, business or civil society get another three funded months.
Benefits
- Full tuition fees at the UKRI rate (£5,238 in 2026/27)
- Minimum stipend of £23,805 a year (2026/27 rate, including London Allowance), usually tax-free
- 3.5 years of funding on the standard route
- Funded placement option, with three extra months of time and stipend
- Research training and professional development throughout the PhD
- Study at leading London universities, with access to the city’s research, policy and international networks
2027/28 rates will be confirmed by UKRI and may be slightly higher. Visa costs are not covered for international students.
Eligibility
- You have, or expect by 30 September 2027, a first-class or upper-second-class (2:1) honours degree or a master’s degree from a recognised UK university, or an equivalent from outside the UK.
- For the standard 3.5-year route, you normally need a master’s degree with research training. Without one, consider a route that includes a master’s year.
- Home and international students can both apply. Your status is decided by UKRI’s residency rules.
Important for African and Other International Applicants
The ESRC allows UBEL to give no more than 30% of its studentships to international students, and competition is intense. For 2025 entry, UBEL said it could award only 10 international studentships out of 485 international applicants, roughly 2%. If you apply:
- make your proposal as strong as possible and closely matched to a pathway
- secure a supportive supervisor before applying
- apply for other funding at the same time, such as Commonwealth, Chevening or university scholarships
- budget for visa costs, the Immigration Health Surcharge and travel, which aren’t covered
Key Dates for 2027 Entry
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Preliminary applications opened | 14 September 2026 |
| Pre-registration deadline | 30 October 2026, 23:59 |
| Preliminary application deadline | 9 November 2026, 23:59 |
| Pathway decisions sent to the DTP | 11 December 2026 |
| Full application stage opens (successful candidates) | 14 December 2026 |
| Full application deadline | 1 February 2027, 23:59 |
| Awards confirmed | Week of 19 April 2027 |
Tips for a Strong Application
- Pre-register now. The 30 October pre-registration deadline comes first, so don’t miss it.
- Choose the right pathway. Browse all 30 and pick the one that best fits your research.
- Contact a supervisor early. Discuss your proposal with a potential supervisor at a partner university before applying.
- Speak to the pathway leader at your chosen university. UBEL asks applicants to do this.
- Write a focused proposal with a clear research question, methods and why it matters.
- Watch UBEL’s guidance video and read the 2027 application guidance first.
How to Apply
- Read the 2027 application guidance and the preliminary application guidance on the UBEL DTP website.
- Choose your pathway, contact a potential supervisor and the pathway leader.
- Pre-register on the SurveyMonkey Apply portal by 30 October 2026.
- Submit your preliminary application by 9 November 2026.
- If successful, complete the full application by 1 February 2027.
For questions, email the UBEL DTP team at [email protected].
Apply for UBEL ESRC DTP Studentships 2027
