The University of Kent, as part of the South-East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) funded by the ESRC, is offering fully funded PhD scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year. These scholarships are open to both home and overseas applicants and cover a wide range of social science disciplines, including cyber security, forensic psychology, law, criminology, sociology, social policy, computer science, physics, and engineering. SEDarc is a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary doctoral training partnership led by Royal Holloway, University of London, with other UK partners including University of Reading, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, and Kingston University.

The Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) at Kent is a participating research unit, and applicants can choose from a large pool of eligible principal supervisors across several disciplines. Research topics should align with one or more of five social science themed challenges: living sustainably, healthy thriving communities, inclusive economic growth, secure and trusted institutions, and transformative technologies for society. The scholarships provide full tuition coverage and a maintenance stipend at the UKRI National Minimum Doctoral Stipend rate (£20,278 for 2025/26) for 3.5 years.

Applicants must have strong academic records and are encouraged to contact supervisors to discuss research fit before applying. The application deadline is 23:59 GMT, Sunday 23 November 2025. For more information, visit the iCSS website or contact Felicity Clifford or Professor Joseph Tzanopoulos.