Swansea University
Just Landed
New Today
PhD Studentship in Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy (ESRC WGSSS) Swansea University in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Political Science
Funding
Available
Deadline
Dec 6, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
Swansea University
Apply for this scholarship
You'll sign in first, then continue in your ApplyKite dashboard.
Keywords
Suggested scholarships
About this position
PhD Studentship: Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy (ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences) at Swansea University.
This funded doctoral studentship sits across Swansea’s social policy and social work expertise, bringing together the School of Social Sciences, the Department of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy, and the School of Health and Social Care. The opportunity is linked to the ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) and is designed for applicants interested in research on social care, social work, and social policy.
The university highlights strong research environments relevant to this studentship, including the Centre for Social Change, the ESRC Administrative Data Research Centre (Wales), and the award-winning DEEP initiative, which supports participatory evidence-gathering for policy impact. This makes the opportunity especially suitable for applicants keen to work on policy-relevant, socially engaged, and methodologically innovative doctoral research.
Possible research areas include inequalities and social justice, poverty, the politics of social welfare, relations between the state and civil society, advocacy, ageing, disability studies, devolution, ethical issues in social policy, children’s rights, family, communities and social care, the role of the third sector, co-production, service outcomes for children and families, rights of excluded groups, inclusive practices in social care research, experiences of the care system and care leavers, sexuality and social care, safeguarding and child protection, and older people.
Funding: the studentship is funded by the ESRC and covers tuition fees plus an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates, currently £21,805 for 2026/27.
Deadline: 06 December 2026.
Applicants should use the Swansea University application link and review the scholarship page for full application requirements and submission instructions.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants should have an interest in and preparation for doctoral research in social care, social work, or social policy. The post is an ESRC-funded PhD studentship, so doctoral-level study is expected; no specific degree classification, language test, or technical prerequisite is stated in the advert.
How to apply
Apply via the Swansea University scholarship page using the provided application link. Prepare a PhD research proposal aligned with social care, social work, or social policy themes and submit it before the deadline. Check the scholarship page for any additional required documents or selection details.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.