ESRC Studentships

There is a good amount of funding available at LSE for students from all over the world

Laura Sochas, ESRC Studentship recipient

LSE has an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) and has ESRC studentships available for a number of programmes across 19 departments. Students of all nationalities are eligible for ESRC funding.

ESRC Studentships provide fees, a stipend and other additional forms of support. More information can be found here.

Funding for PhD study is also available in the form of LSE PhD Studentships.

ESRC Studentships are available for a number of programmes. Individual programme entries detail which programmes are eligible for ESRC funding. Find your graduate programme.

Students of all nationalities are eligible for ESRC funding, although there is a cap on the number of studentships that can be awarded to international, including EU, students.

Depending on the programme of study, ESRC Studentships will cover a one year's research training master's linked to a PhD, a two-year MRes linked to a PhD, or a PhD programme. Find out more about these different award types.

ESRC Studentships cover full fees (for overseas students, LSE will cover the difference between UK and overseas fees) and an annual stipend, which for 2024/25 entry was £21,237.

There is additional DTP funding available for ESRC funded students to support difficult language training, field work, overseas institutional visits and collaborative research activities.

Applications for ESRC funding for MSc or MRes programmes linked to a PhD (1+3.5 or 2+2.5)

The 1+3.5 or 2+2.5 scheme provides funding for a one- or two-year research training master's (MSc or MRes) linked to a PhD programme and is designed for students who have not already completed an ESRC recognised programme of research training.

If you would like to be considered for this, you should submit an application for the relevant MSc or MRes programme, including a research proposal for the PhD element of the programme (but check whether the programme you are applying for has specific instructions about this). You must also indicate your wish to be considered for 1+3.5 or 2+2.5 funding in your personal statement.

There is no separate application for the studentship as such, but you must submit your application for the MSc or MRes programme by a specific deadline (see below).

Applications for ESRC funding for direct entry to an MPhil/PhD programme (+3.5)

There is no separate application for the studentship as such, but you must submit your application for the MPhil/PhD programme by a specific deadline( see below)

deadline for programmes in the Departments of Economics and International Development for 2025 entry (including PhD Studentships and ESRC funding): 18 December 2024
deadline for all other departments for 2025 entry: 15 January 2025

More information on how to apply for a place on a PhD programme.

LSE ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership Collaborative Studentships are projects developed through partnerships between academic and non-academic organisations.

Working alongside non-academic collaborators, these projects tackle research topics of both theoretical and practical significance, offering the chosen student valuable hands-on experience in a non-academic setting.

Collaborative Studentships cover tuition fees and an annual maintenance stipend.

More information about the Collaborative Studentships available, all with a start date of September 2025, can be found via the links below:

LSE Collaborative Studentship with UNRWA (closes 18 December 2024):

"Refugees and Poverty: Understanding the role of aid programmes"

LSE Collaborative Studentship with Hope for the Future (closes 15 January 2025):

"Supporting UK Parents to Engage in Democratic Processes on Climate Issues"

LSE Collaborative Studentship with Music Mark (closes 25 March 2025):

"Understanding the data ecosystem of music education provision in England: analysing Music Education Hubs’ annual reporting data"

LSE Collaborative Studentship with The European Organization for Nuclear Research (“CERN”) (closes 22 May 2025, with earlier application advised):

"The territorial impacts of Big Science"

"I was awarded funding from the UK's ESRC. It was a requirement of my funding to do an MSc in research methods before going to do a PhD, and it's taught me very valuable skills that I can now bring to both academic and applied settings. There is a good amount of funding available at LSE for students from all over the world."

Laura Sochas
MSc Social Research Methods
LSE ESRC DTP Studentship

Share

ESRC Studentships

Eligibility

Scholarship amount

How to apply

Applications for ESRC funding for MSc or MRes programmes linked to a PhD (1+3.5 or 2+2.5)

Applications for ESRC funding for direct entry to an MPhil/PhD programme (+3.5)

More information on how to apply for a place on a PhD programme.

LSE ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership Collaborative Studentships

Student stories

LSE PhD Studentships Scholarships for PhD study

How to apply The application process, UCAS and when to apply

Undergraduate fees and funding Details on available scholarships, bursaries, loans and tuition fees

Graduate fees and funding Details on available scholarships, bursaries, loans and tuition fees

Contact us Get in touch with the Financial Support Office

Meet, visit and discover LSE Webinars, videos, on campus events and visits around the world