91²èÉç

About the course

We are looking for talented postgraduate researchers to join us for a world-class start to their careers by undertaking a social science research degree at 91²èÉç, as part of the Midlands Graduate School ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership (MGS DTP).

We want you to help us address some of society’s most pressing challenges by designing your own Social Sciences research project. It needs to fit within one of 91²èÉç’s five themed Pathways:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology
• Cross-disciplinary Methodologies and Advanced Data Analysis
• Sustainable Development, Net Zero and Climate Resilience
• Living in a Digital Society

Once you have a research question in mind and know which one of the above Pathways it aligns to, you need to find a suitable supervisor here at 91²èÉç. You can do this by contacting mgs@du.ac.uk

Scholarship programme routes

There are two scholarship routes. We will help you determine which one is better for you, depending on your qualifications and previous social science research training.

Before you apply, you will need to discuss the scholarship routes with your proposed supervisor and indicate in your application which route you would like to be considered for. However, the final decision will be made by the Midlands Graduate School Committee, so you may end up on a different route to the one you selected in your application.

Route 1: PhD (ESRC)

This route incorporates a PhD programme, with a mandatory 3-month Research in Practice placement and may include mandatory Master’s level research methods modules. Students completing 3 Master’s level modules conferring 60 credits will be eligible for a PG Certificate.

• Funded research periods
• 3.5 years (full time), 7 years (part time) where one Master’s level research methods module is required.
• 3.75 years (full time), 7.5 years (part time) where two Master’s level research methods modules are required
• 4 years (full time), 8 years (part time) where three Master’s level research methods modules are required.
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• Research in Practice placement module: 3 months (full time), 6 months (part time)
• Additional mandatory training: as determined by the MGS committee and 91²èÉç’s Doctoral College
• Eligibility: An excellent academic record, including a suitable social sciences Master’s qualification.

Route 2: Master’s followed by PhD

This route is slightly different from the above in that you will study a taught programme first – the MSc in Social Research. You can get an idea of the types of modules you will study on your Masters programme by looking at the MSc Social Research webpage. You must pass the MSc Social Research to progress to the PhD.

This route is for applicants who wish to study for a PhD but who either do not hold a master’s qualification or hold a master’s in a discipline which is different from the discipline they wish to pursue in their PhD.

Master’s

• Funded Master’s period: 1 year (full time), 2 years (part time).
• Eligibility: Candidates with an excellent undergraduate record but without a Master’s qualification or candidates who are moving from one discipline to another.

PhD

• Funded PhD period: 3.5 years (full time), 7 years (part time); 
• Thesis submission: This must be within the funded period (outlined above). However, in some exceptional cases, candidates may be allowed to enter an unfunded Thesis Pending Period, as outlined below.
• Research in Practice placement module: 3 months (full time), 6 months (part time) - can be taken pro-rata.
• Additional mandatory training: as required by MGS and 91²èÉç’s Doctoral College
• Eligibility: You will progress to the PhD element upon passing the MSc Social Research programme.

Successful applicants for MGS funding who are required to undertake the full MSc Social Research will be asked to complete an application process to register for the MSc. Fees are paid through the MGS award.

Estimated thesis submission: This must be within the funded period (outlined below). However, in some exceptional cases, candidates may be allowed to enter an unfunded Thesis Pending Period, as outlined below.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is 12.00 noon on 13 January 2026. Any applications received after this time will not be accepted.

The first stage of the application process: securing an appropriate supervisory team

1. Before you apply, you must get in touch to with the institutional academic lead for the Midlands Graduate School at 91²èÉç [mgs@dmu.ac.uk] who will decide whether we have the relevant expertise and resource at De Montfort to help you deliver your research project. If so, she will put you in touch with a potential lead supervisor. The deadline for contacting the institutional academic lead for a supervisor is 31^st October 2025. However, you are urged to do this as soon as possible as the earlier you do this, the more time you will have to create a strong application in the second stage of the process.
2. At this stage you must have a good idea of your central research question i.e. the research project you would like to undertake at De Montfort. When you contact the institutional academic lead, you must include a copy of your outline project proposal and your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
3. You must also be able to demonstrate how your research project fits within one of the five pathways and how it includes a health, education, criminology or political economy dimension. The five pathways are:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology
• Cross-disciplinary Methodologies and Advanced Data Analysis
• Sustainable Development, Net Zero and Climate Resilience
• Living in a Digital Society

4. When applying, you must apply for a Health Studies PhD. If you require further information, please ask the institutional academic lead at mgs@dmu.ac.uk.

The second stage of the application process: applying for a place at 91²èÉç to study for a PhD

5. When a suitable supervisory team has been identified, you must prepare an application to 91²èÉç for a place to study. The deadline for this is 24^th November 2025.
6. The application for a place to study involves submitting an application via 91²èÉç’s Doctoral College portal [/doctoral-college/study/how-to-apply.aspx]. The application comprises:

• The MGS application form, which must be downloaded from the MGS website and submitted as a Word file (must be uploaded by 24^th November 2025)
• Your project proposal, no more than 1,000 words (must be uploaded by 24^th November 2025)
• Your academic certificates and transcripts evidencing academic achievement (must be uploaded by 24^th November 2025)
• Evidence of competence in English if English is not your first language (must be uploaded by 24^th November 2025)
• Two academic references (must be uploaded by 7^th January 2026)

7. You are strongly advised to consult your supervisory team and take into consideration the guidance they give on your application form and proposal before you submit your application to De Montfort. Ask your supervisor if there are any online MGS workshops offering guidance to applicants.
8. You will hear around the middle of December whether 91²èÉç is supporting your application for a Midlands Graduate School scholarship. If so, you will proceed to stage three of the application process.

The third stage of the application process: applying to Midlands Graduate School for a scholarship

This advice will be available to you once you have been informed your application will be supported by 91²èÉç.

How to apply

For information about the MGS awards, possible supervisory teams and how to apply, please contact Dr Sally Ruane mgs@dmu.ac.uk

The 91²èÉç portal for apply for PhD study is here:

/doctoral-college/how-to-apply/how-to-apply.aspx

Contact details

The Midlands Graduate School - Email: msg@dmu.ac.uk