Postgraduate Research Funding
Doctoral Training Opportunities in the School of Education
- President's Doctoral Scholar Awards
- ESRC Doctoral Training Awards
- Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant Awards
President's Doctoral Scholar Awards
The University of Manchester has launched a further £2.5m investment in Doctoral training with the creation of the President's Doctoral Scholar Awards (PDS Awards). These prestigious awards are open to all nationalities and all research areas. In the Humanities Faculty PDS Award funding will be allocated to the most outstanding applicants seeking doctoral training opportunities starting in September 2012.
Based on the academic track-record of applicants, and evidence of their research potential, we will select our PDS Award winners from the various applicants across our 2012 funding schemes. Our most outstanding applicants will receive confirmation of their PDS status alongside confirmation of their doctoral funding. PDS Award status will entitle our successful candidates to a further £1,000 enhancement to their stipend.
They will also have the opportunity to:
- attend a series of exclusive events where they will have the opportunity to meet the University of Manchester President and Vice Chancellor;
- benefit from international research leadership under distinguished scholars;
- interact closely with the academic community and network with other PDS Award students;
- receive a President’s Doctoral Scholar medal at graduation and become a PDS Award ambassador for the University.
The School of Education is also delighted to announce that applications are invited for ESRC Doctoral Training Awards, funded through the North West Doctoral Training Centre (NWDTC), for entry in September 2012.
The NWDTC ‘Learning, Technology and Identities in Educational Research: Policy and Practice’ pathway brings together two leading education research institutions: The School of Education, University of Manchester, and the University of Lancaster’s Department of Educational Research. Both institutions support a wide range of interests and expertise in educational policy and practice. Educational psychology is a shared strength at both Manchester and Lancaster and, additionally, Lancaster has specialisms in technology enhanced learning and higher education research, and Manchester in educational and social inclusion, equity in education and sociocultural theory.
Applicants are invited for the 1+3 PhD and 4 year PhD (Manchester only) and +3 PhD (Manchester and Lancaster).
Applications to the University of Manchester for both PDS and ESRC Awards are invited across a wide-range of research areas at the cutting edge of theory and practice. The School of Education’s mission is to contribute to improvements in the overall quality of education for students, their families and communities in educational settings throughout the world.
Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant Awards
The School of Education will also be inviting applications for Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant (GTRA) Awards to commence in September 2012. The GTRA award holders will be required to support a wide range of activities that contribute to enriching the ethos and environment of the PGR community in the School of Education, and thereby to the research culture in the school itself. Award holders will be expected to make a contribution of around 6 hours per week (150 hours a year) in the School, principally assisting academic staff in the delivery of high quality research and teaching and taking a central role in fostering a vibrant PGR student community.
For further information on the School of Education’s research areas and expertise, and the profiles of its academic staff please visit http://www.education.manchester.ac.uk/research/.
Application Process for the Doctoral Training Award Schemes
ESRC and PDS Doctoral Award Application Process
Criteria
Applicants for ESRC and PDS Awards will normally have:
- Outstanding academic achievement: a good honours degree (preferably first-class or equivalent) and/or a Masters-level qualification at merit or distinction.
- Relevant professional experience and a track-record of engaging with research and research networks, which may include contributions to publications or presentations of their research to a wider audience.
- All applicants must have an offer of a place on one of the School of Education’s +3, 1+3 or +4 PhD routes (or part-time equivalent) before they can be considered for an ESRC (NWDTC) Award in the School.
- PDS Award winners will be selected from amongst the most outstanding applicants for ESRC Awards across the Faculty.
How to apply
If applicants wish to be considered for both ESRC and PDS Awards the process has two stages and eligble candidates should apply as follows:
Step 1
If you are not already in receipt of a place on one of the PhD routes specified above, you must first apply via the University’s standard postgraduate Application Form by noon on Friday 24 February 2012. You should submit an application based on your own research proposal, or one developed with a potential academic supervisor. If you intend to apply for one of the School of Education Doctoral Award Schemes you should indicate this at the time of your application. If accepted onto one of the School of Education programmes, you can proceed to step two.
Step 2
Applicants for the ESRC and PDS Awards should submit an application based on their own research proposal, or one developed with a potential academic supervisor. Applicants should complete and submit the ESRC NWDTC application form, together with their qualification transcripts and references, to the PGR Office (see contact details below). For further information on eligibility and guidance on the application process see NWDTC Guidance for Applicants. The deadline for submission to the School for internal assessment is Friday 9 March at 12.00 noon, and it is likely that interviews will be held the following week most probably on Wednesday 14 March. Applicants successful at the School level will be invited to submit their aplication to the DTC ‘Learning, Technology and Identities in Educational Research: Policy and Practice’ pathway by 5pm on 23 March 2012.
GTRA and PDS Doctoral Award Application Process
Criteria
Applicants will normally have:
- Excellent academic achievement: a good honours degree and a Masters-level qualification at merit or distinction incorporating significant Educational Research Training (or equivalent).
- Relevant professional and/or research experience, which may include contributions to publications or presentations.
- Applicants must be eligible for an offer of a place on the School of Education’s +3 PhD route (or part-time equivalent) to be considered for an GTRA Doctoral Award.
- Outstanding applicants to the GTRA Doctoral Award Scheme may be selected for a PDS Award.
Applicants for the GTRA awards should submit an application based on their own research proposal, or one developed with a potential academic supervisor. Applicants should complete and submit the GTRA and PDS Award application form, together with their qualification transcripts and references, to the PGR Office (see contact details below). For further information on eligibility and guidance on the application process see Guidance and Further Particulars for the GTRA and PDS Award. The deadline for submission is Monday 23 April at 5pm, and it is likely that interviews will be held on Friday 27 April.
- PDSA and GTRA Application Form 2012 (Word Document, 125 KB)
- GTRA Further Particulars 2012 (Word Document, 44 KB)
Any enquiries relating to eligibility and submission of applications for the School of Education’s doctoral programmes or Doctoral Award Schemes should be directed to:
Debbie Kubiena
PGR Admissions Secretary
School of Education
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
United Kingdom
Email: debbie.kubiena@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)161 275 3466
