Closing date: 11 December 2024
Funding provider(s): ESRC WGSSS 50%; Swansea University 50%
Subject area(s): WGSSS ESRC studentship Economics pathway
Project start date(s): 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September)
This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages. Short descriptions of each accredited pathway are available on the ESRC Wales DTP website.
The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Dr Ansgar Wohlschlegel, might be able to advise you.
Pathway Lead: Dr Ansgar Wohlschlegel
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Economics
Mode of study: Full or part-time study is possible.
Please note that full-time ESRC studentship award holders cannot hold either a full-time job, permanent part-time job or temporary role for an extended period of time, during the period of their award. Part-time ESRC studentship award holders cannot hold a full-time job.
Project description:
In the current times of global challenges, high-quality research in Economics is more important than ever. The pathway brings together the distinctive expertise and track record of research excellence in three institutions – Cardiff, Bangor and Swansea. While producing outstanding research in all fields of Economics, the Department of Economics at Swansea has a particularly strong research record in macroeconomics, applied microeconomics, energy economics and regional economics, and serves as a key partner in the pan-institutional Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD). Furthermore, the department is home to the Centre for Research in Macroeconomics and Macro-Finance (CReMMF) and the Centre for Applied Microeconomics (CAM), which bring together leading academics in these fields from across the UK and beyond.
The pathway offers a rich research environment for its students across the locations, including: presentations at PhD seminars; attendance of/presentations at regular faculty research workshops; frequent external speaker seminars; access to research events; Wales-wide research colloquia held at the University of Wales conference centre in mid-Wales; major international conferences. For instance, in addition to a weekly external research seminar in Economics at Swansea, CReMMF hosts an online seminar series in Macroeconomics as a forum for discussions with external academics affiliated with the Centre. In the wider pathway beyond Swansea, Bangor sponsors the International Accounting and Finance Doctoral Symposium (together with the Universities of Leeds, Bradford, Strathclyde, Queensland, Salamanca, and Bologna), and Cardiff hosts the annual Welsh Postgraduate Research Conference in Business/Management and Economics, providing research students and early career researchers the opportunity to present their work to leading international academics in a supportive yet demanding environment.
We will encourage and facilitate joint supervision across institutions where appropriate. Cohort-building is supported via an annual student-led doctoral conference. This includes the full cohort of Economics DTP students plus those funded by other internal and external means.
Duration of study:
The duration of study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs which will be assessed by completing an Initial Development Needs Analysis (Initial DNA) at the application stage and a Full DNA prior to award if successful.
Duration of study may vary from 3.5-4.5 years, full time (or part time equivalent) dependent on your prior research experience.
Swansea University, in conjunction with colleagues in the WGSS, will undertake an assessment of the successful applicant’s training needs and work with them to tailor the training they are offered to meet their research needs. This might take the form a full master's course, or might be comprised of individual courses designed to enhance skills required for their chosen area of study.
Research in practice placement:
All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/economics-esrc-wgsss-phd-rs695.php
To receive ESRC studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation.
Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.
WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise of international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.
The WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.
English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
ATAS
Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance; further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.
ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process, successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with scholarship course offer.
Funding
The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £19,237 for 2024/25).
If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.
Students also have access to a Research Training Support Grant, worth up to £750 per year.
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:
In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
Assessment:
Applicants are reminded to submit all relevant documents (transcripts, supporting statement, etc) by the deadline. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application deadline: 11th December 2024
Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are expected to take place in January and February 2025. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions consistent with previous practice on the pathway during the Wales DTP and guided by the WGSSS’s commitments on EDI.
Interviews may be held in person but should also be available through Zoom/Teams for all students who wish to participate in that way.
Most applicants can expect to hear the outcome of their interview within 10-12 weeks.
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Dr Ansgar Wohlschlegel (a.u.m.wohlschlegel@swansea.ac.uk) to arrange a Zoom call.
*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
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