Why choose this programme?
This programme supports postgraduate studentships and training in social sciences in the north-west.
In the ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) you can choose a project from one of our pathways; psychology, health and wellbeing, and social studies of science, technology and medicine. You'll also recieve funding to support you through your choosen pathway.
This partnership is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Funding
ESRC funding provides full support for:
- home tuition fees;
- an annual tax-free maintenance stipend.
Financial support towards training costs (equipment, surveys, conference attendance, etc) can be sought through the NWSSDTP following registration onto the PhD.
CASE studentship competition
The North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) also runs an annual collaborative studentship competition (CASE) where academics from the four NWSSDTP institutions can apply for funding towards postgraduate projects that will be co-supervised with a representative from a non-HEI partner organisation. For more information see the NWSSDTP website.
Pathway information
Find out more about the pathways available on the ESRC NWSSDTP
You can choose a project from one of our pathways; psychology, health and wellbeing, and social studies of science, technology and medicine. Explore these pathways in more detail and find out who to contact to discuss potential research proposals.
In the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, we work closely with applicants whose interests are within the area of social work. If you are interested in submitting an application to the Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work pathway with a specific interest in social work, then we ask that you contact us directly before making an application so that we can provide support and guidance.
Once you have support for your application, you will need to follow the application instructions on the School of Social Sciences website.
Suggested contacts
Pathway lead: Dr Laura Anselmi, laura.anselmi@manchester.ac.uk
Admissions contact: admissions.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk – for returning completed ESRC NWSSDTP application forms and supporting documents
This pathway has a broad remit and examines health and well-being from a social science perspective.
It is ideal for social scientists and health/social care practitioners wishing to undertake applied research.
Examples of current activity include the social determinants of health, healthy ageing, international public health, mental health, managing long-term conditions, primary care and health technologies.
The pathway is particularly suitable for aspiring postgraduates with backgrounds in nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, medicine, health services research, psychology and sociology.
The pathway also offers advanced workshops in specialised areas open to all pathway students across the four institutions. These have included:
- narrative methods in health research;
- ethics in participatory and health research;
- medical anthropology;
- medical statistics;
- spatial epidemiology.
Networking opportunities are fostered through annual conferences within the pathway, cross-institutional supervision and joint seminars on themes such as mental health, health technology and ageing.
The health and wellbeing pathway provides an opportunity to develop key skills in health and social care research.
Whether you wish to influence the management of long term health conditions, healthcare policy or the societal implications of health inequalities, our training can support your career aspirations.
If you are interested in the 1+3 route, our MRes Health and Social Care programme at The University of Manchester provides an excellent foundation.
Project examples:
A natural experiment of the effects of “greening” the environment on physical activity and wellbeing: Theory development and developing guidance on practical issues for natural experiments
Jack Benton with Professor David French and Dr Sarah Cotterill
Frailty versus ageing: Older Adults Physical Activity Habits
Dominique Mauger with Professor Chris Todd, Dr Helen Hawley Hague and Dr Neil Pendleton
Virtue Theory in Practice: An evaluation of the impact of nursing values on patient experience
Sarah Ramsey with Professor Christine Hallett and Dr Jane Brooks
Pathway lead: Dr Alissa Ferry (alissa.ferry@manchester.ac.uk)
Admissions contact: admissions.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk – for returning completed ESRC NWSSDTP application forms and supporting documents
Applicants must discuss potential research proposals with suitable academic supervisors in advance.
This will provide the basis for establishing whether a proposal can be supported, relevancy to ESRC and how it could be adapted to make the training experience all the more fulfilling.
View our research groups and academic profiles in this area as a starting point:
- Human Communication, Development and Hearing
- Psychology and Mental Health
- Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology
Most queries relating to the development of research proposals, and your suitability for a particular area of study should be directed to potential academic supervisors.
General questions pertaining to overall academic suitability, or equivalence of research experience can be directed to the pathway lead as outlined above.
Once you have identified a potential supervisor, you should contact him/her directly via email with details of your initial ideas for possible areas of study. Proposals should then be refined and developed in collaboration with your supervisor, where appropriate.
Final research proposals are expected to name a minimum of two potential academic supervisors, and we strongly encourage cross-institutional supervisory teams within the NWSSDTP.
Once you have identified a primary supervisor at the host institution, s/he will be able to offer help and advice on the most beneficial supervisory arrangements for your chosen area of study.
If you are interested in the 1+3 route, our MRes Psychology programme at The University of Manchester is ideally suited as it provides the opportunity to experience extended research across a range of research topics first hand.
The MSc Clinical and Health Psychology, MSc Health Psychology and MSc Neuroimaging for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience also provide an appropriate foundation.
Academic contacts:
Pathway Lead: Vladimir Jankovic (Vladimir.Jankovic@manchester.ac.uk)
Carsten Timmermann (carsten.timmermann@manchester.ac.uk)
Admissions contact: admissions.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk – for returning completed ESRC NWSSDTP application forms and supporting documents
Find out more about postgraduate research in the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.
Applying
Find everything you need to know about applying for the NWSSDTP
If you are interested in applying to study with our supervisors, through any of the pathways, please read the application guidance carefully.
How to apply
***Applications for this programme are closed for 2025/26***
You should complete and return an application form for the relevant training route to the pathway administrators listed. Please also complete and return the equal opportunities monitoring form.
Please return the completed forms to us by email: FBMH.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
The application deadline is 5pm on 3 February 2025.
Please note that all deadlines are strict and applications received after 5pm will not be included in the competition.
You are NOT required to submit a formal online University of Manchester application form at this stage for any training route.
If you are shortlisted for the interview stage by the pathway, you will be asked to complete the relevant University of Manchester application(s) at that time.
Contact us
Have any questions? Get in touch.
If you have any queries about any of the pathways offered in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester, you can either contact the relevant pathway admissions contact, or email our Admissions team.