Economics: Fully Funded ESRC Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) PhD Studentship in the Economics Pathway

Funding providers: ESRC WGSSS 50%; Swansea University 50% 

Subject areas: Economics

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. 

Eligibility

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.  

We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Funding Details                                         

Additional Funding Information

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 £940 per year.

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