Skip to content Accessibility statement

White Rose Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership launched

News

Posted on Tuesday 11 October 2016

A consortium of northern universities is launching a new £16.8 million Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership, which aims to support postgraduate students in accessing the highest quality research training throughout their time at university.

The scheme, which brings together the Universities of Hull, Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, and Manchester Metropolitan, is part of the White Rose Doctoral Training Centre, led by the Universities of York, Leeds and Sheffield. 

The new partnership, which was announced at the White Rose University Consortium conference in Brussels, is one of 14 new Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) accredited partnerships across the UK and will offer training in seven interdisciplinary themed training pathways, providing 38 fully-funded studentships a year for six years. 

Matthew Festenstein, Director of the Research Centre for Social Sciences at the University of York, said: “This new partnership recognises the quality of our Social Sciences postgraduate research and will enable interdisciplinary research training to address the major global social challenges that we face. It provides an exciting opportunity to work with new partners and we look forward to welcoming students next year.” 

Impactful research

The training focuses on providing skills such as working alongside international partners; handling different forms of data; and collaborating with others to develop impactful research.  The scheme also includes opportunities to work with non-academic partners and build research links with different city regions to conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects. 

Professor Deborah Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of York, said: “"We are delighted to be hosting postgraduate students engaged in this prestigious training programme, which builds on the excellence in social science research across our northern universities.  

“There has never been a more important time to be pursuing research that addresses social questions, often in an interdisciplinary context, that are of relevance to the critical global issues of our time.” 

Highly commended

The scheme was highly commended by the Research Council UK’s peer reviewers for building an innovative and dynamic postgraduate training environment through cross-university events, cutting-edge online learning platforms, and providing unique links between social sciences, humanities and STEM subjects. 

The first cohort of students will commence their studies in October 2017. 

Research newsletter

Our monthly research newsletter features a curated mix of news, events, and recent discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up

Explore more news

News

6 November 2026

The Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment, Chris McDonald MP, visited York’s historic Guildhall to learn how the University is driving economic growth and innovation across the region.

News

6 November 2026

The University of York has officially joined the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) as an institutional member, reinforcing its commitment to the highest standards of research rigour, transparency and inclusivity.

News

5 November 2026

The UK Government has lowered a key investment value, known as the headline social discount rate, from 3.5% to 3% following landmark research, giving greater weight to long-term environmental preservation, transport and hospital projects.

News

5 November 2026

A University of York student startup has been nominated for the global Earthshot Prize 2027 after developing a plant-based bio-polymer to replace traditional plastic.

News

5 November 2026

An AI assistant that conducts telephone consultations with patients is being trialled in the NHS to help clinicians monitor people with long-term illness.

Read more news