About the York Graduate Research School
Established in 2015, the York Graduate Research School (YGRS) connects more than 2,000 postgraduate researchers across all disciplines and brings together the support you need to make the most of your research project.
Alongside your department, we help you engage with York’s dynamic research environment. We offer high quality training, peer to peer support, professional development advice, and opportunities to engage others with your research. We also advertise teaching positions within the University and bring you the latest news and activities for PGRs on our community blog.
The Dean
Professor Paul Wakeling has been Dean of York Graduate Research School since January 2025.
As a sociologist of higher education, he has researched inequalities in access to postgraduate education for nearly 25 years, most recently as part of the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education.
He has undertaken many associated projects for UK funding and research agencies, including the Review of the PhD in the Social Sciences for ESRC. From 2018 to 2023 he was Head of the Department of Education at York.
Read Paul’s updates in the YGRS newsletter.
YGRS vision
York Graduate Research School (YGRS) seeks to develop and promote a new approach to postgraduate research embedded in York’s principles of public good, equality and collaboration. Our aspiration is for York to become a vanguard in attracting, developing and inspiring diverse, talented postgraduate researchers (PGRs).
Tackling ethnic inequalities
YGRS is leading a region-wide project to help improve opportunities for under-represented postgraduate students.
We're part of the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE) which has been awarded funding from the Office for Students and Research England to tackle ethnic inequalities in access to postgraduate research.
Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE)
YGRS partners
As a member of the Russell Group, the University of York attracts funding to support postgraduate research from funding councils, as well as charities, industry and philanthropic donors. The University of York is committed to investing in the next generation of researchers.
Our Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) and Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) offer excellent funded opportunities for postgraduate researchers from the UK and overseas.
Current CDTs and DTPs that offer PGR studentships at the University of York
- EPSRC Mobility DTP in Leadership and Excellence in Circular, Resource-efficient, Sustainable Manufacturing
- ESRC White Rose DTP
- NERC DTP - PANORAMA
- BBSRC White Rose DTP in Mechanistic Biology
- NERC ACCE DTP - Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment
- AHRC WRoCAH DTP - White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities
- MRC DiMeN DTP - Discovery Medicine North Doctoral Training Partnership
- EPSRC Fusion CDT - EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training: Science and Technology of Fusion Energy
- STFC DTP - The Science and Technology Facilities Council DTPs
- Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Technology - EPSRC ICASE DTP
- NERC ECORISC
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training: Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence - IGGI
- Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Technology - BBSRC iCASE