Social Care, Social Work, Social Policy: ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy (RS990)

Funding Providers: ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) 

Subject Area: Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy

Project Start Dates:  October 2027 **

**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed. 

Supervisors: 

This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants must approach a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application. This is to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application of which the supervisor must complete a section. 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 WGSSS website. The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Dr Daniele Doneddu, D.Doneddu@Swansea.ac.uk, might be able to advise you. 

Aligned programme of study: Social Care, Social Work, Social Policy - 3.5 Years, PhD WGSSS DTP 

Mode of study: Full or part-time study is possible. Please note that full-time ESRC WGSSS studentship award holders cannot hold either a full-time job, permanent part-time job or temporary role for an extended period, during the period of their award. Part-time ESRC WGSSS studentship award holders cannot hold a full-time job. 

Place of study: 

• Swansea University (Singleton Campus) 
• Swansea University (Bay Campus)

Identify a Supervisor - This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants must approach a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application. This is to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application of which the supervisor must complete a section. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages.  

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/humanities-and-socialsciences/social-sciences-staff/criminology-sociology-social-policy-staff/ 

Project description: 

Social Policy sits within the School of Social Sciences, and the Department of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. The Department is also home to the Centre for Social Change, which hosts regular seminars by both Swansea academics, collaborators and other academics across the globe. Swansea University hosts the ESRC Administrative Data Research Centre (Wales), which facilitates access to linked, de-identified administrative data in a secure environment. 

Social Care and Social Work sits within the School of Health and Social Care, and is home to the award-winning DEEP initiative, devoted to devising new forms of participatory evidence-gathering, in ways suited to informing policy.   

The Social Policy and Social Work teams are interested in supervising PhD work across the domains of the subjects.  Particular areas of research expertise include: 

• inequalities and social justice
• poverty
• the politics of social welfare
• relations between the state and civil society
• advocacy
• ageing
• disability studies
• devolution
• ethical issues in social policy
• children and children’s right
• the family
• communities and social care
• the social policy roles of the third sector
• co-production
• service outcomes for children, young people and families
• the rights of excluded groups (e.g. asylum seekers, Romanai and Traveller families)
• inclusive practices in social care research
• experiences of the care system
• experiences of care-leavers
• sexuality and social care
• safeguarding and child protection
• older people 

To receive WGSSS 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.

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.

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here English Language Requirements - Swansea University.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £21,805 for 2026/27).

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

Students also have access to a Research Training Support Grant.

To apply, please complete the entire application form here.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh and any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English. Please refer to the University’s Welsh Language Policy on Awarding Grants    

To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.  

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS990

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)  

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input: 

• the RS Code, RS990
• the scholarship title  

• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank  
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank  
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload? *’(Mandatory) Please select Yes  
• Then upload copy of WGSSS application form

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.  

*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.  

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:   

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).  

2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.  

3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly. 

Important: If you have previously applied for the same programme & intake, do not re‑apply using a different email address. Applications submitted with an email address that differs from the one used in your original application will not be accepted or considered. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.  

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.   

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):  

• WGSSS Application Form 

• Academic CV (two pages maximum) 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)

• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.

• 2 academic or professional references (candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application. The reference must detail the applicant’s research strengths). Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.

• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable - please note that you do not need to hold a valid English Language test at time of application, as any offer made can be conditional upon the appropriate level of English. Please find further information on what we can accept via our English Language policy pages here).  
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)  
• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Assessment:

Applications should be received no later than 6th December 2026 including all required documents. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are expected to take place in February 2027. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions. 

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.

Successful applicant aligned to a 1+3 award will be required to submit a separate Master’s degree application in addition to the standard/above PhD application.

Full details on how to complete this additional step will be provided to successful applicant(s). At this stage, no additional Master’s degree application is required—please follow the standard PhD application process outlined above.

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. 

Duration of study:    

The duration of study varies from 3.5 to 4.5 years full time (or part time equivalent) and is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis.

WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and 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.    

*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. 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact: Lauren Gill esrcdtp@swansea.ac.uk