North West becomes largest centre for PhD training

The largest centre in England for social science postgraduate training has been established at the Universities of Lancaster, Manchester and Liverpool.

The North West Doctoral Training Centre (NWDTC) is one of 21 in the UK, created by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and will provide PhD students with access to quality research training in social science disciplines. Lancaster, Manchester and Liverpool are now guaranteed a total of 63 new postgraduate studentships per year to support research and training at doctoral level each year. This will amount to more than £15 million of investment over the next five years.

Studentships will be available across the full range of social science disciplines, including areas such as Geography, Economics and Psychology. The ESRC has also identified particular areas of study that would benefit from further development across the UK. These include subjects such as Language-Based Area Studies, Economics, and Management and Business Studies. A number of studentships will be set aside for these particular areas to help ensure that social sciences continue to contribute to the development of society and the economy.

Students will have access to research expertise across the three universities, allowing them to take advantage of a variety of study in social sciences, as well as in subjects where scientists are collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines such as medicine and the arts.

Professor Geraint Johnes, Lancaster University’s Dean of Graduate Studies, said: “This is the largest doctoral training centre in England offering postgraduate students wide-ranging opportunities across the social sciences disciplines at each of the partner institutions. Doctoral students at Lancaster will now be able to enjoy not only the fantastic research facilities that we have, but also the best offerings at Liverpool and Manchester.”

See information about Lancaster’s other Doctoral Training Centres here:

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/nownano/

http://www.highwire.lancs.ac.uk/

http://www.stor-i.lancs.ac.uk/