Doctoral School News
News and updates from the Doctoral School
Funding schemes just launched...
AHRC CHASE
Applications are now invited for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded CHASE PhD studentships in the Arts & Humanities commencing in *September 2015.
The University of Sussex is a member of the CHASE Doctoral Training Partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and CHASE now invites applications for its second round of AHRC PhD Studentship awards, CHASE Studentships are for PhD-level study only. CHASE-funded students will also have the opportunity of undertaking a placement with one of the partner organisations.
*Please note that if you have already commenced doctoral study, you may still be eligible for an AHRC studentship funding providing that, at the start of the AHRC award, you will have at least 50% of your period of study remaining.
For full details on how to apply please visit http://www.sussex.ac.uk/doctoralschool/chase
Sussex ESRC Doctoral Training Centre
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) at the University of Sussex is delighted to offer up to 22 studentships in 6 innovative pathways across the Social Sciences at the University of Sussex commencing in *September 2015.
*Please note that if you have already commenced doctoral study and are in your first year, you may still be eligible for ESRC studentship funding.
Studentships will include UK/EU fees and in the case of UK students will also include a maintenance grant (for information the 2014-15 rate is £13,863 per annum). EU students will usually only be eligible for a fees-only award. EU students are also eligible for the maintenance grant (at the same rate as UK students) when they have been living in the UK for three years prior to the start of the course. Studentships are paid pro rata for part time students.
Studentships in Economics, Education and Development Studies (Global Studies) only are open to all applicants (i.e. international, UK and EU) irrespective of residency. Awards in these three disciplines will include a maintenance grant at the standard rate and full fees.
The DTC particularly welcomes applicants in Economics, Education and Development Studies, as these areas are currently under-represented at Sussex.
For full details on how to apply please visit http://www.sussex.ac.uk/doctoralschool/esrcdtc/apply
Other sources of funding...
- The University of Sussex Funding Database - For full details of all PhD Scholarships available at the University of Sussex, across all Schools.
- The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online is all about alternative sources of funding - especially charities - which can make awards to any student regardless of subject or nationality. The Guide contains a huge database of funding opportunities, comprehensive guidance written by successful applicants, and numerous tools to help you prepare a winning grant application. The Guide is password protected, but if you are a current University of Sussex student you can register using your Sussex email address. Register here for access to the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online
- Research Professional is an online database of research funding opportunities and a source of international research policy and practice news. You are free to browse the content of the site, create customised searches of its content and share this information with colleagues. For full information about Research Professional and how to register please visit http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/funding/researchprofessional
Engaging with doctoral student representatives
On the 26th November we held the first of what we hope will become a regular meetings with doctoral student representatives and the Chair of the Students’ Unions Postgraduate Association.
The focus was on the doctoral student experience and it was really useful to hear the views and advice from the representatives.
Please talk to your doctoral student representatives if there are particular aspects of your experience at Sussex which we can improve or that you perceive to be working really well. To find out who your representative is click here.
Research Excellence Framework (REF)
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs).
Some form of assessment of HEI research activity has taken place roughly every five years since 1986. The last deadline for submissions was December 2013; the next is rumoured to be 2020.
The REF outcomes will be published on 18th December 2014 on the REF website.
If you are considering a long term research career in UK higher education, it is well worth spending some time understanding the different elements of how research is assessed nationally.
The outcome of the REF will be important for your supervisors, so it may well be worth checking the result before your post 18th December 2014 supervision meeting!