North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership CASE Studentship competition

09 Jun 2025

The Humanities Doctoral Academy has organised an information session on 1 July for academics considering submitting a 2026 entry

The University of Manchester, as part of The North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) consortium, receives Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) accreditation and funding for doctoral studentships and training.

The NWSSDTP runs an annual collaborative studentship competition (CASE) where academics from the five NWSSDTP institutions can apply for funding towards postgraduate projects that will be co-supervised with a representative from a non-higher education institution (HEI) partner organisation. Successful applicants will then be invited to recruit a postgraduate candidate to undertake the project.

NWSSDTP CASE studentships allow PhD students to gain first-hand experience of work outside an academic environment. The student works on a doctoral project supported by expert academic supervisors and a co-supervisor from a non-HEI partner organisation.

The competition has two stages. The first is the proposal stage, where an academic and a non-HEI partner organisation collaborate to propose a CASE studentship. If the proposal is successful, the second stage requires the academic and the non-HEI partner organisation to select a suitable postgraduate candidate to undertake the project.

Building on the success of the 2024 and 2025 awards, which followed changes implemented in the Manchester process for the competition, this session aims to support academic colleagues in understanding the current process and facilitating strong submissions for 2026 entry. The session will also include a short presentation from a successful CASE applicant, who will share their experiences and offer valuable insights.

It is highly recommended that prospective applicants attend the information session to gain a comprehensive understanding of the process, expectations, and how best to prepare a competitive submission.

The session will also be beneficial for those currently establishing relationships with CASE partners. Early engagement is crucial to facilitate collaboration and refine proposals for the 2026 entry. CASE studentships require a meaningful relationship with the partner organisation, and early engagement allows sufficient time to ensure proposals are meticulously developed, aligned with the expectations of all parties involved, and convincing for the ESRC.

Format: Zoom meeting
Date: Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Time: 10:30-11:30

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the session.

The ESRC NWSSDTP CASE call will be circulated shortly, and the Recruitment and Admissions section of the Humanities StaffNet site will be updated accordingly. If you are unable to attend the information session, please note that it will be recorded and uploaded to the site.

All queries should be directed to PGR Recruitment and Admissions Officer, Tasleem Hanif or the Deputy Associate Dean for PGR overseeing the scheme, Dr Stuart Shields.