Information on completing the MGS ESRC DTP Studentship Application

How to Apply

Step 1: Make sure you have applied for admission to your chosen university before you start

You must apply for admission to your chosen university for PhD admission, and obtain an Applicant ID Number, before you can make your MGS funding application. You must apply for PhD admission at this stage even if you are applying for Masters + PhD funding (a 1+3.5 award). If successful, you will receive guidance on which Masters course you will need to apply for.

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Step 2: Read the Guidance Notes

Read the Guidance Notes for Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP applicantsLink opens in a new window fully before applying.

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Step 3: The MGS funding application form

This online application form cannot be saved and must be completed in one go. Therefore, in order to help them complete the online form, applicants may find it useful to download a Word version of the application form available here. However, if you apply using this Word Document, your application will not be considered. You must apply using the online application form available hereLink opens in a new window.

In your funding application form you will be asked for more details about your research topic and given space to tell us about relevant achievements and experience in support of your studentship application.

You will also be asked for certain personal details so that the DTP can comply with ESRC reporting requirements. For each category you can select a ‘Prefer not to say’ option and the information collected in this form will only be used for the purpose of equal opportunities monitoring and will be shared with the ESRC in an anonymised manner to this end. These details will not be available to reviewers of your application.

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Step 4: Supporting Documents

Please be aware that while you may already have submitted some of this information as part of your course application to your chosen university, we will require you to repeat it for the purposes of this form. Reviewers of the applications will only have access to the information included in this studentship application form. It is therefore important that you include all requested additional information with your funding application.

As outlined in the Guidance Notes as part of your online application you will need to upload:

• Project Details Supporting Statement

  • See page 16 of the guidance documentLink opens in a new window

• A completed ‘Supporting Statement from Prospective Lead Supervisor’

  • Ask your prospective lead supervisor to complete the Supporting Statement form as part of your studentship application, available here as a Word DocumentLink opens in a new window. This will need to be directly uploaded by the applicant as part of the online funding application process. It is your responsibility to ensure that your lead supervisor completes this form.

• Transcripts of your previous qualifications

References

As part of your ESRC DTP funding application, the Midlands Graduate School will also consider the two references submitted in support of your PhD application at your institution. We will download your references directly from the Admissions system at the institution to which you have applied.

Your references must be available on your university's Admissions system by the funding application deadline.

Applicants to Loughborough University only

Applicants to Loughborough University must submit a complete PhD application by Wednesday 16^th December 2026, including the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be from your most recent place of study.

Once you have submitted your application, please email Esrcdtp@lboro.ac.uk with your Loughborough application number so that your references can be requested before the Midlands Graduate School (MGS) deadline of 12^th January 2027.

Failure to submit a complete application and provide your application number by 16^th December 2026 may result in your application not being considered for the competition.