PHDS IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

OVERVIEW OF THIS AFTERNOON

Doing a PhD in Manchester Social Sciences. A view from current students

DOING A PHD

A PhD is: A concentrated, extensive, intensive program of

research. Applied training in research skills in a particular

discipline. The first step on an academic career. An entry badge for an academic/research career. An apprenticeship. A qualification!

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DO A PHD

Excellent research skills. An appetite for learning/curiosity. The capacity for independent thought and

work. The capacity to persist in the face of

difficulties. A willingness to work hard. A good relationship with one’s supervisor.

WHAT DO SOCIAL SCIENCE PHD STUDENTS DO?

Read a lot Write a lot Collect Research Data Analyse Research Data Theorise Present their work Network Publish Teach Learn

WHY DO A PHD?

Intellectual Challenge Want an academic/research career Want a (better) job

EMPLOYMENT DATA

 Academic

Research

Other professional

Non-professional

Unemployed

Other inactive

Unknown Total

Positive /Known

Anthropology 15 14 10 0 0 0 7 46 100.0%Econmics 28 12 23 0 0 0 7 70 100.0%Social Stats 2 22 2 0 1 0 1 28 96.3%Sociology 24 16 8 0 1 1 24 74 96.0%Philosophy 5 3 3 2 0 0 2 15 84.6%Politics 52 14 13 3 0 1 17 100 95.2%Social Change 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 100.0%SOSS 126 83 59 5 2 2 60 337 96.8%

BAD REASONS FOR DOING A PHD

Carry on with the student life Don’t know what else to do Seems like an easy option

THE SOCIAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS

Economics PhD Philosophy PhD Politics PhD Social Anthropology PhD Social Anthropology with Visual Media PhD Social Statistics PhD Sociology PhD Applied Social Research PhD

CONSIDER INTERDISCIPLINARITY

Some research problems such interdisciplinary approaches.

You can be co-supervised by academics from different disciplines.

Funders like interdisciplinarity! Some combinations we have seen:

Sociology & Social Stats. Politics &Philosophy Politics & Economics Economics & Health, Econ & Environment, Econ and

Development Studies Latin American Studies and Anthropology;

Anthropology, Media and Performance (with Drama)

FUNDING

School and discipline Studentships (17) President’s Doctoral Scholars (PDS)

studentships (5 expected) NWDTC studentships (0-64)

Standard Economics AQM CASE

EPSRC studentships (0-3) Grant Linked Studentships

WHAT IS THE NWDTC?

The North West Doctoral Training College (DTC) is a quasi independent virtual organisation which funds 64+ social science PhD studentships per year with ESRC funding.

A consortium of three universities: Manchester Lancaster Liverpool

Has a methods training arm methodsNW which runs regional training events throughout the year

WHAT DOES X+Y MEAN?

+3: Three years of funding a three year funded PhD programme

1+3: 4 years of funding. A 1 year taught masters followed a three year

PhD Program 2+2: Fours years of funding

within economics only A two year MRes followed by a two year PhD

program

FUNDING

DTC standard studentships (0-50, realistically about 8-10) £14210 stipend Fees paid £750 research training grant 1+3 or +3 Home only

FUNDING

DTC AQM (up to 10, realistically about 4-5) £17210 stipend Fees paid £1000 Research training grant +3 or 2+2 or 1+3 Home or overseas

FUNDING

DTC Economics (>=3) studentships £17210 stipend Fees paid £1000 Research training grant 1+2 or 2+2 Home or overseas

FUNDING

PDS studentships (5),school and DA studentships (17) £14210/£17210 stipend Fees paid £750/£1000 Research training grant +3 (or 1+2) only Home or overseas (but only home fees)

FUNDING

Philosophy AHRC award (1) £13283 stipend Fees paid RTSG +3/1+3

FUNDING

EPSRC Awards (up to 3 realistically 1-2); have to be related to one of the EPSRC themes: Digital economy Energy Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) Global uncertainties Healthcare technologies Engineering Information and communication technologies (ICT) Manufacturing the future Mathematical sciences Physical sciences Quantum technologies Research infrastructure

FUNDING

EPSRC Awards (up to 3 realistically 1-2) ~£14000 stipend Fees paid 1000 Research training grant +3 only Home or overseas (but only home fees)

DA ENHANCED STUDENTSHIP AWARDS

DA Based funds Can fund the difference between home and

overseas Or occasionally used to top up exceptional

applicants

PROJECT LINKED STUDENTSHIPS

Privacy and big data Contact mark.elliot@manchester.ac.uk

Accounting for Informative Item Nonresponse in Hierarchical Linked Data Contact natalie.shlomo@manchester.ac.uk

Beyond numbers: do immigrant-origin MPs speak for immigrant-origin minorities in the UK Parliament? Contact maria.sobolewska@manchester.ac.uk

FUNDING SUMMARY

We have multiple sources of funding for studentships About 35-50 in total Some programme specific Some home only some overseas or home Some +3 (or 1+2) only some also 1+3 to 2+2

TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

On your application form there is a section for funding. You should indicate each source of funding you are interested in:

School this is sufficient to apply

PSA this is sufficient to apply

DTC a separate application will be necessary

AHRC DTP a separate application will be necessary

TIMETABLE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for programme applications into the school via the on-line applications system. Anthropology 19th January 2015 ASR 19th January 2015 Economics for DTC awards 19th January 2015 Economics for DA awards 30th April 2015 Philosophy: 19th Jnauary 2015 Politics: 15th December 2014 Social Statistics 19th January 2015 Sociology 19th January 2015

TIMETABLE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for applications to the DTC via: http://www.nwdtc.ac.uk/prospective.html. 3rd February 2015

Deadline for applications to the AHRC DTP via: ????? ?????

Deadline for applications to EPSRC 3rd February 2015

If you have your own source of funding then you could apply at any time.

TIMETABLE

By 15th February: Applicants informed if they have been awarded a place on the programme.

By 28th March: Applicants informed if they have been awarded a funded studentship. Exception Economics Da awards.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO APPLY

Application form 2 referees A research proposal

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROPOSAL?

A document which outlines the Why, What and How of a proposed programme of research. What is the field in which the proposed research

is located? What is the research questions? Why are these questions interesting? How will the research be carried out?

WHAT DOES A GOOD RESEARCH PROPOSAL LOOK LIKE?

The language should be precise and concise. Proposal length is 1500 words.

The proposal should demonstrate the curiosity and independence of thought that will be required.

The “How” question is important – if you don’t know how you are going to go about your research then that will not inspire confidence in the reviewers.

NEXT STEPS.

Attend your DA recruitment event. It helps if you have some idea about: Research Topic. Research questions. Methods.

Your DA’s will identify a potential supervisor (assuming there is one).

NEXT STEPS: DA SESSIONS

After this event Breakout groups

3.205     Economics 3.211     Sociology 3.212     Social Anthropology 3.213     Social Statistics and Applied Social Research 3.214     Politics and Philosophy

NEXT STEPS.

Draft your proposal and send it to your potential supervisor for feedback.

Revise your proposal (possibly in consultation with your proposed supervisor) and then submit your application!