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ESRC White Rose DTP Collaborative Studentships x 3

Date
WRDTP ESRC Logos

The Economic and Social Research Council is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues.  The University of Leeds is part of the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership forming a collaboration between the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, Hull and Manchester Metropolitan.

These social science studentships are available to UK and international (including EU) applicants in seven named Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways and can be held full-time or part-time for the following award types:

  • +3.5 programme: funding for a 3.5-year PhD. Typically, applicants with a social science Masters degree and with 60 or more credits (or equivalent) of M-level social science research training are those most likely to benefit from this option.
  • +3.75 programme: funding for an integrated PGCert/PhD. Typically, applicants with a social science Masters degree, but who have not undertaken core research training are those most likely to benefit for this option.
  • 1+3.5 programme: funding for a 1 year Masters programme, followed by the 3.5 year PhD. Typically, applicants without a social science Masters degree are those most likely to benefit from this option.

The closing date for all three studentships is 17:00 (UK Time) 14 March 2025, and further details about each opportunity can be accessed by clicking on the header title.

The University of Leeds is pleased to have been awarded three collaborative studentships, one of which is led by Professor Louise Waite, LSSI Director, and Sherif Youssef, LSSI Partnerships and Engagement Officer.

‘The Only Game in Town’: Anchor Institutions and Economic Resilience in the City of Leeds

School of Geography.  Key staff: Professor Louise Waite and Mr Sherif Youssef

Collaborative Partner:  Leeds City Council 

Pathway: Sustainable Growth, Business, Work and Economic Productivity (SBE)

This project aims to critically investigate the impact of local procurement driven by Leeds Inclusive Anchors Network (ie local governments, NHS hospitals, universities, housing associations and large private sector organisations) in co-creating economic resilience to allow a more equal and thriving Leeds city.

Exploring the socio-ecological potentials of essential provisioning systems in OECD nations

School of Earth and Environment.  Key staff:  Mr Richard Baernthaler and Professor Milena Buchs

Collaborative Partner:  New Economics Foundation 

ESRC Pathway: Space, Place, Environment and Liveability (SPEL)

This project tackles the critical challenge of aligning human need satisfaction with ecological sustainability.  Research highlights the importance of collective provisioning systems (CPS) in essential sectors – such as education, housing, healthcare, transportation and utilities – in meeting societal needs (eg health and social participation).  CPS, organised through public, community, or cooperative arrangements, prioritise social equity and universal access over individual payment ability.  Studies link CPS to improved well-being and reduced environmental impacts, eg through shared infrastructure and economies of scale.  However, empirical evidence on CPS’s ecological effects, as well as on successful implementation conditions, remains limited.

The social value of sustainable food public procurement. A case study of Leeds.

School of Geography.  Key staff: Professor Sara Gonzalez and Dr Effie Papargyropoulou

Collaborative Partner:  Leeds City Council and Foodwise (The Leeds Food Partnership)

Pathway: Sustainable Growth, Business, Work and Economic Productivity (SBE)

This project aims to understand how social value can be leveraged to strengthen local food systems through a case study of public food procurement in Leeds.  Public procurement is narrowly focused on financial value, limiting its potential benefits to public health, community economies, and environmental sustainability.  This project will bridge innovative economic frameworks with food systems research to develop a broader understanding of value, moving beyond cost-based contracting to include social, environmental, and economic well-being with ecological limits.