Grant-linked studentships are designed to add value to the proposed research outlined in the grant application, whilst providing a clear opportunity for a distinct and independent course of enquiry for the student. Through being embedded with a high quality research team, they should offer the student an opportunity to both develop their substantive research skills, alongside broader professional development.

Grant-linked studentships may be requested on most research applications (with the exception of the Future Leaders scheme or where specifically stated in the call guidance) as long as:

• the grant applied for is for three years or more
• the principal or co-investigators are approved to act as primary supervisors for PhD students
• the student(s) will be located in an ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) and they are studying on an accredited pathway.

Up to three studentships can be applied for on any single grant application. It must also be clear that the studentship is not a displacement for the normal research support required on the grant. The student must have a distinct, independent area of enquiry that will add value to the overall research objectives of the grant.

The main research grant project should still be viable without the studentship and should have distinct objectives that are not reliant upon the studentship.

Further information

For further details on the application process for grant-linked studentships please read the relevant information in our Research Funding Guide.

You can find information on the rules and regulations for grant-linked studentships in our Postgraduate Funding Guidelines.

For any other queries please contact tdbpolicy@esrc.ac.uk