Newcastle University

The ESRC has this week announced that Durham and Newcastle’s joint bid to set up a collaborative Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) at the two universities for postgraduate research students in the social sciences has been successful.

The new North East Doctoral Training Centre will bring together the research strengths of Durham and Newcastle Universities, offering students a wealth of opportunities to work with research leaders across a wide range of social science subjects and benefit from world-class training and resources.

The North East DTC is one of only 21 to be approved by the ESRC across the UK following a rigorous peer review process. The ESRC’s reviewers highlighted the long-established collaborative relationship between the two universities in the social sciences; praised the DTC’s innovative approach to joint supervision and training; and commended each university’s investment in new, state-of-the-art facilities for the DTC.

Twenty-eight fully-funded studentships each year over the next five years have been granted to the North East ESRC DTC to recruit and support postgraduate students from across the social sciences.

Professor Charles Harvey (pictured), Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at Newcastle University, said: "The ESRC’s decision is excellent news not just for Newcastle and Durham universities, but also for the wider region. Students from the DTC will be working closely with public, private and charitable organisations across the North East and will be helping to inform local and regional policy-making.

"Full details about the exciting opportunities that will be available through the new DTC will be advertised shortly."

ESRC-funded studentships provide students with a tax-free maintenance grant of £13,590 each year and pay for their tuition fees during their studies. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree or have also completed a postgraduate Masters degree can apply for funding.

Note: This item is based on a joint press release, prepared by the Faculty of Social Science and Health at Durham University and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University.