SGSSS (ESRC) funding - School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

The University of Edinburgh is part of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS), a consortium of 16 universities funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to support postgraduate studentships and training in the Social Sciences in Scotland.

PhD studentships are typically available for candidates on our Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies PhD and Chinese PhD programmes within the SGSSS Linguistics Unit of Assessment. 

The application process has two stages. Both stages must be completed in order to be considered for ESRC funding.

To be considered, candidates must submit a PhD programme application (Stage 1) and apply to the SGSSS (Stage 2).

Applicants interested in being considered for ESRC funding through the Student-led Open Competition must apply online to the University for their PhD programme by 5pm (UK time) on Thursday 19 November 2026.

You apply for your programme through the University of Edinburgh’s online Degree Finder and its associated application service, EUCLID.

What to do before you apply

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies PhD

This programme publishes pre-application information and guidance, including a list of staff eligible to supervise PhD students. 

You do not need to approach a potential supervisor before you apply, but it is essential to look at the interests and expertise of our research community on the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) website. This will help you when you are writing your personal statement and research proposal. 

• Explore our expertise and read our pre-application guidance for IMES

We also invite you to get in touch with the Departmental Postgraduate Research Director (DPGRD) for IMES. They have a good overview of all our supervision expertise and can advise you further on who might be the best supervisory fit for your thesis. 

• Contact the IMES Departmental Postgraduate Research Director

Chinese PhD

You do not need to approach a potential supervisor before you apply, but it is essential to look at the interests and expertise of our research community on the Chinese and Asian Studies website. 

Take some time to read over staff members’ profiles, research interests, and publications, to ensure that your project is something we can effectively supervise. We are much more likely to supervise a project if it closely relates to our own expertise and research interests. 

• Explore our research centres, networks and projects in Chinese and Asian studies

When you have done so, we invite you to get in touch with the Departmental Postgraduate Research Director (DPGRD) for Chinese and Asian studies. They have a good overview of all our supervision expertise and can advise you further on who might be the best supervisory fit for your thesis. 

• Contact the Departmental Postgraduate Research Director for Chinese and Asian Studies

1+3.5 award

If you need to complete a masters qualification before joining a PhD programme, the SGSSS offers a 1+3.5 award. Funding would cover the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh in the academic year 2027 to 2028, and then your PhD (2028 entry). Your first step is to apply for the MSc in Social Research by 19 November 2026.

• Find out more and apply for the MSc in Social Research

Please note that you will still need PhD supervision in Chinese or Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies secured for 2028 entry as your PhD project proposal will be assessed as part of the SGSSS marking criteria.

Applicants must also make a funding application to include academic transcripts, CV and referee details to the SGSSS Apply system before 5pm (UK time) on Tuesday 24 November 2026. 

At this stage, you should also reach out to Sumin Zhao, the SGSSS Unit of Assessment lead, for advice on the funding process.

• Email Sumin Zhao

Any queries about registering or logging into the system can be directed to the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science.

The Open Competition includes three stages of review, with candidates updated after each stage until either you are awarded or your application is unsuccessful. 

1. University of Edinburgh Review: this is two-stage (as above), with a nomination needed from the Unit of Assessment lead, and then selection by the University panel.
2. Challenge Led Pathway Review
3. Global Review: An executive panel of University Deans and members of the SGSSS Directorate meet and make the final award decisions. 

It is likely that successful candidates will be notified in early May 2027.