PhDs in the School of Social Sciences Introduction to the School of Social Sciences and Funding Opportunities Dr Stuart Shields, Director of Postgraduate Study

What is a PhD … A concentrated, extensive, intensive programme 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. Motivation and commitment.

What do Social Science PhD students actually do? Read a lot Write a lot Collect Research Data Analyse Research Data Think and theorise Present their work Network Publish Teach Learn

Good reasons to do a PhD … Intellectual Challenge. Want an academic/research career.

Some employment data

Bad reasons for doing a PhD … Carry on with the student life. Don’t know what else to do. Seems like an easy option.

What we do at Manchester – Social Science programmes Economics PhD Philosophy PhD Politics PhD Social Anthropology PhD Social Anthropology with Visual Media PhD Social Statistics PhD Sociology PhD Applied Social Research PhD

Think about inter-disciplinarity Some research problems need interdisciplinary approaches. You can be co-supervised by academics from different disciplines. Funding agencies like inter-disciplinarity! Some recent 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)

How to fund a PhD … School and discipline Studentships (approx 30) President’s Doctoral Scholars (PDS) studentships (approx 5) NWSSDTP studentships AHRC (Phil & VA) AQM CASE EPSRC studentships Grant Linked Studentships

Crucial for SoSS … ESRC NWSSDTP The North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is a quasi independent virtual organisation which funds 48+ social science PhD studentships per year with ESRC funding. A consortium of three universities: Manchester Lancaster Liverpool Keele Has a methods training arm methodsNW which runs regional training events throughout the year

What do we mean by 1+3, +3, 2+2 +3: Three years of funding a three year funded PhD programme 1+3: 4 years of funding. 1 year taught masters followed by a three year PhD Programme 2+2: Fours years of funding - economics only A two year MRes followed by a further two years on the PhD

Funding examples DTP standard studentships (0-50, realistically about 8-10) £14296 stipend Fees paid £750 research training grant 1+3 or +3 Home students only

Funding examples DTP AQM (up to 10, realistically 4-5) £17296 stipend Fees paid £1000 Research training grant +3 or 2+2 or 1+3 Home or overseas

Funding examples DTP Economics studentships £17210 stipend Fees paid £1000 Research training grant 1+3 or 2+2 Home

Funding examples President’s Doctoral Scholarship, school and DA studentships (25+) £14210/£17210 stipend Fees paid £750/£1000 Research training grant +3 (or 1+2) only Home or overseas (but only home fees)

Funding examples Philosophy AHRC award £14296 stipend Fees paid RTSG +3/1+3

Funding examples EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Awards (up to 3 realistically 1-2); related to one of their key 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

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)

Project Linked studentships Recent examples Privacy and big data Accounting for Informative Item Nonresponse in Hierarchical Linked Data Beyond numbers: do immigrant-origin MPs speak for immigrant-origin minorities in the UK Parliament? British Election Survey – contact Rachel.Gibson@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

How 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 DTP - a separate application will be necessary AHRC DTP - a separate application will be necessary

Timetable for applications Politics 23 November 2016 Applied Social Research 28 November 2016 Sociology 28 January 2017 Social Anthropology 28 November 2016 and 9 January 2017 (apply by first deadline to be considered for NWSSDPT funding). Social Statistics 20 January 2017 Economics 15 January 2017 Philosophy 20 January 2017 Best advice - apply early before the deadline

Timeframes Deadline for applications to the NWSSDTP 3rd February 2017 Deadline for applications to the AHRC DTP 20th January 2017 to submit PHD programme application and funding applications by 10 February 2017 Deadline for applications to EPSRC 28th February 2017 for receipt of a full on-line PhD application. Apply well in advance!! If you have your own source of funding then you could apply at any time.

Timeframe By mid February: Applicants informed if they have been awarded a place on the programme. By end March: Applicants informed if they have been awarded a funded studentship. Exception Economics DA awards.

What you need to apply … Application form 2 referees (academic) degree transcripts/certificates if available (interim transcripts if not yet awarded degree) A research proposal

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

What is a good research proposal? 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 help identify a potential supervisor (assuming there is one).

Breakout groups Economics - Dr Omer Edhan, PhD Admissions Tutor, 4.212, University Place Politics – Prof Yoram Gorlizki, PhD Director, 4.214, University Place Sociology - Dr Graeme Kirkpatrick, Head of Dept, 4.209, University Place Social Anthropology - Dr Soumhya Venkatesen, PhD Director, 4.213, University Place Philosophy - Dr Joel Smith, PhD Director 4.210, University Place Social Statistics/Applied Social Research - Professor Yaojun Li, PhD Director, 4.211, University Place

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! And I hope to see you at induction in September.

One more thing … CDT

Data Analytics and Society CDT

New Centre for Doctoral Training A consortium of four universities: Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield Funded by ESRC Focused on New forms of data External partners from all sectors At least 17 studentships per year Fully funded four years at standard RCUK rates. New Centre for Doctoral Training

New programme: Data Analytics Integrated Masters and PhD in data analytics Entry from either masters or undergraduate You will be joining a vibrant and interdisciplinary cross institutional community New programme: Data Analytics

New PhD programme: Data Analytics Integrated Masters in data analytics Training Skills training Machine learning, statistics, visualisation; programming for the social sciences; data management; ethics. Research training Case study work Advanced training Research A portfolio of small research projects New PhD programme: Data Analytics

What are new forms of data? Data not traditionally used in the social sciences Social Media data Commercial Sector data Stream data Data from wearables Sensor data; tracking data; meter data Singularly or Linked What are new forms of data?

New data for addressing pressing social questions Healthy behaviours and lifestyles Policing, Crime and Security Mobility and Transport systems Ethical consumption and production Finance and the Economy New data for addressing pressing social questions

You must be from UK or meet the length of residency requirements Applications will made be via the centre’s web site www.datacdt.ac.uk (not live yet). You will need to provide a short expression of interest. Types of research question and perhaps some thoughts about the types of data that might be used. In the first instance: Email mark.elliot@manchester.ac.uk or the centre manager DataCDT@leeds.ac.uk for further information. How to apply