New phase of North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership inducts its first students
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The University of Liverpool-led North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) inducted its first cohort of PhD students since becoming the largest Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-funded DTP in the UK.
Students from across five institutions came together in the Stanley Theatre to hear about the opportunities and expectations of their funding, as well as meeting the key NWSSDTP staff, student representatives and other students within their cohort.
The NWSSDTP Director, Dr Laura Radcliffe, said: ‘The in-person induction was a fantastic way to launch the next phase of our NWSSDTP consortium and, importantly, the PhD journeys of our new cohort of PhD students. It offered an invaluable opportunity to foster a sense of belonging and connection. Bringing together postgraduate researchers from across our five partner institutions and multiple disciplines created a vibrant atmosphere where ideas were exchanged and collaborations began, laying a strong foundation for the journey ahead.’
This consortium, first established by the ESRC in 2011, originally consisted of University of Liverpool in partnership with Lancaster University and the University of Manchester. The NWSSDTP expanded in 2016 with the addition of Keele University, and again in 2023 when the University of Central Lancashire joined the partnership.
The purpose of the consortium is to fund and train PhD students in the social sciences and around 60 full PhD studentships are allocated each year across multiple disciplines within the social sciences.
Research in Practice Placement Scheme
The event also marked the launch of the NWSSDTP Research in Practice Placement Scheme, which provides an opportunity for all NWSSDTP PhD students to undertake a three-month placement. This could be an internship with a non-university partner or a research assistantship at a different university.
The scheme builds on 13 years of the DTP’s experience collaborating with private, public, and third sector organisations including Unilever, English Heritage, the Bank of England and the Samaritans.