ESRC Society Today

New ESRC Postgraduate Training Framework - update

Background

The ESRC announced changes to the way it will support postgraduate training in the social sciences from 2011 onwards in May 2009.  The new Postgraduate Training Framework will move the ESRC away from a system of providing training through recognised outlets and individual courses and will instead create a national network of institutional or consortia level Doctoral Training Centres (DTC) and Doctoral Training Units (DTU) providing the very best training provision. The primary purpose of the new framework is to further enhance provision for postgraduate training in the UK by building upon the considerable strengths that already exist across the social science research base.

Implementing the new Framework

Since May 2009, the ESRC has been working on the detailed arrangements for the implementation of the new Postgrduate Training Framework, leading up to a competitive, peer-reviewed application process for DTC/DTU status. 

New Postgraduate Training Guidelines

The ESRC is also launching a new set of Postgraduate Training and Development Guidelines to accompany the new Framework. The Guidelines cover compulsory core training requirements in general research skills, research methods and transferable skills.  The Guidelines do not prescribe subject specific training, as under the new Framework, responsibility for determining such requirements will rest with individual DTCs and DTUs, allowing them to draw upon their own strengths in certain areas.

An initial text version of the new Postgraduate Training and Development Guidelines is available here:

• Postgraduate Training and Development Guidelines 2009 (PDF)

Application Form

Institutions wishing to hold ESRC studentships under the new framework must first apply for ESRC accreditation. The call for applications is now open and will close at 4pm on Thursday 11 March 2010.  Applications must be submitted through the Joint Electronic Submission System (Je-S) and applications received after this date and time will not be accepted for processing. For further information about applying please see the link below.

For further information about applying please see the accreditation link below.

Please note that the FAQs, Guidance Notes for Applicants and Metrics form have all been updated. 

A Strategic Communication document and the Guidance Notes for Reviewers have also been added to the Useful Documents section.

• ESRC Accreditation Exercise

Key milestones in the implementation of the new framework

Strategy Document

The strategy document which sets out the new Framework, as well as a set of Frequently Asked Questions to accompany it, are available here:

• ESRC Postgraduate Training Framework: A Strategy for Delivering Excellence (PDF)
• ESRC Postgraduate Training Framework: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)