White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership
You can apply for funding from the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) to study at the University of Leeds.
The WRDTP is an established partnership of the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Hull, Manchester Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam. Working together since 2017, it is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and significant investment from its partner institutions.
Studentships
The WRDTP offers a range of social sciences PhD studentships starting in October each year. These are:
- WRDTP Pathway Awards (including our Interdisciplinary Research Awards and our WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British students)
- WRDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) Awards
- WRDTP Advanced Data Analytics (ADA) Awards
- WRDTP Collaborative Awards
The Pathway, Advanced Quantitative Methods and Advanced Data Analytics Awards fund student-led research projects.
WRDTP Collaborative Award projects are designed by academic colleagues at Leeds, and fund collaborative research with partners in the private, public or third sectors. Students can then apply for a studentship linked to their preferred project in early Spring each year.
All awards are available for study on either a full-time or part-time basis. The studentships also include a three-month Research in Practice Placement within public, private or voluntary organisations.
For full details, including eligibility criteria and key dates please visit the WRDTP website. There is also information on the University of Leeds Research Opportunities page.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Each year the WRDTP open a call for a number of Postdoctoral Fellowships across the seven partner institutions. These Fellowships are designed to support researchers in the immediate postdoctoral stage as they consolidate their PhD and prepare for the next step in their research careers. While most Fellows will pursue academic pathways, proposals that clearly outline activities supporting a transition to research roles in public, private, or civil society organisations are also welcomed. Please note that applications are open only to internal candidates. Further information can be found on the WRDTP website. Internal staff can find out more on the Leeds Institute for Societal Futures SharePoint.
We are currently awaiting confirmation from the ESRC regarding the 2026 round of Postdoctoral Fellow recruitment. Please keep an eye on this page for future details.
Training
As a partner university in the WRDTP, all social science PhD researchers at the University of Leeds can access training offered by the WRDTP, regardless of their funding source. The WRDTP also run a Supervisor's Development programme, which can be accessed by any University of Leeds PGR supervisors in the Social Sciences.