South-East Doctoral Arc Training partnership (SEDarc)

SEDarc scholarships (funded by the Economic Social Research Council) are available across our Social Sciences PhD programmes from September 2024. SEDarc postgraduate researchers conduct a challenge-led research project in one of our focus themes and take up a range of discipline specific and career development training including three-month placements.

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PhD scholarships

Applications for this award are now open.

See our full list of scholarships.

Scholarship funding 

If you are successful with your application to SEDarc, your scholarships will cover:

  • your PhD fees
  • a living allowance at UK Research Council rates
  • additional funding grants to support your development as a researcher, including support for travel to national and international conferences, placements, and collaborations with partners, specific training/professional development activities (e.g learning a language for fieldwork), overseas fieldwork and publishing your research.

How to apply for a SEDarc PhD scholarship

  1. Choose your PhD degree

    You must apply for a PhD in the Social Sciences to be eligible for the scholarship.

  2. Find a supervisor

    Make contact with your potential supervisor to discuss your research area. See our guide on finding a supervisor. Make sure that your proposed research fits with one of our SEDarc themes.

  3. Apply to Sussex

    Apply to Sussex using our online application system (applications must be submitted by the deadline on our scholarships advertisement). Find out how to apply to Sussex. 

  4. Apply for a SEDarc scholarship

    Indicate in the Sources of Funding section of the application form that you are applying for a SEDarc scholarship covering stipend fees and research costs.


    Upload our SEDarc application form as an attachment on your online application form. The form and the deadline for SEDarc applications is on our scholarships advertisement.  

Each Spring, Sussex forwards its highest ranked candidates to the SEDarc consortium panel. The consortium then agrees a single ranked list and the top 39 applicants across the partnership are offered scholarships.

Successful candidates are notified by April each year.

Research degrees and SEDarc themes

SEDarc researchers should propose a research project around one of our 5 interdisciplinary themes addressing major social sciences challenges:

  • Living Sustainably
  • Healthy Thriving Communities
  • Inclusive Economic Growth
  • Secure, Effective and Trusted Institutions
  • Transformative Technologies for Society

Candidates should apply for a Social Sciences PhD programme at Sussex:

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Anthropology
  • Business and Management
  • Childhood and Youth Studies
  • Contemporary European Studies
  • Criminology
  • Development Studies
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Gender Studies (Social Sciences)
  • Geography
  • Human Rights
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Migration Studies
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Science and Technology Policy Studies
  • Social Work and Social Care
  • Sociology
  • Technology and Innovation Management
  • Wellbeing

To find out more about these subjects see our PhD degrees.

About SEDarc (funded by the Economic and Social Research Council)

Our new South East Doctoral Arc partnership – SEDarc – funds 3.5 year PhD scholarships across the range of Social Sciences disciplines. The SEDarc consortium is led by Royal Holloway, University of London, with the Universities of Sussex, Kent, Reading, Surrey and Kingston as partners. Postgraduate researchers conduct a challenge-led research project in one of our focus themes and take up a range of discipline specific and career development training including three-month placements.

If you are considering a PhD in the Social Sciences you are eligible to apply for one of our SEDarc scholarships.

As a SEDarc postgraduate researcher you will:

  • conduct an independent challenge-led research project (see themes above) achievable in 2.75 years
  • follow subject 200 hours per year of subject specific training and wider professional development to enhance your career prospects
  • undertake a funded three-month placement which can be completed flexibly (part-time or in several blocks)
  • receive a scholarship for 3.5 years for a PhD including the placement – and 4.5 years for a Masters+PhD programme
  • submit a new style of PhD thesis which includes reflection on your training journey, your placement and knowledge exchange activities. 

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