The South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is a consortium of 8 leading universities (of which ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ is one) across the south and east of the UK promoting inventive and inclusive social science research training and collaboration. It is one of 15 doctoral training partnerships  funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). SENSS offers world-class opportunities for social science research, training and collaboration.

What is a SENSS student-led studentship?

  • Students work on a research project they have come up with themselves.
  • They will be guided in this work by an expert academic supervisory team.
  • The project may involve working with a collaborative partner (for example, a business, charity or think tank) who provides researchers with access to data, equipment or participants for a study, additional funding for their studentship, an additional supervisor, and/or a placement.

What is SENSS looking for?

  • Interesting research ideas that will provide new knowledge in their academic field and may also help to address the major challenges facing Britain and the world.
  • A good match between applicant researchers and their proposed university and supervisors.
  • We are especially keen to receive applications from those who meet certain criteria that form part of SENSS's equality and diversity policy, such as being from a particular ethnic background, having grown up in a less affluent area, having a disability, being a carer, and/or having been in care as a child. If you qualify as a “Home” student and come from one of these backgrounds, you will have the option of indicating this in the equal opportunities form that is part of our online application process. We aim to award a number of studentships to applicants coming from these backgrounds.
  • SENSS allows applications from talented students holding undergraduate degrees only, and will be offering several studentships for such exceptional applicants. If you are successful, you will receive financial support to do a Masters as well as your PhD.

What is Cranfield looking for?

Cranfield is aligned to four of the six SENSS themes. We are looking to hear from students who want to carry out research within these themes. Below is an indicative list of topics which Cranfield academics would be interested in supervising within these themes.

Digital Social Sciences -  Dr Richard Adams

Behavioural and Computational Social Science approaches to entrepreneurship, sustainability and achieving the SDGs
Technology in Management/HRM/Supply Chains
Operations Research and Computational approaches in the Supply Chain

Resolving uncertainty & addressing crises - Dr Nicky Yates

Organisational and Supply Chain Resilience
Crisis management and Business Complexity
Healthcare management – organisational and supply chain
Cybersecurity
Cyber security for the development of V2X systems

Sustainability & Climate Emergency - Dr Heather Smith

Sustainable Management/Circular Economy
Sustainable Supply Chains
Development of hydrogen systems and policy
Energy planning and policy
Water use, planning and policy

Justice, institutions & social change - Dr Elisabeth Shrimpton

Energy justice and a just transition
Energy, infrastructure and socio-technical transitions
Community and distributed energy systems
Social and spatial frameworks in energy transitions
Digital transformation and institutional change
Justice in water use and management

At a glance

  • Application deadline22 Jan 2025
  • Award type(s)PhD
  • Start date07 Oct 2025
  • Duration of award3.5 ( 4.5 years with Masters) adjusted for part-time applicants
  • EligibilityUK, EU, Rest of world

Supervisor

Each theme has a Cranfield theme lead (detailed above) who is the first point of contact for applications in that theme. We strongly encourage applicants to proactively reach out to Cranfield supervisors who are directly aligned to their proposed research. 

Supervisor

You will need to identify an academic at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ whom you wish to work to directly discuss working with them. Please see list above of Cranfield themes and topics – you are free to approach potential supervisors from across the Cranfield faculties.

Alternatively, if you are unsure about who to approach, get in touch with the Cranfield Operational Lead, Abbi Legate ,, and she will be able to support you in finding a supervisor.

Entry requirements

Residential criteria: studentships are available to all applicants, regardless of nationality or residency, across all 8 SENSS universities and 6 SENSS interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary Pathways. However, there are a limited number of studentships (approximately 10 each year) available to international applicants.

You can view the full residential here.

To apply for a Masters plus PhD (+4.5-year award), you will need: qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a first or a high 2:1 Bachelor’s degree (Honours).

To apply for a PhD only (+3.5-year award), you will need: qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a Masters degree, or a Masters degree and already have the research skills needed to successfully complete your research project.

If you have already started your PhD, you are eligible to apply for SENSS funding, but only if you have not already completed a substantial proportion of your studies.

Funding

You will be paid £19,237 per year to undertake postgraduate studies, and tuition fees will be paid.

Cranfield Doctoral Network

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

How to apply

Please read the guidance notes on how to complete your application form before you begin.

If you have a research topic you want to work on, first with whom you wish to work, making sure that your research topic comes within one of the . (Please note ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ only accepts applications under 4 of the 6 SENSS themes: Digital Social Sciences, Resolving Uncertainty & Addressing Crises, Sustainability & Climate Emergency and Justice, Institutions & Social Change). If it does, contact that academic - your proposed supervisor - directly to discuss working with them. Alternatively, if you are unsure about who to approach, get in touch with the at that university, as they may be able to support you in finding a supervisor.

If, after talking to your proposed supervisor at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, they are supportive working with you, submit your application for a place to study using the link.

What happens once the application is submitted?

  • Your application will be graded by the SENSS Thematic panel under which your application falls, and ranked in order of merit along with the other applications to that Theme. The SENSS Management Board then meets to make the final awards. You will be kept informed at each stage whether your application will be going forward to the next round of the competition.
  • If your application achieves a high-ranking you will be asked to submit an application to register with ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥. (Please note that ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ follows a slightly different process to that advertised by SENSS, in that there is no need to lodge an application with Cranfield before submitting your application to SENSS).
  • You will be notified by mid-April whether you have been awarded a SENSS student-led studentship.

Where can I find out more?

The SENSS Deputy Director, Professor Fragkiskos Filippaios, is holding webinars on how to write a successful application for those interested in applying for SENSS funding. To book your place on one of these webinars, please click on the relevant link below now to reserve a place:

  • Wednesday 2nd October 2025 (a recording will be available on the SENSS webpage)
  • 6pm - 7.30pm GMT
  • 2pm - 3.30pm GMT.
  • Wednesday 27th November 11am -12.30om GMT.
  • 6pm - 7.30pm GMT.