Course summary
Established in 2011, the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (formerly known as the SWDTC), comprises the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Plymouth and the University of the West of England (UWE). As recognised research leaders, all institutions are committed to providing excellent training, development and teaching for the postgraduate community across disciplinary and interdisciplinary research fields. The SWDTP is a strategic partnership accredited by the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council. As well as developing tailored training programmes for our students and staff, the partnership also supports a wide variety of collaborative activities, including events and student placements in public, private and civic society organisations. The partnership is made up of a number of disciplinary and interdisciplinary pathways. For details of the pathways available at Bristol, please see the apply to the SWDTP section of our website. The pathway you are interested in will determine which programme you will need to apply to through the online application system. Each programme has its own entry in the programme finder where you will find further details of research activities and potential supervisors. The SWDTP offers funding for 1+3 or +3 awards in a range of disciplines and interdisciplinary themes. Students will normally be registered in the school of their first supervisor. This may not be the school that processes your application.
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries
Entry requirements
Studentships are available as either a 1+3 award, which is a one-year MSc/MRes plus three years funding for a PhD, or as a +3 award, which covers three years funding for a PhD only. Applicants for a +3 award should have completed, or be due to complete, an ESRC-accredited or an equivalent research master's with a significant element of research training. The research training should include significant social sciences research design, and quantitative and qualitative research methods elements. The transcript will need to show that a minimum of a third of the taught stage of your programme entailed research methods elements. Applicants should have achieved an average grade of their master's (at the point of application) of at least merit (60%). Successful applicants must ultimately achieve both an overall average of at least 60% across the taught units and at least 60% for the dissertation component as a condition of their funding. Applicants may be asked for further information to determine the relevance of the content covered. For students who have undertaken a master's outside the UK, we will look for appropriate equivalencies. Please see individual programme entries for details of other entry requirements. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £4665 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £4665 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £4665 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £4665 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £4665 | Year 1 |
| EU | £25300 | Year 1 |
| International | £25300 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
For more information, please view the programme page on our website.
Provider information
University of Bristol
Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1TH