The 1+3 scheme provides funding for a one year research training master's linked to a three year PhD and is designed for students who have not already completed an ESRC-recognised programme of research training.

The 2+2 scheme provides funding for programmes which commence with a 2 year MRes programme followed by a 2 year MPhil/PhD.

The +3 scheme provides funding for a three year PhD.

Arrangements for 2012/13

The Economic and Social Research Council is one of three UK Research Councils whose funding to the School includes studentship provision - the others are the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)| and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)|. With the mutual emphasis on Economics and the Social Sciences, the ESRC is a major sponsor of LSE research.

From 2011, only institutions who hold the status of Doctoral Training Centres (individual institutions and some consortia of a number of Universities) will be able to hold ESRC studentships. We are pleased to announce that LSE has been awarded Doctoral Training Centre status, and that we have a total of 36 studentships a year spread across disciplines.

The Graduate Prospectus| gives an indication of which programmes are eligible for funding. The process of awarding the studentships will involve the academic departments responsible and a central panel of academic staff for any cross-School decisions.

The ESRC is no longer running an open competition to award studentships.

How to apply

LSE will nominate offer holders for studentships on the basis of academic merit and research potential. In order to be considered you will need to have completed an application to the School.

How to apply| for admission

If you wish to be considered for a 1+3 or 2+2 programme - i.e. MRes/PhD or MSc (Research)/PhD, you must include with your application an outline research proposal. This proposal should be a brief description of the research topic you are considering pursuing during your PhD and should explain why you are interested in this area of research. As your research interests will develop over the year of your Master's training your proposal need only be indicative. Applications for MSc (Research) programmes received without this outline research proposal will be considered for the MSc programme only and not the PhD portion.

All students interested in being put forward for ESRC funding must contact their academic department in the first instance to express their interest.

The deadline for LSE to nominate candidates for ESRC funding is unknown at present. However applicants wishing to be considered for ESRC funding should ensure they have submitted a complete application for admission, including transcripts and references, by 10 January 2012. This deadline is also subject to local deadlines which may have been set by individual academic departments.