The Department of Sociology is pleased to form part of the South East Doctoral Training Centre. The South East Doctoral Training Centre unites the Universities of Kent, Reading, Royal Holloway and Surrey in providing outstanding postgraduate training in the M25 region. A number of studentships are available. 

Applications are invited from prospective PhD students for studentships in the Sociology Department at University of Surrey to commence in October 2012. These will be part of the ESRC South East Doctoral Training Centre. To apply for a DTC studentship in the Sociology Department, you must complete the South East DTC application form by Friday 10th February 2012. Potential applicants are strongly advised to contact the Department well ahead of that deadline to discuss their research proposal with possible supervisors.  If you are unsure of possible supervisors, visit the Departmental Research pages. 

Applicants for Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) studentships are expected to have an Upper Second or First Class undergraduate degree in a social science or related subject, or a Masters degree, or be able to demonstrate other relevant experience.

Studentships are available full-time for 3 years or 4 years, or part-time for 5 years:

• 3 year (+3) awards are for candidates who already have an ESRC-recognised Masters degree or a similar level of research methods training or experience
• 4 year (1+3) awards are for students to undertake the MSc in Social Research Methods or the MSc Criminology, Criminal Justice and Social Research followed by a 3 year PhD
• 5 year (part-time) awards are for candidates who wish to combine doctoral training with employment or other commitments.

Proposals are encouraged in any of the areas in which the Department has expertise which include:

• ageing, gender and the life course
• computer simulation of social processes
• comparative studies of social inequality
• culture and identity
• deviance and criminology
• media and communications
• methodology (including development of quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods)
• privacy and surveillance
• race and ethnicity
• science and technology studies
• social aspects of health and illness
• sociology of childhood
• sociology of gender
• sociology of sleep
• sociology of the environment
• work and employment
• youth and popular culture

For more details, see research in the Sociology Department.

DTC studentships are worth £13,590 per annum (2011-12) and do not attract income tax or national insurance. PhD students also have the opportunity, and are encouraged, to undertake some paid undergraduate teaching in the department. EU nationals are eligible for DTC studentships if they have been resident in the UK for the preceding 3 years. For full details, see the ESRC’s DTC guidance notes. For further information please contact Richard Sandiford, Postgraduate Research Administrator tel: 01483 689453; or Professor Lynn Prince Cooke (Sociology Postgraduate Research Director and Sociology Pathway Lead for the South East Consortium DTC (l.p.cooke@surrey.ac.uk).

Applications should be returned by email to Richard Sandiford (r.sandiford@surrey.ac.uk) by Friday 10th February 2012. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview on 23 February 2012, with the final selection of applicants then forwarded for consideration by the SE DTC selection panel in March.