The Institute for Social Change conducts world leading research into how and why socio-demographic shifts are producing a realignment of the national, political, ethnic and religious cleavages that have structured modern western democracies (particularly in Europe and North America) since the early twentieth century.

We have three scholarships available for students starting in 2012.

The Philip and Ruth Davidson Prize Doctoral Scholarship

Deadline 6 July 2012.

The Philip and Ruth Davidson Prize Doctoral Scholarship is for study in the broad area of social or political change. We especially welcome proposals adopting quantitative empirical methods and the following themes: the role of context and networks on civic and political participation; party policy, party competition, party competence and electoral choice; social mobility, inequality and stratification; value change; ethnic inequalities and the social and political impact of immigration.

Studentship details

The Scholarship comprises an annual stipend of £13,590 and payment of fees up to the level charged for UK/EU students (currently £3828; overseas students would need to pay the balance in fees themselves). The Scholarship will be for direct entry onto the three year PhD programme commencing in September 2012. Continuation of the award is subject to satisfactory performance.

Admissions Criteria

You must have obtained (or expect to obtain) a Masters-level qualification at merit or distinction level, or overseas equivalent. You should have a track-record of engaging with research, which may include contributions to publications/articles, promoting your research to a wider audience, prizes/accolades for previous research work or setting up research collaborations with other groups.

Institute for Social Change (ISC) Doctoral Scholarship in quantitative social science – Two Scholarships available

Deadline 30th July 2012

Applications are invited for a prestigious doctoral scholarship in the Institute for Social Change for candidates seeking to study social and political change using quantitative methods.

The ISC scholarship is for study in the broad area of social or political change. We especially welcome proposals (though not exclusively) in the areas of civic and political participation; party competition, party competence and electoral choice; and/or the role of digital media political communication, particularly in the context of parties, elections and campaigns. The two studentships are for studies adopting quantitative empirical methods.

Studentship details

The studentship comprise an annual stipend of £13,590 and payment of fees up to the level charged for UK/EU students (currently £3828; overseas students would need to pay the balance in fees themselves). The studentship will be for direct entry onto the three year PhD programme.  The programme will commence in September 2012. Continuation of the award is subject to satisfactory performance.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must have obtained (or expect to obtain) a minimum upper-second class honours degree (or equivalent), and ideally hold a Masters-level qualification at merit or distinction. They should have a track-record of engaging with research. This may include contributions to publications/articles, promoting their research to a wider audience, prizes/accolades for previous research work, setting up research collaborations with other groups etc.

Further information for both scholarships

For further information or to discuss your proposal please contact the Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr David Cutts on +44 (0)161 306 6921 or email David.Cutts@manchester.ac.uk

Please visit http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/socialchange/postgraduate/research-degrees/index.html for more information and for details about how to apply.