ESRC Wales DTP General studentships: Bilingualism

 

The Bangor University, Schools of Psychology, Linguistics, and Education, supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Wales (Wales DTP), invite applications for PhD study, with the possibility of being awarded a fully-funded ESRC DTP Studentship, available to start in October 2020. We expect to make doctoral studentship awards in the area of:

 

Bilingualism

 

Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class or strong upper second class honours degree, or appropriate Master’s degree. The University values diversity and equality at all levels and encourages applications from all sections of the community. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study, and studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full time year of research training Masters followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant.

 

Applications welcomed by 3 February 2020 (1200 hours).

 

Further details:

 

These studentships are ‘open’ awards. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Psychology, Linguistics, and Education websites, as well as the Centre for Research in Bilingualism website. A short description of the Bilingualism pathway is available on the ESRC Wales DTP website. The academic contact for the relevant School may be able to advise you. They are:

 

·      Psychology: Dr. Gary M. Oppenheim g.m.oppenheim@bangor.ac.uk

·      Linguistics: Dr. Eirini Sanoudaki e.sanoudaki@bangor.ac.uk

·      Education: Professor Enlli Thomas enlli.thomas@bangor.ac.uk

 

WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER

Studentship Awards commence in October 2020 and will cover your tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £15,009 p.a. for 2019/20 for full-time students, updated each year); and includes access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), though an element of this latter fund may be ‘pooled’ and require separate applications from 2020 onwards.  There are other opportunities and benefits available to studentship holders, including an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internship opportunities, overseas institutional visits and other small grants.

 

ELIGIBILITY

ESRC studentships are highly competitive, candidates should have an excellent academic background in the social sciences, holding a 1st or strong upper 2nd class degree; applications from those also holding a relevant research training Masters degree (or an equivalent background in research training) will be considered for a +3 award.  Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open to UK Nationals and EU students who can satisfy UK residency requirements.

 

1+3 OR +3?

With the exception of studentships in the Economics pathway, awards are available on either a 1+3 or +3 basis. A 1+3 studentship provides funding for four years (or part-time equivalent), completing a research training Masters in the 1st year, followed by 3 years research funding for a PhD. A +3 studentship provides funding for the three years PhD research study only (or part-time equivalent).

 

ASSESSMENT

The closing deadline for applications is 12.00 noon on Monday 3 February 2020. Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview, which are expected to take place in late February/early March 2020. After interview, a final short-list of applicants will be put forward to a Panel convened by the ESRC Wales DTP Management Group at which final decisions with regard to studentship awards will be made. In most cases successful applicants can expect to hear by early April 2020.

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

A completed application for admission to doctoral study in the relevant school (i.e. Psychology, Linguistics, or Education): submitted to the contact for that school, listed above, by the deadline of 12.00 noon, 3 February 2020. Incomplete Applications will not be accepted.

 

The application must consist of the following documents:

 

1.     Covering letter: Please address to the contact for that school, listed above,. The covering letter must set out your reasons and motivation for applying to study at Bangor University, and the Bilingualism pathway; your understanding, and expectations of doctoral study; and your academic interests generally, and particularly of those relating to your proposed research. The covering letter should be no more than two pages. Please also specify which pathway you will be applying to and whether you wish to apply on a +3 or 1+3 basis.

 

2.     Academic / Professional Qualifications: Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).

 

3.     References: All applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application.

 

4.     Curriculum Vitae: It should be no longer than two pages.

 

5.     Research Proposal: The proposal should be up to a maximum of 1000 words, not including bibliographic references. We suggest that you use the following five headings in your research proposal:

1.     Title, aims and purpose of the research;

2.     Brief overview of the academic literature relevant to your field;

3.     Proposed design/methods;

4.     Academic contributions of your research.

5.     Bibliographic References