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The Grand Union: Excellence and Innovation in Social Science Research Training

An ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership uniting Brunel University London, The Open University and the University of Oxford

Our 'Grand Union' is a Doctoral Training Partnership between Brunel University London, The Open University and the University of Oxford. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), we are one of 15 ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships across the UK, providing our postgraduate students with high-quality social science research training.

From 2017 to 2028, we will be offering more than 35 ESRC studentships each year for doctoral study on 23 pathways across our partner institutions. We are committed to a student-centred approach to research training, to widening access to postgraduate study, and to disciplinary and interdisciplinary research excellence.

Our Grand Union scholars are at the heart of our community of students and early career social science researchers. We are proud of the support we give this next generation of social scientists, and we work hard to give them every opportunity to develop as future researchers and professionals.

Interested in studying for a PhD across the social sciences? The DTP Directors hosted a webinar offering application advice and Q&A on MS Teams on 12th December 2023, 14:00-15:00. You can download the slides from the webinar here.